Bad news if you’re a French wine aficionado or Chianti connoisseur. Last month, President Trump threatened a 200% tariff on wine and spirits imported from the European Union, and the administration is primed to confirm the tariff this afternoon. The move comes in response to the region across the pond imposing a 50% whiskey tariff on U.S. products (which was in response to Trump’s earlier tariffs on European steel and aluminum imports). Whether the final number is a 50% clapback or 200% escalation, the move will make a dent in consumers’ wallets, not to mention the wine and spirits industry as a whole.
The price of your favorite bottle could skyrocket as much as two or three times what it is now, according to Vine Street Imports CEO Ronnie Sanders.
While your fave gin is probably safe (most are imported from the UK, thank you, Brexit!), your wine, champagne, and plenty of other spirits are at risk for a major price spike. This includes big brands like Moët Chandon, Hennessy, Rémy Martin, Cointreau, Grand Marnier, Limoncello, Campari, Aperol, Jägermeister, and Jameson. French and Italian wines will also experience the same impact.
Your favorite $53 Moët might cost you up to $159. And don’t even get me started on Aperol Spritz prices—the iconic orange cocktail’s sole ingredient made in the U.S. is soda water, which means that a whopping 94% of your glass comes from overseas and will subsequently skyrocket in price. The Washington Post reports that plenty of other E.U.-born liquors dominate some of our most beloved cocktails. Those bottomless mimosas you down at weekend brunch are made with sparkling wine that primarily comes from the E.U. and accounts for 50% of the cocktail. A Negroni’s star ingredients—Campari and vermouth—come from the E.U., as well. Even those who opt for the humble Long Island Iced Tea, an elevated Sidecar, or a classic martini will feel the weight of the tariffs, thanks to some of their imported ingredients, which account for 24%, 54%, and 17% of the drinks, respectively.
While a 200% tariff would undoubtedly be catastrophic for the beverage industry, “everyone agrees that even modest tariffs would send shock waves throughout the entire food and beverage ecosystem, weakening distribution channels and further driving up already astronomical prices,” reports The Guardian. The resulting price increases mean that many bars might nix cocktails off their menus altogether or force them to get crafty in finding workarounds that don’t utilize the tariffed products. In fact, importers might decline to import many of these wines and spirits if they don’t feel like they’re worth the price.
The future certainly looks bleak at the moment, so let’s just hope the nations have come to some sort of agreement that nips it all in the bud. Otherwise, we’ll have to get a lot more familiar with California wines and Kentucky bourbons ASAP.
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Megan Schaltegger is an NYC-based writer. She loves strong coffee, eating her way through the Manhattan food scene, and her dog, Murray. She promises not to talk about herself in third person IRL.