Following the US Wine Trade Alliance's call for US importers to immediately halt all wine, beer, and spirits shipments from Europe due to the threat of tariffs, appeals from the Italian wine industry to government representatives are mounting. The implementation of tariffs, scheduled for April 2, 2025, would also affect goods already en route from Europe to the US by container ship.
After the Chianti DOCG and Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG consortia, as well as the particularly affected Prosecco producers, primarily appealed to the Minister of Agriculture, the united wine power of Italy has now issued a joint statement. The farmers', industry, and cooperative associations Confagricoltura, Cia-Agricoltori Italiani, Alleanza delle Cooperative Italiane, Copagri, as well as Unione Italiana Vini, Federvini, Federdoc, and Assoenologi, directly addressed the government on March 26, 2025.
Appeal to the government
"The Italian wine industry calls on the government to take a decisive stance at the European level and urges negotiations based on common sense to reach an agreement and avoid tariffs. As we know, the United States is the most important export market for European wine, with a value of approximately €2bn for Italy in 2024. We cannot risk Trump's threat becoming a reality, as it would have devastating economic consequences for a strategic sector like ours, which generates a turnover of €17bn, representing about 10% of the Italian food and beverage turnover. With approximately 870,000 people employed directly and indirectly, the sector represents a significant source of employment in our regions," the letter states.
The Prosecco producers have observed "a complete suspension of deliveries to the US for days." Prosecco DOC alone exports 130m bottles annually to the US, a volume that, according to the consortium, generates a production turnover of approximately €500m. The DOCG Conegliano Valdobbiadene sends around 3.5m bottles to the US. Even the smaller Prosecco DOCG Asolo, with an annual production of 32m bottles and an export share of 75%, cites the US as an important market.
Sandro Sartor, CEO of Ruffino, also describes the direct impact on business. "Our goods are currently blocked in a warehouse in Livorno," Sartor explained to the newspaper La Nazione. Approximately one million bottles are awaiting release. The Ruffino winery, which belongs to the wine portfolio of Constellation Brands, generates €5m each month from exports to the US. Should the super-tariffs take effect in April, Ruffino estimates an annual loss of €60m, which is half of the total turnover of €120m. VC
