Paris, France
A threat makes a better headline than a landed punch.
That’s the odd, thrilling tension swirling in the wine world right now—like storm clouds drifting over a Tuscan vineyard. A threat keeps us on edge; once the punch lands, we’re left to sort out the bruises, bills, and a fresh round of regrets.
For the moment, though, everyone’s busy sipping worry through a long straw. We all caught wind of Trump’s proposed 200% tariff on European wine and champagne. If you missed it, I envy you; you were likely savoring a malbec somewhere instead of doom-scrolling. The news broke on March 13 and sent shockwaves from Napa to Bordeaux, from bar counters in Rome to tasting rooms in Sonoma.
I went to bed thinking about it—it was not easy to fall asleep.
Picture a small, family-run vineyard in Bordeaux or Tuscany. They’re not corporations with glossy PR budgets. They’re families whose hands show the year-round grit of trimming vines, turning soil, and coaxing fruit from unforgiving earth. I’ve been to their tables, tasted their humble reds, listened to their stories told through a haze of wine-fueled camaraderie. Now, those same families fear a new tariff might triple the price of their bottles the minute they hit U.S. shores.
Why? Because the EU plans to slap a 50% tariff on American whiskey—a measured retaliation for U.S. duties on steel and aluminum. It’s a tit-for-tat global tango. And we, the humble wine drinkers, could get caught in the crossfire.
We’re a small wine club—someone recently called us a “wine club for people with brains.” We don’t stock mass-market plonk. We dig up wines with real people behind them. Wines forged from passion rather than corporate spreadsheets. And this tariff business hits these little guys hardest. A 200% tariff can vaporize a family vineyard’s entire export market. Bigger brands might absorb the blow, but a small estate loses its livelihood.
I’ve watched this same madness in Argentina, where heavy import rules forced bizarre partnerships—car dealerships pairing up with wineries to skirt regulations. Creative, sure, but it rarely benefits everyday drinkers. It usually means fewer choices, higher costs, and an uneasy sense that something’s out of balance.
Here’s the thing: I believe in free markets. I believe in letting competition flourish naturally. Tariffs mess with real growth and hamper choice. The U.S. wants to fix its trade deficit with the EU, but slapping taxes on things we love—wine, whiskey, you name it—feels like using the wrong tool for the right problem.
And for us, this is personal. We’re not jacking up prices on wines we already have. A 200% tariff might shut down corners of the industry—and if it drags on, it could shutter small outfits like ours. But for now, our cellar’s stocked with small-production gems, and we’re holding the line.
Tomorrow, these same politicians might be standing in front of cameras, holding hands and saying they’ve sorted it all out—or maybe they’ll skip the handshake, because in that world, apologies look like weakness. We both had our reasons… that doesn’t mean it didn’t hurt.
If you’re worried about shortages or sudden spikes, feel free to stock up while you still can. Our cellar has Argentine, French, Italian, Spanish—you name it.
Text us directly, by clicking here, and Amelia can tell you exactly what we have available right now (we recently started taking orders via text!).
More importantly, don’t stop exploring. Keep seeking out wines made by real people on real land. Every dollar you spend on those bottles is a vote against letting politics throttle something beautiful.
Because in the end, the good stuff—wine, craftsmanship, tradition—endures. Through wars, upheavals, and political nonsense, it keeps growing, season after season, vine after vine. And so do we.
So let’s raise a glass, take a healthy sip, and remember what truly matters: family, honest work, and the simple joy of a perfect pour.
Santé,
Diego
