US Wine Lists Are Changing

Wine lists across the US are getting a makeover, and it's not by choice. Tariffs on European alcohol continue to push up prices and are forcing restaurants, bars, and retailers to swap out old standbys, reports Reuters. The account is based on interviews with five wholesalers who say bottles are typically running $3 to $5 more than usual, with further increases on the horizon. "It's just too expensive," says Kristen Goceljak of the Kent Hospitality Group, who has subbed out certain overseas champagne and cremant brands in her company's retail list—including a bottle of champagne that rose from $48 to $53.

Wholesalers say imported wine prices at retail have already climbed 5% to 12%, with steeper hikes expected in 2026, prompting venues to lean harder on lower-cost and domestic options. That can be a silver lining for some: California label Josh Cellars, for instance, logged an 8.3% sales gain while the broader wine category declined, a boost its owner links partly to tariffs squeezing foreign rivals. The shift is clear in the data: Imported wine volume fell about 8% between October and January, versus a 3% slide for US wines. The stakes are large: Food & Wine notes that European wines account for about 16% of total US wine volume, along with nearly a quarter of revenue.