Spanish wine sales in the US fall 7% due to tariffs

Despite this impact on costs, the sector has opted for a containment strategy. José Luis Benítez, general director of the FEV, confirmed that most of the wineries are maintaining final prices at the American market, absorbing the tariff increase in their margins to avoid affecting consumers.

"The US is a market where a tremendous effort has been made at the investor level, and we cannot let it fall apart," Benítez declared during his participation in the 40th Aecoc Consumer Goods Congress in ValenciaThe director general pointed out that tariffs "are here to stay" and are affecting virtually everyone.

The situation is replicated in key regions. Ricardo Dieguez, general manager of the prestigious Marqués de Riscal winery, mentioned that in the Rioja Designation of Origin the decrease in sales was 6%Diéguez assured that his company is making an "internal and external effort to ensure there is no impact on prices," although he did admit to having detected a "slowdown in sales" in the North American country.

Faced with this tariff scenario, which affects the second largest market for Spanish wine in terms of volume and value, the industry is reorienting its focus. The Spanish wine sector is actively seeking market diversification, putting emphasis on regions such as Latin America (specifically Brazil), Canada and India, in an attempt to offset the contraction experienced in United States.

In short, US tariffs are reducing Spanish wine sales by almost 7% by mid-2025. The sector, while striving not to pass the cost on to the consumer, is concerned about the slowdown in demand that this situation implies.