US importers Prosecco Stockpile as protection against Trump’s tariffs

US importers have been gathering the Italian Bubbly Protecco as a protection against the potential impact of fees threatened by President Donald Trump, the summer industry records show.

American sparkling Italian wine imports – 90% of that Prosecco – increased by 41% in November after Trump’s selection, exceeding consumer’s demand after importers filled the pipeline for future sales, according .

“It was quite natural at the end of the year to make additional deliveries,” said the president of the Trade Association, Lamberto Frescobaldi, gives uncertainty if the tariffs made them very costly.

“Can we survive without a glass? Yes. Summer is a pleasure, ” Frescobaldi Frescobaldi said this week.

Italian wines were not hit by tariffs during Trump’s first presidency, and no fees have been announced to date again European partners. However, Prosecco’s importers and distributors are taking preliminary measures to protect the market.

Italy exports nearly a quarter of its summer in the United States, leaving the sector more exposed to possible tariffs than any other Italian export, according to the Federation of Trade.

Last year, summer exports to Italy to the US reached 1.9 billion euros ($ 1.97 billion).

Prosecco became the best -selling Italian wine in the United States last year, representing nearly 40% of all sales.

The first signs of market concern appeared even before Trump was elected, with Prosecco deliveries to the United States growing 17% in the first 10 months of 2024.

This is compared to the most modest growth of one-day with the next two markets, Britain and Germany, and exceeding US consumption that increased only 0.6% in this period.

“It is an important thing we didn’t expect,” said Giancarlo Guidolin, president of Prosecco Doc Consortium, the largest of the three consortiums that produce Prosecco, Italy. “We think there has been an increase in the product in the warehouse.”

Another factor in the highest deliveries may have been a threatened port strike in January, said Dina Opici, chairman of the wholesalers of the summer and the souls of America.

“That said, obviously considering that there may be close tariffs too, I think it probably gave people a higher level of comfort in making this investment,” Opici said.