A year after the introduction of U.S. tariffs, the impact on Italian wine is severe. According to an analysis by the Observatory of Unione Italiana Vini (Uiv), in the first 12 months of additional duties — from April 2025 to March 2026 — exports to the United States recorded a 17% drop in value, equal to more than €340 million, with volumes down 9%, the lowest level in the past 10 years. The United States, the world’s leading market for Italian wine with a pre‑tariff share of 24% and an annual value close to €2 billion, confirms its position as the most fragile link in the international landscape of the sector.
The future of Italian wine exports now depends on a delicate balance between international diplomacy, European policies and investments in promotion, within a global context that remains unstable but where new growth paths — alternative to the United States — are beginning to emerge.
The figures of Italian wine exports and U.S. tariffs: still and sparkling wines under pressure
During the period considered, the total value of Italian wine exports to the U.S. reached €1.65 billion, compared to €1.99 billion in the same period before the introduction of the tariffs.
The decline has significantly affected both bottled still wines, which dropped to €1.05 billion with a contraction of nearly 19%, and sparkling wines, which fell to €588 million, down 14%. The result was further weighed down by a forced reduction in average prices, with Italian producers compelled to cut their price lists by around 9% to absorb part of the impact of the tariffs on final consumers.
Difficulties continued into early 2026 as well. In the first two months of the year, Italian wine exports recorded a year‑on‑year decline in value of 13.3%, stopping at €1.03 billion, according to Istat data.
The first quarter remains strongly negative, especially in terms of value, with a contraction of 21%, confirming that the effects of the tariffs continue to structurally weigh on exports to non‑EU markets.
Early signs of stabilization in the United States
Despite the overall situation remaining critical, the Uiv Observatory highlights some early signs of a modest recovery. In March, for the first time after nine consecutive months of decline, a slight increase was recorded in the volumes shipped to the United States, while a small rise in value is expected for April.
Data on U.S. domestic consumption, based on SipSource, also show a slight uptick for Italian wine in March, which could translate into a gradual increase in orders if the trend consolidates in the coming months.
Commenting on the situation is Lamberto Frescobaldi, president of Unione Italiana Vini:
“In a context already made difficult by the structural decline in consumption volumes, tariffs and the resulting depreciation of the dollar have further deepened the downturn in a market that is crucial for our wines. We expect a strong reaction from European diplomacy to achieve, in the coming months, a stabilization of relations with the U.S., including through the conclusion of the Turnberry agreement. At the same time, still within the EU framework, we trust that — as Professor Mario Draghi recently reminded us — for the first time ‘we Europeans are alone’, and that for this very reason the 27 Member States must unite to dismantle the legislative barriers that effectively impose an internal duty of 45% on manufactured goods. Finally, we are convinced that the difficulties in the markets must be met with a proportionally stronger presence in terms of promotion: institutional support will be crucial.”
Italian wine exports in 2026: extra‑EU markets struggling, but alternative destinations emerge
Overall, the first quarter of 2026 shows widespread difficulties for exports to non‑EU countries, with an average decline in value of 12.5%. In addition to the United States, the United Kingdom (-11%) and Switzerland (-10%) also recorded double‑digit drops, while Canada remained stable (+0.4%).
Some markets, however, are moving in the opposite direction: Russia shows a 27% rebound, while Brazil continues to grow with a +12%, confirming itself as one of the most dynamic destinations for Italian wine. Japan is also down (-6%).
