Hi Wine Friends —
This Barrel Dork is trading in Pinot for piña coladas! I’m sneaking away this coming week to soak up some much-needed sunshine in the Caribbean for my 15-year wedding anniversary — My husband and I are headed back to the British Virgin Islands, where we honeymooned at the iconic Bitter End Yacht Club on Virgin Gorda. We’re ready for warm breezes, salty swims, and our first scuba dive in 10+ years!
So, heads-up: I’ll be pressing pause on next week’s wine newsletter while I’m pool-side, umbrella drink in hand. But before I pack my sunscreen and scuba gear, let’s dive into this week’s wine digest.
Cheers,
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Sip Smarter: Your Weekly Wine Lesson
Let's Talk Wine Tariffs
The rumblings about looming taxes on imported wine is no longer just talk—the new tariffs are officially here, and they’re already shaking up the wine world.
Here’s the gist:
The U.S. has implemented new tariffs ranging from 10% to 30% on wines from nearly every major wine-producing region outside the U.S. That includes France, Italy, Spain, Germany, Argentina, Chile, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and more. That means higher prices on the bottles you love—and potentially fewer of them on shelves.
But it’s not just about cost.
Why this matters (for all of us):
- Wine prices are going up. Retailers, importers, and restaurants are trying to figure out how much of the cost they can absorb, but at the end of the day, you’ll likely feel it in your wallet.
- Your favorite small producers might disappear from the U.S. market. Many of them operate on razor-thin margins and simply can’t afford to stay competitive under these new conditions.
- It’s not just imports that are affected. American winemakers rely on imported barrels, corks, bottles, and other essentials. Those prices are going up too, meaning domestic wine prices could also climb.
- Less diversity, less access. This is the big one. The golden era of having endless wine choices from all corners of the world might be winding down—especially for everyday wine drinkers who want quality without luxury pricing.
What can you do?
- Shop your favorite European bottles while you still can—especially from smaller producers.
- Support indie wine shops and restaurants that are doing the hard work of navigating these changes and finding creative solutions.
- Stay informed and ready to speak up—especially if public comments or petitions become available.
Wine isn’t just a beverage. It’s a global network of farmers, makers, sellers, and drinkers. And when that balance gets disrupted, we all feel it.
Tariffs aren’t just about politics—they affect what ends up in your glass, what it costs, and who gets to keep making it. Stay tuned and sip smart.
Vine To Glass
This Week’s Wine Gem: 13 Wines, 13 Stories
Normally I spotlight just one wine each week in this section… but this week’s pick is too good to keep to myself.
I recently joined a new tasting group here in Portland made up entirely of badass women in wine—sommeliers, winemakers, wine bar owners, distributors, and educators. For our first meeting held this past Monday night, we were given one prompt:"Bring a bottle that represents you."
What followed was one of the most personality-packed tastings I’ve ever been a part of. Every pour came with a story. Every wine felt like a mini memoir. And of course, I made a slideshow of the whole thing, complete with lovingly chaotic wine superlatives. You can see the full lineup of bottles (with their awards!) over on Instagram right here →
But if you're more of a list person, here's our full lineup so you can track down and try them yourself. Trust me—they're worth the hunt:
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Lunaria Ramoro Pinot Grigio Pet Nat Ancestrale 2023 (Abruzzo, Italy)
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Benoît LahayeBlanc de Blancs Brut Champagne Grand Cru 'Bouzy'2019 (Champagne, France)
- Abeja Viognier (Walla Walla, WA)
- Les Cortis ‘Naxide’ 2022 (Chardonnay + Altesse, Bugey, France)
- Fuso Cala Terre Siciliane Bianco, Catarratto (Skin Contact)
- Weingut Hermann Ludes ‘Thörnicher Ritsch’ Riesling Spätlese 2023 (Mosel, Germany)
- White Rose Estate Pinot Noir 2017 (Willamette Valley, OR)
- Jean-Marc Pillot Bourgogne Rouge 2022 (Burgundy, France)
- Love & Squalor Gamay Noir (Willamette Valley, OR)
- Yohan Lardy Moulin-à-Vent 2015 (Beaujolais, France)
- 2008 Valtellina Superiore Riserva Nebbiolo (Piedmont, Italy)
- 2005 Château Bellefont-Belcier (Bordeaux, France)
- 2020 Flipturn Cellars Syrah (SOLD OUT—my first vintage!)
And now I want to know: which wine represents you? Hit Reply and tell me your bottle!
Cork Report
This Week’s Wine News Roundup
- Low in Alcohol, High in Flavor: Meet the Lean Red Wines of the Central Coast
- ‘I reviewed over 150 wines in March, here are 10 standouts‘
- Not Your Grandma’s Wine: Why Los Angeles Is Experiencing a Sherry Boom
