A US importer has just canceled an order of 600 bottles of white wine from Bello Berganzo, located in the city of Alava Samaniego, after announcing the tariffs imposed by the country.
Ángela Bello Ruiz, from the family that owns this warehouse in Rioja Alavesa, mentioned that the order cancellation took place «as we were growing in the United States» and used to export 4,000 to 5,000 bottles a year. «The downside to this is that we started growing in 2024, but when the tariffs increased, they stopped everything,» stated Europa Press.
She also pointed out that each bottle for a different American client uses a personalized label, «with a special feature» and their importer number.
«Therefore, all the bottles are customized, and if that batch that was canceled, we would have labeled it, we must not make the wine, the glass again in the new glass and put the normal label we use here, in the Basque Country,» she explained.
Ángela Bello mentioned the uncertainty of not knowing «if this has already been completely halted» or if the importers they worked with in the United States «will place orders again.» «We don’t know,» she said.
The winery has already started exporting to other countries like Belgium, Poland, Germany, the Netherlands, Canada, and is trying to enter Japan and Mexico.
On the other hand, Nagore EtxariaArtunun, from Bodegas García de Olano, located in Laguardia (Álava), expressed «total uncertainty» after the announcement of Donald Trump’s tariffs. «We were lucky, and our request came in early in the year, before these tariffs were imposed,» she told Europe Press.
This Rioja Alavesa winemaker expressed fear of what they describe as a «negative» event. With a production of approximately 200,000 bottles annually, 10,000 are destined for the United States. «It is a significant amount for us,» she said.
Nagore Echevarría mentioned the uncertainty because it is unknown if «sales will drop or come to a halt,» because «in the end, that additional 20% (from the tariff) will be paid by the consumer.»
Bodegas García Olano is growing in the North American market, where they had just secured a third importer compared to the previous two and had developed a projection plan for 2025-2026, with the intention to «grow step by step.»
Given the possible consequences, the winery is considering Canada as a potential destination, but even though «it is a good option, it is also difficult» due to the existing monopoly «which controls the entry of wines,» as well as other new markets.
However, it is «clear» that «you have to look at home.» «Euskadi is a ‘diamond market,’ as I call it, because you have to polish it, and we have many options in Euskadi,» she said.
Therefore, the «main objective» now is also «working on the Basque country market,» because «out of all the Rioja wine sold in Euskadi, a very small percentage is from Rioja.» «Now, with this zero-kilometer trend, the home product, I think we have work to do,» she concluded.
