Importing Wine and Spirits into the USA

Alcohol is the most regulated food cargo that crosses a US border. Whatever the origin — Prosecco from the Veneto, Champagne and Cognac from France, Rioja from Spain, whisky and sake from Japan or brandy from Armenia — the same federal permit, label approval and excise rules apply, and the same state three-tier system decides who may sell it. What changes with the origin is the transit, the tariff layer and how hot the voyage can get.

This page compares the origins we ship from and sets out the US rules every importer of wine and spirits works within. AGF moves the cargo for licensed importers; the permit and the label approvals belong to the importer. Each row links to a detailed origin guide.

Compare origins for wine & spirits

Origin	Transit	Duty exposure	Typical load
Wine from Italy	9–22 days Genoa/La Spezia to New York	EU wine at 10% all-in under the Section 301 measure, plus federal excise (higher on sparkling)	Reefer at 13–15 °C or thermal liner; 20ft about 10–11 pallets, 40ft 20–24; flexitanks for bulk
Wine & Champagne from France	9–16 days Le Havre–New York; about 15 days to Savannah; 28–36 days to Los Angeles via Panama	Small per-liter duty topped up to 10% all-in; federal excise; pending 2026 tariff questions confirmed at quoting	Reefer at 13–15 °C or liner; flexitank for bulk
Wine from Spain	10–16 days to the East Coast; 3–4 weeks door to door	About 10% all-in under the EU measure plus federal excise; tariff status confirmed at quoting	Liner or 13–15 °C reefer for cases; 20ft flexitank for bulk
Cognac & Spirits from France	9–16 days Le Havre–New York; about 15 days to Savannah	Normal duty topped up to 10% all-in; excise per proof gallon; checked at quoting	Sealed 20ft FCL from the bonded warehouse; weight-limited
Japanese Whisky & Sake from Japan	About 11–20 days Yokohama or Kobe to Los Angeles/Long Beach	12.5% all-in under the Section 301 layer; federal excise on top — sake with added alcohol taxed as spirits	Reefer end to end for nama sake; dry container with thermal liner for whisky
Brandy, Wine & Foods from Armenia	Several weeks via Georgia's Black Sea ports, confirmed per booking	Normal duty — specific per liter on many lines — plus any surcharge in force for Armenia and federal excise	Mixed containers of brandy, wine and preserves for diaspora distributors

Planning guidance only — rates, surcharges and transits change, and every shipment is quoted on its own facts.

US rules that apply whatever the origin

Frequently Asked Questions