A Note from Kevin: What the New Tariffs Mean for Wine.

Dear Friends,

On April 2nd, news broke that the current administration is implementing new tariffs—20% on all goods imported from the European Union, along with a range of tariffs on imports from other countries, effective immediately.

This shift touches the lives of the growers, importers, and communities that make our work possible. Many hard conversations are being had—here stateside within our ecosystem, and abroad with our friends—as we all try to navigate how best to move forward with a great deal of uncertainty still to sort through.

There’s still a lot we don’t yet know about how this will all play out. Over the past 24 hours, our winemaker friends, importers, and distributors have been on the phone nonstop—sorting through logistics, reviewing shipments, and trying to find solutions that don’t put small producers or businesses out of operation. But make no mistake, for many in our community, that risk is very real.

We’re a small shop in Ohio with a big love for Europe. The wines we bring in are the result of generations of passion and tradition. We work with thoughtful importers who support growers farming by hand, not conglomerates with marketing budgets. These tariffs fall hardest on that kind of work—on families, on artisans, on the very wines that make what we do feel meaningful.

What does this mean for pricing?

When our importers bring in $100,000 worth of wine, they now pay an additional $20,000 in tariffs to release that same shipment from the port. These added costs affect every level—our partners abroad, our importers here, and ultimately, the way we’re able to bring wine to your table.

We’ll do everything we can to protect value for you, but we want to be transparent. Some price increases are unavoidable. Here's a sense of what that may look like:

• A bottle that used to be $15 may now be closer to $18

• A bottle that was $30 may now rise to around $37

• A bottle once priced at $50 could now land closer to $60
  
  

It’s important to note—these aren’t across-the-board increases. Some importers and wineries may tighten margins to help shoulder the burden. Others may not be in a position to do so. But for us, as an independent shop with slim margins, we simply can’t absorb it all.

What should you do now?

The good news is, everything currently in our inventory was imported before the tariff went into effect—so for now, prices remain unchanged.

If you’ve been thinking about stocking up—whether for a dinner party, a wedding, or your personal cellar—now’s the moment to secure pre-tariff pricing. Stocks will dwindle as the industry rushes to buy what’s already landed. Once those wines are gone, they’ll be replaced by wines priced under the new structure.

How to order:

• Shop in-store or online at  www.hartandcru.com

• Nationwide shipping available

• Local delivery and pickup and wine bar service continue as usual

• Easily filter by grape, region, vintage, and more
  
  

We’re still here, doing what we love

We weathered similar tariffs in 2019. It was hard, but we learned, adapted, and leaned on the strength of our community. We’ll do the same again. Our promise remains unchanged: to seek out wines of integrity and soul, made by people who care, and get them into your hands with honesty and heart.

With deep gratitude,
Kevin & the Hart & Cru Team
www.hartandcru.com