Wine Buyers Stock Up Before Tariffs Raise Prices: ‘Drink Less or Pay More’

New vintages from European Union poised to get pricier due to Trump administration duties and a stronger euro

By Laura Cooper of The WSJ. 

Expectation of future price is a shift factor for demand. When buyers expect significantly higher prices in the near future their demand today increases.

The article was from Dec. 18, 2025. Excerpts:

"Retailers, distributors and producers predict that Americans can expect to see their favorite European-made bottles cost as much as 15% to 30% more next year. Much of next year’s vintage—made from grapes harvested this year, and shipped in the next few months—will carry a 15% tariff on European Union goods that the Trump administration announced last summer."

"The pending jump in prices has pushed U.S.-based wine importers and retailers like Craig to stock up." [Mark Craig of Seattle who owns a small wine club and online bottle shop] 

Other posts on expectation of future price:

Expectation of future price and electric cars (2025) 

Buy Now Before Tariffs Hit, Retailers Are Telling Shoppers: Businesses play up fears of a price hit in marketing goods from furniture to fishing rods (2024) 

Expectation of future price in the news (2024)

Record Cocoa Prices Are Making Sweet Cravings Expensive (2024)

Supply, demand and the price of bacon (2023)

Are Expectations Helping To Raise The Price Of Lithium? (2021)

Farmers might be reducing supply of corn now in expectation of higher prices this fall (2019)

Supply Means Producing A Good And Customers Being Able To Purchase It (2018)

Russians rush to stores to pre-empt price rises (2015)