Acknowledging the Elephant in the Bottle - Navigating the Dialogue Concerning Tariffs Wed, Mar 26, 25 Addressing the Elephant in the Bottle:Navigating the Dialogue Concerning Tariffs I think we’ve reached a point at which it’s time for me to address the elephant in the room (or bottle, rather) - tariffs. Although the conversation is still in the realm of the hypothetical, the surrounding dialogue is somewhat difficult to navigate. I spoke to our local paper, The Concord Bridge, earlier this month on the topic, so I thought it might be useful to provide more insight on what that conversation entailed. Currently, April 2nd seems to be the day to watch – this could change as negotiations unfold and we approach the 11th hour. (Politicians, they’re just like your 7th grader – waiting until the night before the project is due to ask to go to the store for poster board!) Tariffs have historically been a part of this administration's toolbox and are something that has been anticipated industry-wide since the New Year. Despite some extreme figures being floated, I think a much more likely scenario would be one that mirrors the 15-25% tariffs previously enacted in October of 2019, with more sector-specific details and adjustments to follow, possibly with revisions being made over time. My trusted peers also remain optimistic that more realistic measures will be taken, so that remains the outlook until proven otherwise. So where does that leave us? I have not observed any preemptive price increases from my suppliers; on the contrary, the general consensus seems to be that we are all committed to maintaining business as usual for as long as possible. Bear in mind that importers and distributors have warehouses of product already paid and accounted for – you will not walk in to our store on April 2nd to see that your favorite $15 bottle is now $40. During the aforementioned period of tariffs in 2019, the entire supply chain worked together to mitigate the effects – from winegrowers, to importers and distribution, down to the retail and restaurant floor. Simply put, any increases will be assumed down the line as much as possible before it gets to you. Earlier this year, I thanked you all for shopping with intention by choosing Vintages, and I take being “chosen” even more seriously during these economically frustrating times. I am more than happy to offer what insight I can – feel free to stop by or reach out with any questions or concerns. At the end of the day, my place in the world is just to make sure that everyone has a nice time, and I will continue to do that with integrity and the best interests of our little community in mind. Finding great wines that offer considerable value has always been our mission, and that mission remains…no matter how interesting the ‘Adventures in Wine’ get. By Meghan Elwell
