US importers stockpile Italian Prosecco as a hedge against possible Trump tariffs

ROME (AP) — American importers have been stockpiling Italian bubbly Prosecco as a hedge against the impact of possible European Union tariffs threatened by President Donald Trump, wine industry data show.

U.S. imports of Italian sparkling wine — 90% of that Prosecco — skyrocketed by 41% in November, after Trump's election, far exceeding consumer demand as importers filled the pipeline for future sales, according to the Union of Italian Wines trade association.

“It was quite natural at the end of the year to do extra shipments,” said the trade association president, Lamberto Frescobaldi, given the uncertainty over whether tariffs would hit Italian wines or not — and the likelihood consumers would cut back on such luxuries if tariffs made them too pricey.

“Can we survive without a glass of wine? Yes. Wine is a pleasure,’’ Frescobaldi told The Associated Press this week.

Trump said last weekend that he would impose tariffs “pretty soon” on the EU, but he did not provide any details. He put import tariffs on goods from Mexico and Canada but then delayed them for 30 days. A new tariff on imports from China took effect Tuesday.

Italian wines were not hit by tariffs during the first Trump presidency. Prosecco importers and distributors nevertheless are taking precautionary measures now to protect the market.

Italy exports nearly one-quarter of its wine to the United States, leaving the sector more heavily exposed to possible tariffs than any other Italian export, according to the trade federation. Last year, Italy’s wine exports to the U.S. totaled 1.9 billion euros ($1.97 billion).

Prosecco became the top-selling Italian wine in the United States last year, representing nearly 40% of all sales.

The first signs of market concern showed up even before Trump was elected, with Prosecco shipments to the United States increasing 17% in the first 10 months of 2024. That compares with the single-digit increases in shipments to Britain and Germany, and far outpaced U.S. consumption of Prosecco, which rose just 0.6% in the period.

“It is an important figure that we did not expect,'' said Giancarlo Guidolin, president of Prosecco DOC consortium, the largest of Italy's three Prosecco-producing consortia. ”We think there was an increase of product in the warehouse.''

One other factor in the higher deliveries may have been a threatened port strike in January, said Dina Opici, chairwoman of the Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America.

“That said, obviously taking into consideration that there could be impending tariffs as well, I think it probably gave people a higher comfort level in making that investment,'' Opici said.

Silvia Stellaci in Rome and Colleen Barry in Milan contributed to this report.

Bottles of Prosecco are lined up on a shelf of a wine shop in Rome, Thursday, Feb. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

An expert wine tester shakes a glass of Prosecco during a wine testing at the Case Paolin farm, in Volpago del Montello, Italy, Monday, Oct. 15, 2018. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno, File)

Wine grower Adelino Pizzobon checks a bunch of grapes in a Prosecco vineyard at the Case Paolin farm, in Volpago del Montello, Italy, Monday, Oct. 15, 2018. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno, File)

A view of the vineyard of the "Prosecco" variety in Colle Umberto, Italy, Friday, Oct. 15, 2021. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni, File)

Wine grower Adelino Pizzobon spills a bottle of Prosecco during a wine tasting at the Case Paolin farm, in Volpago del Montello, Italy, Monday, Oct. 15, 2018. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno, File)

Bottles of Prosecco are lined up on a shelf of a wine shop in Rome, Thursday, Feb. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

A sommelier opens Prosecco bottles during a wine testing in Asolo, Italy, Monday, Oct. 15, 2018. Global sales of prosecco the smooth, drinkable sparkling wine rooted in the northeastern hills of Italy are booming, and champagne, the original bubbly, is taking note. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno, File)

Bottles of Prosecco are lined up on a shelf of a wine shop in Rome, Thursday, Feb. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

In a box office battle of the sequels, “The Devil Wears Prada 2” had the slight edge over “Mortal Kombat II” in North American theaters this weekend. According to studio estimates Sunday, “The Devil Wears Prada 2” earned a chart topping $43 million in its second weekend, while “Mortal Kombat II” took in $40 million in its first.

This weekend had wide variety of newcomers playing in wide release, including the family-friendly whodunnit “The Sheep Detectives” and a James Cameron co-directed Billie Eilish concert film.

But it was the holdover that triumphed. “The Devil Wears Prada 2,” which has grossed $433.2 million worldwide in its first 12 days in release, helped push The Walt Disney Studios over $2 billion globally for the year. It’s also surpassed the total grosses of the first film, which earned $327 million globally in 2006, not accounting for inflation.

“Mortal Kombat II” provided some gendered counterprogramming in the second weekend of Hollywood's summer movie season. Warner Bros. opened the movie in 3,503 locations where it drew a heavily male audience. According to PostTrak, 75% of the ticket buyers were men. “The Devil Wears Prada 2” had almost the exact opposite gender breakdown on its first weekend.

The first movie in this series, “Mortal Kombat,” was released simultaneously in theaters and on HBO Max in April 2021 as a part of Warner Bros.’ pandemic-era day-and-date strategy. Reviews have been mixed for the sequel, as was its B CinemaScore. It also earned $23 million from 78 markets internationally, adding up to a $63 million global debut.

“Michael” landed in third place in its third weekend with another $36.5 million over the weekend, down only 33% from last weekend. The Michael Jackson biopic has now earned $240.5 million in North America, surpassing the total domestic grosses of “Bohemian Rhapsody,” and $577.4 million globally.

Fourth place went to Amazon MGM Studios' “The Sheep Detectives” which brought in $15.9 million in its first weekend in 3,457 theaters. The quirky, all-ages murder mystery features a starry ensemble including Hugh Jackman, Emma Thompson and Nicholas Braun, as well as the voices of Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Bryan Cranston, Regina Hall and Patrick Stewart as the sheep who try to figure out who murdered their shepherd. Audiences gave it an A- CinemaScore. The movie cost a reported $75 million to produce.

Rounding out the top five was “Billie Eilish—Hit Me Hard & Soft: The Tour (Live in 3D)” an immersive concert experience which Cameron shared co-directing credits on with Eilish. Paramount released the movie in 2,613 theaters, where it earned $7.5 million in North America and $12.6 million internationally. The movie was very well reviewed by critics (93% on Rotten Tomatoes) and audiences, who gave it an A CinemaScore.

James Cameron, left, and Billie Eilish pose for photographers upon arrival a the screening of the film 'Hit me Hard and Soft: The Tour' on Tuesday, April 28, 2026, in London. (Photo by Scott A Garfitt/Invision/AP)

Martyn Ford, from left, Tati Gabrielle, Adeline Rudolph, Lewis Tan and Mehcad Brooks pose for photographers upon arrival at the European Fan Event of the film 'Mortal Kombat II' on Thursday, April 30, 2026, in London. (Photo by Scott A Garfitt/Invision/AP)