Wine Institute Statement on Federal Government Shutdown

WASHINGTON, D.C. - With the U.S. federal government now shut down, several key agencies that support the American wine industry have ceased operations. The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) - which approves wine labels, processes permits and reviews formulas - is fully closed. These services are essential to keeping wine production, compliance and sales on track, particularly during harvest.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and U.S. Department of Commerce have also paused many functions, creating uncertainty around international trade programs, including the Foreign Agricultural Service, which oversees the Market Access Program, a key tool in promoting U.S. wine in global markets.

"This shutdown comes at a critical moment for the U.S. wine industry," said Robert P. Koch, president and CEO of Wine Institute. "Harvest is underway, and wineries are cut off from essential federal services - most urgently, label approvals that are legally required before wine can be bottled or sold.

"We're also deeply concerned about what this shutdown means for global market support, including critical programs and funding that are now in limbo.

"We are still completely off the shelves and not for sale in most of Canada, which was our largest export market until earlier this year. That kind of setback makes clear how essential federal support is to building access and strengthening our global reach.

"We need swift action to restore these services and prevent deeper disruption across the industry."

Wine Institute urges Congress and the Trump administration to act quickly to reopen federal agencies and prevent further harm to the producers, workers and rural communities whose livelihoods are rooted in the wine community.