HS Code for Wine

Wine of fresh grapes is classified in chapter 22 of the HTSUS, where heading 2204 covers wine of fresh grapes, including fortified wines, and grape must. The first branch is whether the wine is sparkling, which points toward subheading 2204.10, or still. Still wine is then separated mainly by the size of the container it is imported in, 2 liters or less (2204.21), over 2 up to 10 liters (2204.22), and bulk over 10 liters (2204.29), with alcohol content also relevant within the smaller-container lines. Duties are specific rates expressed per liter, and this heading is limited to wine of fresh grapes; vermouth and other flavored grape wines point toward heading 2205, and other fermented beverages such as cider toward heading 2206.

Wine sits in chapter 22 of the HTSUS, which covers beverages, spirits and vinegar. Heading 2204 is the dedicated provision for wine of fresh grapes, including fortified wines, and grape must other than that of heading 2009. Bottled table wine, sparkling wine and bulk wine shipped for bottling all point toward heading 2204 as a starting point.

The first branch within the heading is whether the wine is sparkling. Sparkling wine of fresh grapes points toward subheading 2204.10, separate from the still wines. Confirming whether the product is naturally carbonated sparkling wine or a still wine is usually the clearest first step.

For still wine, the tariff separates the wines mainly by the size of the container in which they are imported. Wine in containers holding 2 liters or less points toward the 2204.21 subheading (the typical retail bottle range) while wine in containers over 2 liters up to 10 liters points toward 2204.22, and wine in bulk containers over 10 liters points toward the 2204.29 group. Within the smaller-container lines, the alcohol content (for example, not over 14 percent by volume) is also read to reach the specific line.

A practical approach is to confirm whether the wine is sparkling or still first, then, for still wine, the container size, and then the alcohol content where the line calls for it. That sequence usually points toward a single most-appropriate subheading to explore. Heading 2204 is limited to wine of fresh grapes, so it is worth keeping it distinct from its neighbors: vermouth and other wine of fresh grapes flavored with plants or aromatic substances point toward heading 2205, and other fermented beverages such as cider, perry or mead, and mixtures of fermented beverages, point toward heading 2206. This page is informational and educational only and does not address any licensing, permit or other regulatory requirements that may apply to importing wine.

Duty on wine under heading 2204 is expressed as a specific rate per liter rather than a percentage of value. Among the representative lines shown here, sparkling wine tends toward the higher end at around 19.8¢/liter, still wine in retail-sized containers of 2 liters or less at around 6.3¢/liter, still wine in containers over 2 up to 10 liters at around 8.4¢/liter, and bulk still wine over 10 liters at around 14¢/liter. Because the rates are specific and per-liter, the duty estimate scales with the volume imported and shifts with the container-size line that applies. Preferential rates under free trade agreements may reduce or eliminate these duties for qualifying origins. Separate from customs duty, other charges may apply to alcoholic beverages; those are outside the scope of this classification and duty-rate overview. These figures are estimates for general planning purposes only.