Sourcing grape ice wine from China
Selected lower-strength grape ice wine routes carry £8.20 to £10.00 per hectolitre, with Alcohol Duty separate. In Great Britain, wine marketed as ice wine must be made exclusively from grapes naturally frozen on the vine. Check production records before approving labels. Cambridge China Bridge sources grape ice wine.
Buying from China for a business? How our UK China sourcing agent service works · China sourcing agent for small orders and first imports
Specific customs duty depends on the wine
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 29 September 2026, heading 2204 covers wine of fresh grapes, including fortified wine, and grape must. The selected lower-strength routes relevant to grape ice wine carry £8.20 to £10.00 per hectolitre. These are specific duties, rather than percentages of value. The supplied facts show no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspension on these rows.
The UK Trade Tariff attaches an organic import control. For organic wine from China entering Great Britain, obtain a certificate of inspection for each consignment and check the exporter’s control body and country against the non-UK organic registers. Alcohol Duty is separate from customs duty. Agree the excise arrangements with your broker and use the duty and VAT guide when budgeting.
The table contains possible classification routes, rather than an ice-wine-specific code. Confirm colour, alcoholic strength, container capacity and varietal status through finding your commodity code. Do not use a European-origin branch for Chinese wine. The supplied facts contain no plain percentage-duty line, so the illustrative order cannot meet that worked-example condition. See the wider wine guide.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| White varietal wine, containers up to 2 litres, alcohol up to 13% | 2204 21 95 11 | £10.00 per hl | None |
| Other white wine, containers over 2 to 10 litres, alcohol over 13% to 15% | 2204 22 97 20 | £10.00 per hl | None |
| Other non-white wine, containers over 2 to 10 litres, alcohol up to 13% | 2204 22 98 61 | £8.20 per hl | None |
| Other non-white wine, containers over 10 litres, alcohol up to 13% | 2204 29 98 61 | £8.20 per hl | None |
Specify the grapes and freezing process
In England, Scotland and Wales, wine marketed as ice wine must be made exclusively from grapes naturally frozen on the vine. Specify that production method in the purchase specification. Request vineyard, harvest and pressing records linked to the finished batch, and ask the producer to explain how it separates this wine from wine made using artificially frozen grapes.
Agree grape variety, vineyard origin, vintage, colour, alcoholic strength, residual sugar, acidity and the approved tasting sample. Specify bottle capacity, closure, fill level, label artwork, carton dividers and transport conditions. Ask for batch analysis and a label review before printing. Check the producer and its records through factory verification.
Inspection checklist
Authenticity: match harvest and production records to the batch and investigate any artificial-freezing step.
Analysis: compare alcoholic strength, residual sugar, acidity and sulphite results with the agreed specification and label.
Labels: check product identity, net contents, business details and applicable allergen statements. Allergen wording must include the word ‘contains’.
Arrival: inspect closures, leakage, fill levels, broken glass and wet cartons; compare retained samples with the approved sample. Use the quality inspection guide.
What goes wrong
A supplier may offer sweet grape wine made from artificially frozen grapes under an ice-wine description. Sweetness and a tasting sample cannot establish the freezing method. Resolve missing or contradictory production records before accepting the product or printing labels.
Other problems include alcoholic strength differing from the specification, oxidised flavours, leaking closures and crushed bottle dividers. Buyers can also budget only for customs duty and overlook Alcohol Duty. Hold affected batches for investigation and agree evidence, replacement and packaging responsibilities in the purchase contract.
Cambridge China Bridge sources these products for UK businesses, checking the factory and the documents before shipment. See factory verification. For repeat volumes, see container programmes.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on grape ice wine from China?
The selected lower-strength routes carry £8.20 to £10.00 per hectolitre. Duty depends on the code, strength and container size. These rates are specific duties; Alcohol Duty is separate.
Can artificially frozen grape wine be sold as ice wine?
In England, Scotland and Wales, the ice-wine description requires wine made exclusively from grapes naturally frozen on the vine. Request production records before approving that description.
Can I import organic grape ice wine from China?
For Great Britain, obtain a certificate of inspection for each consignment and check the exporter’s control body and country against the non-UK organic registers.
Is customs duty the only tax on imported ice wine?
No. Alcohol Duty is separate, and customs duty and VAT procedures also apply. Confirm the excise route with your broker before shipping.