Sourcing orange wine from China
Selected still-wine lines relevant to orange wine carry £8.20 to £10.00 per hectolitre in UK customs duty, with Alcohol Duty separate. Confirm the classification and destination-specific wine labelling before ordering. Cambridge China Bridge sources orange 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, with Alcohol Duty separate
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 29 September 2026, heading 2204 covers wine of fresh grapes, including fortified wine, and certain grape must. This guide concerns still orange wine made by fermenting white grapes with their skins. The selected lines carry £8.20 to £10.00 per hectolitre for Chinese-origin goods, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspension recorded.
The tariff attaches organic import control. For organic wine from China into Great Britain, obtain a certificate of inspection for each consignment and check the exporter’s control body and export country against the non-UK organic registers. Alcohol Duty liability arises on arrival; arrange the payment or approved warehouse route before shipment. Check wholesale approval requirements before selling to other businesses.
The table gives conditional classifications, not an orange-wine-specific code. Ask your broker to confirm the white or other-wine branch, varietal status, strength and container size using the commodity-code guide. See the still white grape wine guide for the wider family. No percentage-duty worked example is available because the supplied lines all carry specific duties.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Other varietal white wine, up to 13% alcohol, containers up to 2 litres | 2204 21 95 11 | £10.00 per hl | None |
| Other white wine, over 13% to 15% alcohol, containers over 2 to 10 litres | 2204 22 97 20 | £10.00 per hl | None |
| Other white wine, over 13% to 15% alcohol, containers over 10 litres | 2204 29 97 20 | £10.00 per hl | None |
| Other non-white wine, up to 13% alcohol, containers over 2 to 10 litres | 2204 22 98 61 | £8.20 per hl | None |
Specify skin contact and bottle stability
Specify grape variety, vineyard origin, vintage or blend, skin-contact method and duration, fermentation vessel, ageing, filtration and fining. Define acceptable colour, tannin, acidity, residual sugar, haze and sediment against an approved sample. Confirm that the product is grape wine rather than an orange-fruit drink.
Request batch analysis for alcoholic strength, residual sugar, volatile acidity and sulphur dioxide. Agree bottle stability, closure type, fill level, storage conditions and transport protection. Have the label reviewed for the destination: direct imports into Scotland or Wales must show the wine importer’s address with importer wording.
Inspection checklist
Identity: match producer, batch, grape variety and declared origin to the approved sample and shipment documents.
Wine: compare colour, aroma, tannin, haze and sediment with the specification; investigate vinegar notes, unexpected fizz or pressure.
Labels: check strength, net quantity, business details and applicable allergen statements against the approved artwork and analysis.
Packing: inspect closures, leakage, fill consistency, glass damage, carton dividers and pallet condition on arrival. Use the inspection guide to brief the inspector.
What goes wrong
An amber colour alone does not demonstrate the agreed skin-contact process. Samples and delivered batches can differ in tannin, oxidation, sediment or sweetness. Unplanned fermentation in the bottle can create pressure and leakage. Retain an approved sample and compare arrival samples before releasing stock.
Do not treat a low customs-duty figure as the complete tax cost. Separate customs duty, Alcohol Duty and VAT in the buying calculation. Organic paperwork and labels need checking before dispatch, particularly where the destination changes between England, Scotland and Wales.
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 orange wine from China?
The selected still-wine lines carry £8.20 to £10.00 per hectolitre. The correct rate depends on classification, alcoholic strength and container size. Alcohol Duty is separate.
Is orange wine made from oranges?
This guide covers white grapes fermented with their skins. Ask for the grape composition and production record so an orange-fruit drink is not supplied instead.
Does organic orange wine need an import certificate?
Yes. Organic wine imported from China into Great Britain needs a certificate of inspection for each consignment. Check the exporter’s control body and export country against the organic registers.
What should I check when orange wine arrives?
Compare the batch with the approved sample for colour, tannin, aroma and sediment. Investigate unexpected fizz or pressure, and inspect closures, leakage, glass damage and labels.