Sourcing rosé grape wine from China
The selected rosé grape wine lines from China carry UK customs duties from £8.20 to £26.00 per hectolitre, depending on strength, container size and whether sparkling. Alcohol Duty is separate, and wine must meet labelling rules. Cambridge China Bridge sources rosé grape wine.
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Volume-based customs duty and separate Alcohol Duty
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 rosé grape wine. The supplied lines include other still rosé at £8.20 per hectolitre in larger containers, stronger rosé at £15.00, and other varietal sparkling rosé at £26.00. These are selected examples, not every rosé classification; the supplied data does not include an ordinary bottled still rosé line at typical table-wine strength.
The selected lines show no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no tariff suspension. They attach import control of organic products. Confirm with your organic control body whether wine needs an inspection certificate to be released as organic; the certificate is issued by the exporter's control body. Confirm the Chinese exporter's eligibility and shipment paperwork with your control body and customs broker. Alcohol Duty is separate from customs duty, so agree the excise arrangements before dispatch.
Confirm the commodity code using the wine's origin, strength, container capacity, sparkling status and any geographical designation. The table gives candidate descriptions rather than automatic classifications for every rosé. See the still white grape wine guide for related heading coverage. No percentage-duty worked example is available because every supplied line carries a specific duty.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Still rosé, other wine, containers over 2 to 10 litres, strength not exceeding 13% | 2204 22 98 61 | £8.20 per hl | None |
| Still rosé, other wine, containers over 10 litres, strength not exceeding 13% | 2204 29 98 61 | £8.20 per hl | None |
| Other rosé, containers up to 2 litres, strength over 15% but not exceeding 18% | 2204 21 98 81 | £15.00 per hl | None |
| Sparkling rosé, other varietal wine, other | 2204 10 96 90 | £26.00 per hl | None |
Specify rosé colour, sweetness and stability
Specify grape variety, growing region, vintage where relevant, still or sparkling style, alcohol strength, residual sugar, acidity and sulphur dioxide. Agree a retained sample for colour and flavour, together with acceptable sediment and clarity. Request a batch analysis and details of any fining agents.
Agree bottle capacity, glass colour, closure, label adhesive, carton dividers and pallet packing. Ask the producer to demonstrate colour and flavour stability in the proposed packaging. Wine must meet labelling rules; approve the artwork for its destination before printing, including the applicable allergen declarations.
Inspection checklist
Wine: compare arrival samples with the retained sample for pink shade, browning, haze, sediment, oxidation and unexpected fermentation.
Analysis: compare alcohol strength, residual sugar, acidity and sulphur dioxide with the agreed specification and batch report.
Labels: check the product identity, declared strength, quantity, applicable allergens and destination-specific business details against approved artwork.
Packing: inspect closures, leakage, fill consistency, glass damage, carton staining and batch identification. Record findings using the inspection guide.
What goes wrong
A rosé can match the sample when bottled but arrive darker or oxidised after unsuitable storage or transport. Residual sugar and instability can lead to renewed fermentation, haze or pressure. Agree transport conditions, review stability evidence and retain samples from the dispatched batch.
Label wording can fail when the importer assumes the same address format applies everywhere. Wine imported directly into Scotland or Wales must show the importer's address with the required importer wording. Check this before printing. Confirm the excise route and any wholesale approval obligations before committing stock for sale.
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 rosé wine from China?
The selected supplied lines range from £8.20 to £26.00 per hectolitre. Strength, container size and sparkling status affect classification. Alcohol Duty is separate.
Does rosé wine need allergen labelling?
Yes, where applicable. Review sulphites and any milk or egg fining residues against the wine labelling rules, using the finished wine's analysis before approving artwork.
Can I import organic rosé from China?
Confirm the exporter's eligibility with your organic control body. Ask that body whether wine needs an inspection certificate to be released as organic; the exporter's control body issues the certificate.
What should I test before shipping rosé?
Compare colour and flavour with the retained sample, and test alcohol strength, residual sugar, acidity and sulphur dioxide against the specification. Check stability, closures and packing.