Sourcing still red grape wine from China
The selected bulk still red wine lines from China carry £8.20 to £12 per hectolitre, with Alcohol Duty separately. Imported wine must meet UK wine-labelling rules. Container size, strength and varietal status matter when choosing the code. Cambridge China Bridge sources still red grape wine.
Buying from China for a business? How our UK China sourcing agent service works · China sourcing agent for small orders and first imports
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 wines, and grape must other than heading 2009. This guide concerns still red grape wine. The table selects larger-container lines from the supplied extract. It is not a complete list of bottled red wine classifications. See the wider wine guide.
The selected lines carry £8.20 per hectolitre for the listed other red wines not exceeding 13% strength, and £12.00 per hectolitre for the listed varietal red wines exceeding 15% but not exceeding 18%. No anti-dumping or countervailing duty or suspension is recorded for these lines. Alcohol Duty is separate. No percentage-duty worked order is available because the supplied lines all have specific duties.
The tariff attaches an organic-products import control. Confirm with your customs broker whether an inspection certificate is required for release as organic; the exporter’s control body issues that certificate. For China, confirm importer certification and exporter eligibility with your customs broker before ordering organic stock. Confirm the commodity code using the wine’s actual strength, container capacity, origin and varietal or geographical status.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Other red wine, strength not exceeding 13%, containers over 2 to 10 litres | 2204 22 98 61 | £8.20 per hl | None |
| Other red wine, strength not exceeding 13%, containers over 10 litres | 2204 29 98 61 | £8.20 per hl | None |
| Other varietal red wine, strength over 15% to 18%, containers over 2 to 10 litres | 2204 22 96 31 | £12.00 per hl | None |
| Other varietal red wine, strength over 15% to 18%, containers over 10 litres | 2204 29 96 31 | £12.00 per hl | None |
Specify the red wine and the shipping pack
Specify grape variety or blend, growing region, vintage where claimed, dry or sweeter style, actual alcoholic strength, residual sugar, acidity and sulphite content. Agree a tasting sample and written acceptance criteria for colour, aroma, oxidation and sediment. State whether the wine is unfortified, filtered and ready for bottling or retail sale.
Agree bottle or bulk-container capacity, closure, fill level, carton dividers and pallet protection. Request batch analysis and approve the English label artwork before printing. Wine imported into the UK must comply with wine-labelling rules. Review the alcohol-strength statement and allergen information against the batch results.
Great Britain does not require a VI-1 certificate for imported wine. Keep that separate from organic inspection certification. Agree the excise route with your broker: imported alcohol becomes liable for UK Excise Duty when it arrives.
Inspection checklist
Wine: compare arrival samples with the agreed sample for colour, aroma, flavour, oxidation, unexpected gas and sediment.
Analysis: match the batch identification and laboratory results for strength, residual sugar, acidity and sulphites to the specification.
Labels: compare printed artwork with the approved version, checking origin and vintage claims, alcohol strength, allergen information and business details.
Packing: inspect closures, leakage, fill levels, broken glass, carton staining and bulk-container seals; photograph damage before unpacking.
What goes wrong
A tasting sample can differ from the shipped blend. Heat exposure, oxygen ingress and leaking closures can change the wine before arrival. Unagreed sediment or sweetness can make a batch unsuitable for the buyer’s intended customers. Keep reference samples and link inspection records to the shipped batch. Use the inspection guide to brief the checks.
Costing only customs duty leaves Alcohol Duty out of the buying decision. Model the full landed cost and import VAT at 20%, asking your customs broker to confirm the taxable value and the treatment of customs duty and Alcohol Duty. Resolve label corrections and any organic-document questions before dispatch. See the duty and VAT guide.
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 still red wine from China?
The selected larger-container lines carry £8.20 or £12.00 per hectolitre, depending on classification and strength. These are volume-based customs duties; Alcohol Duty is separate.
Can I import Chinese red wine as organic?
Confirm with your customs broker whether an inspection certificate is required for release as organic. Confirm importer certification and exporter eligibility with your broker before ordering.
Do I need a VI-1 certificate for Chinese wine?
A VI-1 certificate is not required for wine imported into Great Britain. Separately, ask your customs broker to confirm inspection-certificate requirements for organic stock.
What should I test before shipping red wine?
Compare the production batch with the approved tasting sample. Check strength, residual sugar, acidity and sulphites, then inspect closures, leakage and packaging.