New York Retailer Turns to Wine Auctions to Avoid US Tariffs

Reuters reports that Brooklyn merchant Chris Leon is trying to soften the impact of US tariffs on European wine by buying bottles that are already sitting in American cellars, then reselling them through online auctions. The idea is to avoid new import costs on wines from France, Italy and Spain, while also giving consumers access to older and sometimes discontinued bottles. The report says Leon & Son makes about 90% of its revenue from imported wine, which shows how sharply tariff policy is reshaping the trade and encouraging more creative retail models.