Canonical: https://unicorncurrencies.com/industries/wine-spirits-import/

# Intelligence: Wine & Spirits Import

## Pain Points

- Duty and excise payments (large upfront costs)

- Bonded warehouse management

- Seasonal harvest allocation payments

- En primeur futures (pay 2 years ahead)

## Solutions (Unicorn Currencies)

- 0.5% spread on EUR wine payments

- En primeur payment scheduling

- Duty payment management

- Multi-currency producer accounts

## Payment Profile

- **Timing:** Harvest allocations: 50% deposit, 50% on release (12-24 months). Regular shipments: Net 30-60. Duty on release from bond.

- **Settlement priority:** MODERATE: Allocation-based, relationships matter more than speed. En primeur requires trust. Duty payments time-sensitive.

- **Invoice terms:** Net 30-60 (established suppliers), 50% deposit for allocations, en primeur: 100% upfront 2 years before delivery.

- **FX risk:** HIGH: EUR dominates (70%). En primeur creates 2-year FX exposure. AUD/NZD for New World. Forward contracts essential for futures.

- **Cash flow:** Seasonal harvest payments (Sep-Nov). Christmas sales peak. En primeur cash-intensive. Duty payments create cash flow gaps.

## Common Documentation

- VI-1 Form (wine)

- Commercial Invoice

- AAD (Administrative Accompanying Document)

- Excise Movement Guarantee

- Certificate of Origin

## Global Network (Top Corridors)

- GBP → EUR: France, Italy, Spain — European wine regions (70% of imports)

- GBP → AUD: Australia — Australian wine and spirits

- GBP → USD: USA — American whiskey and California wine

- GBP → NZD: New Zealand — New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc