Sen. Adam Schiff warned that Canada’s boycott of American wine could cause lasting harm to U.S. wineries, even if the trade dispute that sparked it is resolved.

During a visit to Serres Ranch in Sonoma on Monday, Schiff met with wine industry representatives from Sonoma and Napa counties. He said the boycott had been “devastating,” contributing to more than $500 million in lost U.S. wine exports over 19 months and putting at risk ties with what had been the industry’s largest overseas market.

Canadian anger over President Donald Trump’s tariffs and comments about Canada has spread beyond provinces that restricted U.S. alcohol sales. Alberta is currently the only province allowing California wine to be sold, but Schiff said he heard concerns there, too. He recently met with Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and provincial officials, then traveled to Ottawa for discussions with national officials and business representatives.

The decline in exports is steep. U.S. wine shipments to Canada fell 78% in 2025, from $460 million to $103 million, according to U.S. Department of Agriculture trade data. The Wine Institute estimates that the shortfall from March 2025 through June 2026 totaled about $522 million compared with the same period a year earlier.

The institute says the loss is not solely a measure of consumer preference: Most Canadian provinces stopped buying and distributing U.S. alcoholic beverages in March 2025, limiting access to American wine. Still, Canadian consumers and retailers are turning to alternatives. The Calgary Herald reported that demand for U.S. wine was waning in Alberta, while sales of local wine in British Columbia’s government liquor stores rose 157% from the previous year.

Canada’s share of U.S. wine exports dropped from 36% in 2024 to 12% in 2025, moving from the top destination to third place. The decline accounted for most of the drop in the value of U.S. wine exports worldwide, which fell from $1.27 billion in 2024 to about $830 million in 2025. Wine Institute statistics show exports have been trending downward since reaching roughly $1.6 billion in 2016.

Schiff urged fellow senators to visit Canada and maintain relationships with Canadian buyers and officials. He warned that rebuilding the market could be difficult as competitors take up shelf space and form ties with distributors and customers.

“ Shelf space doesn’t sit empty waiting for U.S. wine to come back,” said Wine Institute spokesperson Julie Berge. The organization is working with officials in both countries to restore access and help California wineries rebuild distribution and customer relationships. It says, however, that growth in other markets cannot replace access to Canada.

Schiff also called for changes to federal farm support programs to better serve specialty-crop growers. He said he hopes Congress will pass a farm bill that funds research into vineyard diseases such as red blotch and improves assistance for specialty crops. He also expressed interest in exploring federal wine-labeling legislation.