Wine, Wisdom, and Customs Clearance: How I Helped My First Wine Importer to Obtain Their CBMA Refund Successfully

We had been working toward securing our first wine importer for some time, but often ran into the same hurdle: many wine importers already had a Customs Broker—and unless there’s a major issue, most aren't looking to switch. That’s often the reality in this industry. If things are going "fine," there’s little incentive for change.

That changed when we connected with a potential client who had been experiencing repeated issues with their previous broker. We were transparent from the start—we hadn’t yet cleared wine imports. But we were also confident: we would figure it out.

Before our first call, we dove deep into research. We started with the Informed Compliance Publication on the Classification and Entry Requirements of Alcoholic Beverages and Spirits. Who better to learn from than U.S. Customs and Border Protection? Still, the ICP was from 2008, so we didn’t stop there. We studied recent Cargo Systems Messaging Service (CSMS) notices and watched webinars related to the Craft Beverage Modernization Act (CBMA).

As we learned, we documented everything—developing a detailed standard operating procedure (SOP) tailored specifically for wine entries.

When it was time for our initial call with the client, we presented our wine SOP. It addressed the very issues they had encountered with their prior Customs broker: missing foreign producer IDs, TTB permit numbers, and COLA documentation. Sharing our SOP showed them our commitment—not just to compliance, but to their business.

They took a chance on us.

We processed their shipment, and they were able to successfully claim their TTB refund under CBMA—without delay. Since then, we’ve gone on to process multiple wine shipments for them.

If you're ready to experience The Power of Good Advice, we’re just one click—or one call—away.

Just Your Broker Inc. is a U.S. Customs Brokerage Firm based in New York offering nationwide import/export Customs clearance, Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) Classification, Importer Security Filing (ISF), Customs bonds, Duty drawback, FDA Food Facility Registration, Customs Broker exam training, and more . We specialize in niche markets such as wine, plants, live animals, vehicles, and boats.

📧 hello@justyourbroker.com

📞 516-226-0392