Welcome to Episode 2374 of the Italian Wine Podcast. In this episode, Juliana Colangelo interviews Victor Owen Schwartz of VOS Selections. Together, they explore Victor’s recent legal battle against the Trump administration’s sweeping tariffs—an important case with major implications for the U.S. wine trade.

Key takeaways:

The Origins of the Lawsuit: How a small wine importer became the lead plaintiff in a nationally significant legal challenge against the Trump administration’s tariffs.
Implications of the Court’s Decision: What the ruling means for U.S. wine importers, distributors, and producers, particularly those dealing with European wines.
Advice for Italian Wine Producers: How Italian wineries can prepare for and adapt to ongoing trade uncertainties and potential tariff-related disruptions.

More about the guest: Victor Owen Schwartz

Victor Owen Schwartz is the founder and president of VOS Selections, an independent wine and spirits import company he launched in 1987. Based in New York, VOS Selections focuses on artisanal, family-owned producers, with a strong emphasis on European wines—particularly from France, Italy, and Spain. Victor has built a reputation for discovering high-quality, underrepresented producers and bringing them to the U.S. market.

In 2025, he became widely known for his role as the lead plaintiff in the landmark lawsuit V.O.S. Selections, Inc. v. United States, which successfully challenged the Trump administration’s unilateral imposition of tariffs under the IEEPA.

Connect:

Website: https://vosselections.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vosselections/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vosselections/

More about the host: Juliana Colangelo

Juliana Colangelo is a leading communications and marketing professional for the beverage alcohol industry. Currently, Juliana is a Senior Brand Manager at Frederick Wildman, where she is focused on building their Italian wine portfolio. Prior to that, she led the California Division as a Vice President at Colangelo & Partners, the leading wine and spirits communications agency in the U.S. for over 10 years. During her tenure at C&P, Juliana led the development of the California office, growing the agency’s domestic presence to a dedicated office of 15 people with representation of leading wine companies such as Jackson Family Wines, Far Niente, Charles Krug Winery, Foley Family Wines and more. Juliana has completed her WSET Level 3 and her eMBA in Wine Business with Sonoma State University. In 2021, Juliana was named one of PR News’ Top Women in PR in the “Rising Stars” category. In 2022 Juliana became a Vinitaly International Academy Italian Wine Ambassador.

Connect:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/julezcolang/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jules.colangelo/

Twitter: https://x.com/JulezColang

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliana-colangelo-mba-04345539/

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Until next time, Cin Cin!

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