Tariffs, Triumphs, and the Supreme Court: A Conversation with Victor Owen Schwartz
The Wonderful World of Wine (WWW)
Episode 317
Hosts Kim Simone and Mark Lenzi exploring all things wine with you!
Tariffs, Triumphs, and the Supreme Court: A Conversation with Victor Owen Schwartz
The Wonderful World of Wine (WWW) Episode 317 Hosts Kim Simone and Mark Lenzi exploring all things wine with you! Tariffs, Triumphs, and the Supreme Court: A Conversation with Victor Owen Schwartz In this landmark episode of The Wonderful World of Wine (WWW), hosts Kim and Mark sit down with a true titan of the industry and a recent headline-maker: Victor Owen Schwartz. As the founder and president of VOS Selections, a premier New York-based importer and distributor, Victor shares the incredible journey of his career—one that started not with a vineyard, but with a bold letter to the legendary British wine expert Steven Spurrier. We dive deep into the mechanics of the industry, the complexities of the Three-Tier System, and the realities of wine taxes. However, the conversation takes a historic turn as we discuss Victor's role as the plaintiff in the 2025 Supreme Court case, Schwartz vs. Trump. In This Episode, We Discuss: The Spark: How a single letter to Steven Spurrier launched a lifelong career. Industry Insights: A masterclass on importing, distributing, and navigating the Three-Tier System. The Legal Battle: The inside story of the Supreme Court case that shook the trade. The Win: Detailed analysis of Victor's successful challenge against tariffs and what it means for the future of wine. A Surprising Correspondence: The story behind the personal letter Victor received from former VP Mike Pence. Connect with Our Guest and Show: VOS Selections: www.vosselections.com The Wonderful World of Wine(WWW): www.thewww.wine Cheers 🍷🍷🍷 Kim and Mark #WinePodcast #VOSSelections #WineIndustry #SupremeCourt #SchwartzVsTrump #WineTariffs #ThreeTierSystem #WineEducation #TheWonderfulWorldOfWine #WineImporting
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.
