Guide to exporting wine to Colombia

Colombia offers Catalan wineries a market to explore, but the first shipment requires coordinating procedures, labels, costs and logistics with the importer. The Guide to exporting wine to Colombia brings together the main aspects to review before starting this process.

The health registration, a decision that affects the relationship with the importer

One of the first steps is to check that the Colombian business partner has the documentation needed to import and that the wine can obtain health registration from INVIMA. This registration is required to market alcoholic beverages in Colombia. The importation must also be processed and a health inspection must be expected on arrival in the country. 

The guide raises a commercial question that should be resolved at the start of negotiations: who will be the holder of the health registration. This decision can condition the addition of new importers and the winery's flexibility if, later on, it wants to modify its distribution network. INVIMA indicates that changes to add an importer must be processed by the registration holder. 

Therefore, before closing a distribution agreement, it is useful to define the responsibilities of each party regarding the registration, any possible modifications and the product documentation.

Labels adapted before preparing the shipment

Labelling is another point that requires planning. The wine information, the health registration, the lot and the warnings required in the Colombian market must be reviewed before producing the labels intended for export. INVIMA identifies, among the mandatory notices, those relating to the effects of alcohol on health and the prohibition of sales to minors. 

Wineries that use the same label for several markets should pay special attention to the indications already printed on it. INVIMA has published specific criteria on the labels of wines from the European Union, including the nutritional information included on the labels of origin. It is advisable to validate their application with the importer before shipment.

Samples, transport and price formation

The guide also dedicates a section to commercial samples. In the case of wine, sending them requires correctly identifying their purpose and checking the applicable health procedures. Preparing this step in advance facilitates product presentation actions to potential buyers, tastings or market studies.

Regarding transport, the report points to Cartagena as a maritime option for goods destined for the interior of the country and Buenaventura for certain destinations in the south-west. By air, it highlights Bogotá airport when distribution is nationwide. The final choice will depend on the location of the importer, the order volume and the domestic distribution costs.

The sale price must be calculated beyond the cost of the wine and international transport. The guide recommends including customs clearance costs, applicable taxes, procedures, storage and distribution margins. Working out the final price with the importer makes it possible to assess in which channel and segment each reference can compete before agreeing the first operation.

The guide thus offers a practical route for organising the decisions for entering the Colombian market. As it includes data and figures from 2025, the current rates and requirements must be checked with the competent authorities and the importer before finalising a shipment.