Georgia named in top 3 wine importers in Russia, outrunning Spain
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Georgia has become the third largest wine importer in Russia, outrunning Spain in the first three months of 2014, Hvino News reported based on data from Russia’s Customs Service.
Georgian wines took 14.1 percent of the total imported wine market behind France and Italy with 19.3 and 14.8 percent respectively in the first quarter of this year. Spanish wine claimed 13.5 percent of the market.
Hvino News read this was actually larger than Georgia's share prior to the embargo: in 2005, Georgia held 9 percent of the total import market, which then amounted to 36.4 million litres, or 52 million bottles a year.
According to Hvino News Russia's Customs service sees Georgia and Abkhazia as two separate countries, while Abkhazia is a breakaway region of Georgia.
"Georgian and Abkhazian imports together account for 18.8 percent, which almost brings the total import figure to the first place.”
Russia's Federal Consumer Protection Service banned imports of Georgian wine in 2006, complaining they did not satisfy Russian quality standards. Critics said at the time that the decision was a response to rising political tensions between the former allies.
About 7.4 million litres, or nearly 10 million bottles, of Georgian wine were imported to Russia between January and March this year. This was 71 percent of Georgia's total wine exports, Georgia's National Wine Agency reported.
When the embargo was lifted last year, experts were skeptical as to Georgian wine's prospects on the market, as cheaper wines from such countries as Spain, Portugal and Latin America had filled the gap, Hvino News read.
But Russian consumers evidently had not forgotten their former favorites, and Georgia immediately sprinted into the top 10 of wine importers, winning 5.5 percent of the total imported wine market in 2013.
The Georgian Government plans to stimulate domestic production and develop production-oriented industries through a new state program named Produce in Georgia.
As summer draws to an end, the country’s grape harvest season is just beginning and experts are estimating more than 100,000 tonnes of grapes will be picked this year.
More Georgian wine is continuing to be exported as European countries strive to get their hands on Georgia’s liquid gold.
From January 1 to September 30, Georgia exported 42.8 million 0.75 litre bottles of wine, valued at $137 million USD to 39 countries across the world.
Georgian farmers from the country's wine producing regions are enjoying the benefits of a bumper harvest after earning 170 million GEL by selling 120,000 tonnes of grapes this year.
Georgia has earned more than $60 million USD from exporting more than 15 million bottles of locally-made wine and three million bottles of spirits this year.