Georgian Wine Export in 2007 Made 29,197,40 (1 000 USD)

The FINANCIAL -- According to the Department of Statistics for Georgia, the total amount of Georgian wine export in 2007 was 29,197,40 (1 000 USD).

When Russia placed an embargo on Georgian wine in spring 2006, the industry suffered the loss of its biggest market. Georgia used to export 90 percent of its wine to Russia. Countries in the Commonwealth of Independent States remain the biggest buyers of Georgian wine, but exports have increased to Poland, Germany, the UK and the US.

As for the separate markets, the amount of wine export to the USA was 1,584,20 (1 000 USD), Belarus - 1,452,92 (1 000 USD), Latvia - 1,531,40 (1 000 USD), Poland - 1,131,54 (1 000 USD), Ukraine - 14,798,43 (1 000 USD).

According to the State Department of Vine & Wine Samtrest, the total volume of Georgian wines exported in the 1st Q of 2008 was 1,635,602 litres, 1,010,666 litres out of which were to Ukraine , 136,661 litres - to Latvia, 81,441 litres - Belarus.

Recently Georgian winemakers have responded to the statement by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, who said a few days ago that Russia was prepared to resume wine import from Georgia and have kind, friendly relations with its Southern neighbour.

The Union of Georgian wine-producers says that if Lavrov’s statement is not just a political statement and it really aims at resuming political negotiations about the issue, the Georgian side is prepared to start cooperation.

The founders of the Georgian Wine Producers’ Union are the leading Georgian wine-producing companies: Georgian Wines & Spirits - GWS, Teliani Valley, Tbilvino, Khetsuriani, Wineman, Shumi, Vazi-1, Askaneli Brothers, Telavi Wine Cellar.

The main reason for founding the Georgian Wine Producers’ Union was the threat of losing the trust of consumers in the category Georgian Wine in the chief export markets - Russia and Ukraine , which in turn may cause irreversible damage to the image and sales of Georgian wine.