Two developments the past week have stirred hopes for Georgia's wine producers, who have been banned from exporting to Russia for more than six years. Russia banned imports of Georgian wine in 2006 after its military conflict with the former Soviet state, citing poor quality as the reason, while Georgia – which until had exported 89% of all its wine to Russia – denounced the ban as politically motivated, and illegal. Now, following Georgia's recent government elections, Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov last week said, ‘When they tell us Georgia wants to further improve relations, we are ready to discuss resuming imports of Georgian agricultural products as well.’ <...>
But some find the new developments of mixed value. While a strong supporter of Davitashvili for his ‘extensive wine knowledge and industry experience without any biased connection’, Keith Johnsen of US importer Daqopa Brands expressed concern that the former Russian market would be a ‘gigantic distraction' which might influence Georgian wineries to tailor their vinification methods to suit it. They would produce half-sweet reds in keeping with the Russian palate, thereby not exploiting the potential American market, he said.
Georgian wineries won 28 medals at the Decanter World Wine Awards 2012, inlcuding two silver medals [read more: Decanter World Wine Awards for 28 Georgian wines. Georgian wines also won 20 medals at the Decanter Asia Awards - HN]. The majority were the blends of the country's indigenous red grape, Saperavi.For full text of article, please visit Decanter's website.
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