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Georgian wine reaches Russia after 7-year ban
June 17, 2013, 10:40 am

[AP]

A Georgian wine producer pours wine from a cask at his wine shop in Tbilisi, Georgia [AP]

The first shipment of Georgian wine has been delivered to Russia after an import ban put in place in 2006 was lifted.

The first 30,000 bottles have crossed the border to be delivered to shops in Moscow on Monday.

The wine will cost approximately 300-800 rubles ($10-26) per bottle, while the average price of wine in Georgia is about $7.

The Dugladze winery plans to deliver 500,000 bottles to commercial distributors throughout Russia in June.

Another two companies – Alaverdi and Teliani Veli – also received licenses to ship wine to Russia.

The resumption of wine deliveries might be an important factor for Georgia’s economy, but according to the head of Russia’s Federal Consumer Protection Service Gennady Onishchenko the move will have little profit for Russia.

Russia banned the import of Georgian wines and mineral water in 2006, claiming that they contained hazardous substances.

However, the move coincided with the escalation of tensions between Russia and Georgia. And Tbilisi claimed the ban was politically motivated.

In March, Russia’s consumer rights watchdog, Rospotrebnadzor, cleared 36 Georgian winemakers and four mineral water producers to resume deliveries to Russia.

Later that month the ban on Georgian alcohol and mineral water was officially lifted.

Since then, 12 producers have received 152 registration certificates, while 81 alcohol brands from seven manufacturers are currently being evaluated, Onishchenko said.

Daria Chernyshova