Georgian wine exports climb 27% in 2011
TBILISI. Jan 24 (Interfax) - Georgia exported 18.5 million bottles of wine (in 0.75 liter equivalent) in 2011, up 26.7% on the previous year, the Georgian Agriculture Ministry told Interfax.
Georgian wine was exported to 40 countries, with the majority still going to fellow CIS countries, the ministry said.
The top three importers of Georgian wine were Ukraine, Kazakhstan and Belarus, accounting for 73% of all exports.
There was an increase in exports to countries in the European Union as well as the United States and China, thanks to an improvement in the quality of Georgian wine, the ministry said. "After the traditional Russian market became closed for Georgia, these countries are considered to hold the most potential for sales," a ministry spokesman said.
He said 35 companies, specializing mostly in semi-sweet and dry wines, exported in 2011. Red wine accounted for 75% of exports and white for 25%.
The Agriculture Ministry aims to boost exports and expects at the very least 20 million bottles to go in 2012.
Russia banned the import of Georgian wine in March 2006 citing complaints about quality as its official reason.