Georgian-wine-bottles

The first Georgian drinks to be on sale in Russia will be a cognac made in Kakheti. (DF Watch photo.)

TBILISI, DFWatch–20 000 bottles of cognac were Tuesday sent to Russia to be sold there. This is the first time Georgian beverages are sold in Russia after it imposed an embargo on Georgian products in 2006.

Levan Davitashvili, Chair of the National Wine Agency, said at a press conference Tuesday that the first shipment of Georgian alcohol products destined for the Russian market was sent today.

The shipment consisted of 20 000 bottles of cognac produced by Kakhetian Traditional Farm. Next up is Dugladze Wine Company, which is readying another consignment to be sent off within the next few days.

“The embargo is finished, in fact,” Davitashvili said. “About 15 alcohol companies expect to start export this week.”

According to him, Georgian alcohol will be placed in the average or high segment and will cost from 300 to 400 rubles (USD 9-12).

The cognac which has been sent will appear on Russian supermarket shelves in about two weeks.

Levan Davitashvili said they assume that about 2 million bottles of Georgian alcohol will be sent to Russia during summer. In total, 65 companies prepare to send their product to Russia.