Posted on 04/21/2006 2:30:14 PM PDT by lizol
Russia bans Moldovan, Georgian wine
20/04/2006 - Russia’s ban on Moldovan wine could open the door wider to eager foreign competitors, looking to use their higher quality and better image to woo Russian wine drinkers.
Russia's ban on wine from Moldova and Georgia has erupted in political rows this week, with Moldovan authorities reportedly threatening to try and block Russia's accession to the World Trade Organisation. Russia said the ban had been imposed because the wine did not meet its quality standards, while Moldova and Georgia accused their neighbour of playing political power games.
The ban, however, comes at a tense time for the Moldovan wine industry, which has already seen market share ebbing away in Russia, its principal export market.
Moldova's share of the total Russian wine market was 70 per cent in 2000, but this had fallen to 60 per cent by 2004, according to government figures.
The problem is that without Russia, much of Moldova's wine production would cease to exist. Moldovan government figures from 2004 show that 80.2 per cent of all Moldovan wine (excluding fortified wines) was consumed in Russia.
The ban on wine imports is, therefore, likely to hit particularly hard. And, it may accelerate the trend among Russia's nouveaux riches to buy higher quality wines from further afield, such as France, Spain, South Africa and Australia.
Pavel Shapkin, chairman of Russia's National Alcohol Association, told Cee-FoodIndustry.com last year that Russian consumers assumed they had to look beyond Moldova to buy better bottles of wine.
“Moldovan wines have a reputation as being popular with low-income consumers, who pay around RUR70-80 ($2.30 -2.60) for a bottle but have no hope of paying any more,” he explained. “For a producer from Moldova to sell his wine at, say, RUR200 a bottle, the same as a bottle of Spanish wine would require a huge improvement in quality.”
In autumn 2004, Shapkin's National Alcohol Association joined forces with the Moldovan Wine Exporters' Association and the Moldova Ministry of Agriculture's wine division to establish the new fund and promote Moldova's viticultural output.
Moldovan authorities also resolved to help fund improvements to the quality of Moldovan wine, intended to help it compete against wine firms from the New and Old World eyeing Russia as a potential growth market.
Principles of the trading system
The WTO discussions should follow these fundamental principles of trading.
- A trading system should be discrimination-free in a sense that a country cannot favour another country or discriminate against foreign products or services.
- A trading system should be more free where there should be little trade barriers (tariffs and non-tariff barriers).
- A trading system should be predictable where foreign companies and governments can be sure that trade barriers would not be raised and markets will remain open.
- A trading system should be more competitive.
- A trading system should be more accommodating for less developed countries, giving them more time to adjust, greater flexibility, and more privileges.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WTO#Mission
Ping
Every country reserves the right to trade with friendly nations. If someone stabs you in the eye, then you would be insane to frequent their business.
Georgian Wine Importers Plan To Appeal To Court On Russian Wine Ban
Tbilisi. April 05 (Prime-News) – The largest Russian importers of Georgian and Moldavian wines are to agree their plan to bring a suit against Gennadi Onishenko, Chief Sanitary Inspector of Russia on Wednesday.
The Russian businessmen are determined to accuse Gennadi Onishenko of slander for his decision to ban import of Georgian and Moldavian wines and their ingredients for alleged low quality and demand lift of sanctions.
The legal experts say that the importers can make a good case.
The statement on intention to sue Gennadi Onishenko was made by Vadim Drobiz, Chairman of Union of Participants of Alcoholic Market.
The list of the companies that are to appeal to the court includes such large importers of Georgian and Moldavian wines as Wine World, Rosagroimport and Standard VK.
“Gennadi Onishenko has not presented any documents to prove reported low quality of the wines as he made statement about imposing of ban”, say the representatives of Wine World. Besides, even trade with imported wines that were already certified by the Rosportebnadzor was prohibited too.
Sure they can behave like that.
But in this case they have nothing to look for in any club of civilized countries (like WTO).
Moldova and Georgia make some excellent very drinkable wine. (They also make some not so excellent wine, but doesn't everybody?)
Looks like they are drinkable for everyone except the Russians :-)))
Moldovan wines are good for washing one's socks in. Georgian ones, however, are MUCH better - Khvanchkara, Kindzmarauli - to name just a few available here in the US. Thus, if more of the good stuff is available in the free world - so much the better.
Well, catch the train to Port Noir and buy Basque Absinthe.
Romulan ale should be illegal.
Black Stump Bordeaux is rightly praised as a peppermint flavoured Burgundy, whilst a good Sydney Syrup can rank with any of the world's best sugary wines.
Real emetic fans will also go for a Hobart Muddy, and a prize winning Cuivre Reserve Château Bottled Nuit San Wogga Wogga, which has a bouquet like an aborigine's armpit.
Russia wont be getting into the WTO thanks to the USof A. ;) Either they open their markets fully to us and their banks or sorry they wont get our support(which they must have to enter). They can moan and whine all they like we arent slaves to their petrol like the EU is.
If Georgian and Modovan wine is banned, then what does that leave? In terms of red wine, I'd reckon only the Crimean varietals. That's pretty limited.
The Kuban is Russia's wine growing region. I like to drink Myshako's Cabernet and Abrau-Dyurso Champagne. They are not "world class," but they are not bad either.
Just some observations while I was tracking down Hemingway when I was in Europe.
Get your reservations in now for Pamplona's Las Fiestas de San Fermin- the running of the bulls. Go there. There are big, loud, drunken rock bands playing all day and night. There is a statue of Hemingway in the middle of the main Avenida with a big oak tree behind him that little children put flowers in front of- on a normal day.
During Las Fiestas de San Fermin, European punks piss into the wishing pool surrounding the statue of Hemingway like it is a toilet. Take your camera and check this out for yourself. I was there.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.