In a replay of Russia’s trade war against Georgia of a decade ago, Russian authorities are moving to ban imports of Georgian wines

In a replay of Russia’s trade war against Georgia of a decade ago, Russian authorities are moving to ban imports of Georgian wines, Kommersant business daily reports from Moscow. Russia’s state consumer watchdog Rospotrebnadzor says it is introducing tougher checks on wine imports over ‘quality concerns’ and Agriculture Ministry officials are calling wine retailers in a ‘survey’ on Georgian wine imports. From 2006-2013, Russia banned imports of Georgian wine. After the ban was lifted, Russia bounced back to its historic position as a top importer. Last year, Russia took 62% of Georgia’s exports of 82.6 million bottles, five times the level of the number two country, Ukraine. With $130 million in exports under threat, Georgia’s currency, the lari, fell this week to record lows.