date:Feb 06, 2013
has shown a willingness to improve ties since his party's defeat in the election.
Russia's ban on Georgian products has dealt a painful blow to its economy.
Since the Soviet times, Georgian wine has been a popular tipple in Russia, accounting for about 90 percent of exports before the ban. The nosedive of Russian purchases forced many vineyards to close.
Since then, they have recovered as Georgia expanded sales to other markets, but at 23 million bottles last year the vineyards are still far