Georgia Fights for Right to Sell Stalin's Favorite Wine in US

The National Intellectual Property Center of Georgia (SAKPATENTI) is currently in negotiations with the US company Dozortsev and Sons over the rights to sell former Soviet leader Joseph Stalin’s favorite red wine Khvanchkara in the United States. Currently, the US-based company has the exclusive right to sell this wine on the territory of the United States.

SAKPATENTI Director Irakli Gvaladze explained for AFP that Khvanchkara was produced in limited quantities in a remote region of Georgia and warned that placing monopoly over Georgian wine trademarks in the hands of one private company damages the Georgian winemakers’ interests.

Last year, the European Union and Georgia signed an agreement according to which wine companies in the EU will have to respect 18 geographical indications belonging to Georgian wines. Khvanchkara is among the 18 protected brands.

Georgian winemakers reoriented their sales to Western markets after Russia imposed an import ban on Georgian wine in 2006, claiming it did not fulfill Russia’s health standards.

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Source: French news agency Agence France-Presse (AFP)