By Helena Bedwell

Georgian wine exports increased last year to $54.1 million, the most since Russia imposed a trade embargo in 2006.

Exports rose 37.7 percent in 2011 from a year earlier to 16.9 million liters, the National Statistics Office of Georgia in Tbilisi said in an e-mailed statement today. Ukraine, Belarus and Kazakhstan topped the list of customers.

Russia prohibited imports of Georgian mineral water and wine in 2006 after Georgia expelled four Russian servicemen whom it accused of espionage. Georgia last year backed Russia’s bid to join the World Trade Organization, clearing the way for formal approval of its membership bid on Dec. 16.

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