12/11/2010 17:57
Diasporas of U.S., EU consume 95 percent exported Armenian wine
Wine exports from Armenia increased 53 percent in the first six months of 2010 compared to the previous year. More than 65-70 percent exports fall to CIS, U.S. and EU, Chairman of the Union of Winemakers of Armenia Avag Harutyunyan told a news conference.
According to him, 95 percent exported Armenian wine is consumed by representatives of Armenian Diaspora in U.S. and EU who just “feel nostalgia.”
“The Armenian Diaspora plays double role – very negative and very positive. Positive because they buy Armenian wine and negative because they buy that wine only because it is Armenian,” Harutyunyan said. “Thus, Armenian manufacturers are not interested in raising wine quality.”