Wine exports from the country of Georgia to the United States in the first six months of 2020 exceeded export levels in the same six-month period of 2019. This is despite lockdowns and economic downturns in both countries resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. Exports to the United States for January through June 2020 showed an increase of 5 percent in volume, according to the National Wine Agency of Georgia.

These positive results follow five straight years of year-over-year double-digit growth (+30 percent on average) in Georgia's annual wine exports to the United States. In 2019, Georgian wine exports to USA rose 46 percent over the previous year, making the USA Georgia's largest Western wine market.

"As the global coronavirus crisis unfolded, we were gratified to see continued strong interest in these wines from half a world away," said Julie Peterson, managing partner of Marq Wine Group, who leads U.S. strategy for the National Wine Agency of Georgia. "American consumers are increasingly turning to wines that reflect the authenticity of a people and a place as they become more intentional about their food and wine choices during these unconventional times."