Despite stronger interest in U.S. and European lifestyle trends and record growth in wine imports in 2013, wine faces serious difficulties in the Russian market. Such difficulties include stricter government regulations such as high excise rates, restrictions on selling hours and sales locations, a complete ban on advertising of alcoholic beverages, burdensome import controls, and confusing licensing procedures to import wine into Russia. In 2013, Russia imported nearly 500 million liters of wine at a value of $ 1.2 billion, representing an increase of 16 percent from 2012. U.S. wine sales have risen dramatically in recent years and reached a record $15.7 million in 2013 (up 27 percent compared to 2012).
