(TDB) - Australian wine producers should “prepare themselves” to be affected by Russian trade embargoes, according to the country’s Grape and Wine Authority.

Steve Guy, the AGWA regulatory manager, told Australia’s ABC network that the Russian market is “one that we would hope to be able to grow and of course you can’t do that if there’s a ban on exports.

“It’s a niche market for some companies, and certainly not one we’d want to lose.”

One million litres of Australian wine are sent to Russia each year, a small fraction of the 678m litres Australia’s winemakers export globally, according to figures obtained by the broadcaster.

But Guy stressed that Russia is a higher value market compared to other importing countries; returning $4.60 (£2.54) per litre compared to the global average of $2.60 (£1.44) per litre.

He also emphasised that Russia’s recent allegations against Georgian and Moldovan wines – claiming that they are dangerous and even poisonous – is an example of what could happen if tensions continue to escalate between the West and Russia.

“These were spurious allegations. At least… the Russians are being transparent about their motivations,” he said.

This was in reference to the current ban imposed by Russia last week on certain foods and agricultural products from the EU and other nations such as the US, Canada and Australia.