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Wine was one of the chief exports of Moldavia throughout the medieval period, especially to [[Poland]], [[Ukraine]] and [[Russia]]. Because it was a ware that was always easily sold, it was the only product for which the taxes were paid with silver coins, such as Greek ''hyperperos''. For other agricultural wares, such as wheat, the taxes were paid in products, usually one tenth of the production.<ref>V. Costăchel, PP Panaitescu, A. Cazacu. (1957) ''Viaţa feudală în Ţara Românească şi Moldova (secolele XIV–XVI)'' ("Feudal life in the Romanian and Moldovan Land (14th–16th centuries)", Bucureşti, Editura Ştiinţifică pp. 43-44</ref>
In 2006, a diplomatic conflict with Russia began after the [[2006 Russian ban of Moldovan and Georgian wines]].
In April 2005, the import of Moldovan wines was forbidden in Russia, one of the most important consumers of Moldovan wines, making up to 80% of its wine production. The Russian authorities claimed that heavy metals and pesticides were found in Moldovan wines and that they are falsified alcoholic products, labeled as wines. No proofs were given and the Moldovan side claimed that tens of countries across the world import Moldovan wines and none noticed any problem, arguing that it is economic blackmail.<ref>[[Evenimentul Zilei]]. [http://www.evz.ro/article.php?artid=255695 "Moscova nu crede in vin"] [[7 April]] [[2006]]</ref>
A year earlier, the Russian Duma had demanded a ban for Moldovan wine imports, because Moldova was considered an "enemy" of Russia, carrying an "anti-Russian policy".<ref>[[Pravda]]. [http://english.pravda.ru/main/18/89/357/15077_wine.html "Russian law-makers to outlaw Moldavian wine"] [[9 March]] [[2005]]</ref>
EU's external relations commissioner, [[Benita Ferrero-Waldner]] declared that the EU is worried about what she called an "[[embargo]]" against Moldova, but the EU can't take any measures, as Russia is not a member of the [[World Trade Organization]].<ref>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/romanian/news/story/2006/04/060411_moldova_rusia_ue.shtml "Premierul Tarlev reclamă Rusia la Uniunea Europeană"], BBC Romanian, [[11 April]] [[2006]]</ref>
==Wine growing regions in Moldova==
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