Smirnoff, another popular brand, was founded in Russia, but it is owned and produced by Diageo, a British company with no ties to Russia.

Over the weekend, Stoli posted a message on its website that “Stoli Group stands for peace in Europe and in solidarity with the Ukrainian people #LiberateUkraine.” It’s owned by a company in Luxembourg that is controlled by Yuri Shefler, a Russian-born billionaire who left Russia about 20 years ago during a tiff with the Kremlin. Latvia, a former Soviet republic, happens to be a NATO member. In its assessment last week, the PLCB had determined that it is not Russian, though it is made at least partly from Russian wheat and may in fact be originally distilled there and sent to a facility in Latvia to be filtered, proofed down, bottled, and shipped. Bar owners around the nation have been ceremoniously dumping the popular Stolichnaya brand. The “Russian” label can be hard to pin down in this global economy. Company owner Margaret Bayuk told The Inquirer on Saturday that she hoped that any backlash against Russian imports would subside quickly. Russian Standard is owned by Roustam Tariko, a Russian oligarch, while Ustianochka is produced and bottled in Russia for Amruss Inc., an importer based in Beaver Falls, Pa., that sells its product only in Pennsylvania. About a half-dozen special-order items, which the PLCB could not readily identify Sunday, also are Russian. PLCB spokesman Shawn Kelly on Friday told The Inquirer that it had identified only two major Russian-produced brands with products on the shelves of Pennsylvania’s stores: Russian Standard and Ustianochka, both 80-proof vodkas.

Sunday’s statement by Pennsylvania - one of the nation’s largest purchasers of wines and spirits - is rare, but likely will not have a major economic impact. Smaller groups have boycotted certain Russian products over the years, most notably in 2013 after Russian President Vladimir Putin instituted antigay legislation. Liquor board chairman Tim Holden said, “Given the evolving political-economic climate, it’s just the right thing to do.” Tom Wolf, joining with governors of other states looking to make a statement, sent a letter to the board to identify Russian-sourced products currently being sold at Fine Wine & Good Spirits stores.” Wolf called it “a show of solidarity and support for the people of Ukraine, and an expression of our collective revulsion with the unprovoked actions of the Russian state.” The Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board has announced that it has directed the Fine Wine & Good Spirits stores and its website to stop buying and selling Russian-sourced products in protest of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Fine wine and good spirits