Levan Mekhuzla: Vineyard Planting Authorization Is Granted in All EU Wine-Producing Countries
“Authorization for vineyard planting is granted in all wine-producing countries of the European Union. In Georgia as well, the establishment of commercial vineyards must be oriented toward long-term quality. Saplings should be sourced from qualified nurseries, and vineyards must be planted in suitable locations, as not all soils can produce high-quality grapes.
These factors must be considered from the outset. A vineyard is an asset passed down to future generations, as the best yields from newly planted vineyards begin after approximately 15 years,” said Levan Mekhuzla, Chairman of the Georgian National Wine Agency.
The Parliament of Georgia has already supported amendments to the Law of Georgia “On Vine and Wine” in its second reading. The amendments introduce the concept of vineyard planting authorization, defined as a document issued by the National Wine Agency—a legal entity under public law—which grants individuals and/or legal entities the right to establish commercial vineyards.
Given the increase in vineyard areas and, consequently, grape production, the amendments also aim to ensure the high quality of wines and spirits with protected designations of origin. According to the changes, such alcoholic beverages must be produced exclusively from grapes grown within the specific microzone defined in the product specification.
The amendments further require all wine companies to comply with technological process recording and reporting standards in viticulture and winemaking practices.
The purpose of these changes is to support the production of high-quality, competitive grape-based alcoholic beverages and to align with the requirements of both local and international markets.
“Georgian wine should be positioned in the segment where unique and premium-quality wines are represented. Vineyard planting authorization will be issued free of charge and will only be required for those planning commercial activities. At this stage, the pace of large-scale vineyard planting has slowed. According to recent statistics, up to 500 hectares of new vineyards are planted annually. Based on this data, we estimate that approximately 100 individuals per year will need to obtain vineyard planting authorization,” added Levan Mekhuzla.
