"The Changes in the Grape Harvest Subsidy Have Been Made to Support Winegrowers" – Levan Mekhuzla

Chairman of the National Wine Agency, Levan Mekhuzla, stated that the recent changes in grape harvest subsidies have been introduced to support winegrowers. His remarks were shared on the agency’s official social media channels.

“The government’s decision that a state enterprise will purchase surplus grapes during the 2025 harvest at differentiated prices based on grape quality was adopted in support of thousands of winegrowers,” said Mekhuzla. “Our reform aims to ensure that all grapes harvested by growers are fully and efficiently collected, that grape quality improves, and that the standard of Georgian wine production aligns with the highest international benchmarks. This is an alternative approach to maintaining the positive momentum in the viticulture and winemaking sectors, and to secure Georgian wine's position in the premium segment of the global market.”

Under the Government of Georgia’s updated decree, private wine companies will no longer receive direct subsidies, a shift from previous years. Instead, the state-owned enterprise LLC "Crop Management Company" will purchase excess grapes that are not absorbed by the private sector. The set prices are as follows: GEL 1.50 for Saperavi grapes from the Kakheti region, GEL 1.20 for other legally permitted wine varieties, and GEL 1.00 for grapes deemed substandard (with sugar content below 18%) or damaged/diseased.

According to the National Wine Agency, the estimated volume of the 2025 grape harvest is between 250,000 and 300,000 tons.