“The Winemaking Sector Has Become Successful as a Result of Effective State Support” – Levan Mekhuzla
State support during the harvest gives thousands of grape-growing farmers the opportunity to continue their activities and motivates them to produce high-quality grapes, which is crucial for the development of the wine industry and the competitiveness of Georgian wine on international markets. Our priority is to ensure that no grower is left with unsold grapes. The state intervenes in the grape purchasing process during the harvest only when there is a surplus crop and no demand from the private sector. Accordingly, the state does not compete with the private sector,” stated Levan Mekhuzla, Chairman of the National Wine Agency.
According to the Agency Chairman, all state actions are fully directed toward improving the quality of Georgian wine.
“It is essential that the raw material used to produce wine is of appropriately high quality. Under the changes planned for this year’s harvest, if the state has to accept surplus grapes, three price categories have been established. The sole purpose of this decision is to encourage the production of high-quality wine and to increase motivation among growers to produce high-quality grapes,” said Levan Mekhuzla.
The Chairman also spoke about amendments to the Law of Georgia on Vine and Wine, particularly the introduction of authorization for establishing commercial vineyards starting this year.
“Authorization for vineyard establishment will be required only for those planning commercial activities and will not apply to individuals planting vineyards for personal use. When establishing vineyards, attention must be paid to the quality of vine seedlings, planting exposure, soil composition, and grape varieties. Everything must comply with standards that allow for the production of high-quality grapes and wine. If an entrepreneur takes these factors into account, there will be no obstacle to obtaining planting authorization,” he stated.
As the Chairman noted, the winemaking sector has become successful precisely due to state support. Winemaking is one of the country’s leading strategic sectors. Georgian wine consistently ranks among the top five export products of Georgia. Exports of wine and spirits alone generate more than half a billion U.S. dollars in annual revenue for the country. To ensure that Georgia’s 8,000-year winemaking tradition continues uninterrupted, the state provides ongoing support to the sector.
It is noteworthy that from 2019 to 2021, the state implemented a vineyard establishment support program. After it became evident that grape growers no longer required assistance in establishing vineyards, the program was discontinued.
