Vintage 2020 Review
Levan Davitashvili: “The vintage ended successfully. Georgia is one of the countries that has successfully coped with the challenges in the viticulture sector in 2020."
“In Georgia, the harvest is over in all industrial regions in terms of viticulture. The harvest has finished in Kakheti as well as in the relatively cold climate regions of Racha and Lechkhumi.
For this point, a record number of grapes, up to 280,000 tons, have been processed industrially in the main industrial regions, particularly in Kakheti and Racha-Lechkhumi. This number does not include data from Kartli, Imereti and Kvemo Kartli, which is usually more amateurish.
For today, we can say that about 310 million GEL was received by our viticulturist farmers as a result of the sale of grapes produced by them, which is an unprecedentedly high number.
In addition, it is very important to point out that this year was extraordinary, full of challenges, quite difficult, not only in our country, but in virtually every vinicultural country.
This year, 175,000 tons of Rkatsiteli have been processed, which is the main industrial variety. 80,000 tons of Saperavi, 5,000 tons of Kakhetian green, more than 3,000 tons of Qisi, which is becoming a popular industrial variety in the Kakheti region. In Racha region, 2400 tons of Aleksandrouli and Mujuretuli were processed, which is the main base for the production of the famous PDO wine "Khvanchkara".
It was important for us that the population was not left to the mercy of fate. We have been saying many times that the work that the state has done was necessary for storing the grape harvest. As a result, this year, 25,000 viticulturist farmers managed to deliver the grapes. This field is growing and the dynamics are positive, however in a difficult year like 2020, the role of social responsibility of the state was great. Without our extraordinary decisions related to stimulating demand in the private sector and allocating cheap financial resources to private wine companies, the population would not have been able to sell the majority of grapes – over 180,000 tones to the private sector. However, the private sector was not enough. Accordingly, state resources were mobilized. I am not talking only about financial resources; a lot was done here to organize the harvest. During the peak period, 17,000 tons of grapes were processed per day, which is an absolute record. There were queues that accompany the vintage process, have been in the past and will be in the future. The main thing is that there are delivery and processing resources in the country, which will increased even more in 2020, because, in addition to working capital, due to the pandemic, we stimulated and encouraged private companies to purchase fixed assets to increase capacities, volumes and production power.
Despite all the challenges, we can say that the vintage in Georgia has ended successfully. Georgia is one of the countries that has successfully overcome the challenges in the viticulture sector in 2020," - said the Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia Levan Davitashvili while summarizing the vintage.
Up to 280 thousand tons of grapes were processed in Georgia within the vintage 2020, which is a record for the last 30 years.
Grapes were delivered in cellars by up to 25 thousand viticulturist farmers, their income amounted more than 310 million GEL.
During Vintage 2020, there was processed:
• 175 thousand tons of Rkatsiteli;
• 80 thousand tons of Saperavi;
• 5 thousand tons of Kakhetian green;
• 2400 tons of Aleksandrouli and Mujuretuli;
• Other different varieties of grapes.
In the situation caused by the pandemic, the state subsidized the 2020 vintage in Kakheti to support the viticulture and winemaking sector.
• According to the terms of the subsidy, viticulturist farmers received at least 80 tetri in exchange for 1 kg of Rkatsiteli and 1 kg of Kakhetian green.
• In Kakheti, during the peak period of the harvest, the daily rate of processed grapes reached 17 thousand tons. 220 factories were involved in the grape receiving process.
20 grape delivery points were opened at various locations in Ambrolauri Municipality, which enabled the population to deliver their crops in a timely and smooth manner.