Government Is Totally Ready to Direct Organized Vintage
Minister of Agriculture of Georgia, Otar Danelia and head of National Wine Agency, Giorgi Samanishvili met directors of wine and alcohol beverage producer companies. At the meeting, they spoke about the achievements and encouragements in the field and discussed the activities about carrying out organized vintage 2016.
As Otar Danelia mentioned, government is totally ready to direct organized vintage. In the process of vintage, interests of both, viticulturists and industrialists parties will be foreseen. By 100 wine companies will receive grapes of the current year. No viticulturist will have grapes left undelivered.
“We discussed every detail at the meeting to direct vintage of the current year fluently. This year, we are waiting for approximately 150 000 ton grapes for industrial utilization. It’s important the field to be totally ready for grape reception. For winery and viticulture field promotion, many activities are being organized during the last 4 years. Our point is to leave the state of subsidization as soon as the field gives us opportunity. It’s a fact, that today, the field still needs support” – mentioned Otar Danelia.
As the minister states, simultaneously with the wine export growth, reduction in realization price of wine is notable on the international market. Accordingly, considering the viticulturist peasant interests, for grape harvest realization promotion, Georgian government made decision to subsidize vintage 2016. As Otar Danelia stated, like the last year, subsidy will be given directly to the viticulturist, not to the winemaking company. For grapes delivered in the winemaking companies, the subsidy will be the following:
Kakheti region:
• 1 kg Rkatsiteli - 45 Tetries
• 1 kg Kaketian Mtsvane – 45 Tetries
• 1 kg Saperavi – 20 Tetries
Racha – Lechkhumi and Qvemo Svaneti:
• 1 kg Mujuretuli/Aleksandrouli – 2 GEL
As Otar danelia mentioned, for production increase promotion purpose, this year, for wine and alcohol beverage producing companies, reduced agricultural credit will be available with turnover means purpose.
For grape processing factories, for buying grapes farmers, reduced agriculture credit maximum will be 10 mil GEL for no more than 15 months period.
For grape processing factories, which will buy grape for brand alcohol production, reduced agriculture credit maximum will be 15 mil GEL, for no more than 3 years period.
At the meeting, Minister of Agriculture one more time underlined, that the state does not determine price of grape, does not intervene in regulation of prices, as price is regulated by market.
At the meeting with wine-makers, head of National Wine Agency, Giorgi Samanishvili spoke about organization matters of vintage 2016.
To direct organized vintage, coordination staff will be located in Telavi. The staff will be led by the head of National Wine Agency. The stuff functioning will promote active communication and coordination between the parties (representatives of Ministry, producers, viticulturists) involved in the vintage process. Just like the previous year, hotline – 1501 and special web-site will function and people concerned will have opportunity to get necessary information during 24 hours.
“Traditionally, before vintage, we are gathering with representatives of wine companies, to discuss technical details of vintage of this year. As you know, grape is already being matured and by the end of August, vintage coordinating staff will be opened in Telavi. This year, we expect for more grape than the last year. Saperavi grape amount and request on the grape has increased” – mentioned Samanishvili. As he says, representatives of National Wine Agency will go to Kakheti region in the nearest future and they will learn all the matters concerning the vintage in place, which aims to direct organized vintage.
At the meeting, Giorgi Samanishvili spoke about Georgian Wine export and mentioned, that the export growth fixed in the beginning of 2016 is maintained up to date, according to 7 month data, by 24 mil bottles of wine have been exported, that is 42% higher, that the similar data of the last year.
Expanded format meeting was attended by deputies of Minister of Agriculture, Levan Davitashvili and Iuri Nozadze representatives of approximately 70 winemaking companies and people engaged in wine industry.