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- "There are qualified grapevine nurseries in Georgia that will be able to produce certified seedlings starting this year," - Levan Mekhuzla
"There are qualified grapevine nurseries in Georgia that will be able to produce certified seedlings starting this year," - Levan Mekhuzla
The quality of Georgian wine and its success in international markets depend on the quality of the vineyard. The regulation for granting approval for vineyard cultivation is in force in the leading European wine-growing countries.
"There is fierce competition and overproduction worldwide. Therefore, we believe that the spontaneous cultivation of vineyards, which has been observed in the last decade, should be regulated. The emphasis should be on the final product, the quality of the wine, and the diversity of varieties," said Levan Mekhuzla, Chairman of the National Wine Agency.
A norm has been added to the Law of Georgia "On Vine and Wine" that defines the concept of granting consent for the cultivation of an industrial vineyard. Consent for the cultivation of industrial vineyards will be required for those persons who decide to cultivate a vineyard for commercial purposes after May 1 of this year.
"The above-mentioned changes are directly aimed at strengthening the wine sector. By May 1, 2026, a by-law will be developed, which will detail the rules and procedures for issuing consent for the cultivation of industrial vineyards, ensuring the transparency of the process. Vine seedlings must be traceable, critical soil and climate indicators must comply with the indicators specified in the by-law; it is their inconsistency that will become the reason for refusing consent for the cultivation of a vineyard," Levan Mekhuzla noted.
Under the new regulation, a person who arbitrarily cultivates a vineyard without the consent will not be able to sell grapes or wine for commercial purposes. Only those who plan to engage in commercial activities will have to obtain permission to cultivate vineyards and will not apply to those who intend to cultivate vineyards for personal use. There are already qualified grape nurseries in Georgia, which will be able to produce certified seedlings starting this year.
The National Wine Agency issues a permit for vineyard cultivation free of charge.