Georgian Wine - National Wine Agency

Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture Davit Songulashvili visited the Grape Harvest Coordination Centre in Gurjaani to review its operations. During the grape harvest, the Centre will coordinate the process, provide relevant information to winegrowers and wine producers, and ensure the prompt resolution of harvest-related issues. The Centre will operate 24 hours a day. 
Davit Songulashvili emphasised the importance of developing the viticulture and winemaking sector, improving grape quality and implementing a pricing policy differentiated according to quality. 
“Supporting the viticulture and winemaking sector is a priority for the state. The production of competitive, high-value products is particularly important for the sector’s sustainable, long-term development and will ultimately determine the position of Georgian wine and its competitiveness in international markets. The introduction of grape prices differentiated according to quality serves precisely this objective. This approach was successfully introduced during last year’s harvest and provided winegrowers with an additional incentive to ensure that their grapes met the required quality standards and indicators. This year, we are placing even greater emphasis on this area, which will help improve the quality of Georgian wine and strengthen our export position in international markets,” Davit Songulashvili stated. 
The meeting held at the Grape Harvest Coordination Centre in Gurjaani was attended by Levan Mekhuzla, Chairman of the National Wine Agency and Head of the Grape Harvest Coordination Centre; Platon Kalmakhelidze, State Representative in the Kakheti Region; members of Parliament; and the mayors of Kakheti’s municipalities. 
Levan Mekhuzla discussed the principal areas of the Centre’s activities and expressed hope that this year’s grape harvest would be successful, that the crop would be of high quality and that the export position of Georgian wine in international markets would be further strengthened. 
It should be noted that, under a decision of the Government of Georgia, in the event of a surplus harvest, every winegrower will have the opportunity to sell their grapes, ensuring that no crop remains unsold. For this purpose, LLC Harvest Management Company will purchase grapes grown in the Kakheti Region from individuals at the established prices. 
Specifically, the price of standard, undamaged Saperavi grapes with a sugar content of at least 21% will be GEL 1.50 per kilogram. The price of nonstandard Saperavi grapes with a sugar content of between 17% and 21% and/or partial damage will be GEL 0.90 per kilogram. Saperavi grapes with a sugar content below 17% and/or damaged grapes will be priced at GEL 0.30 per kilogram.
For other grapes produced from vine varieties permitted under the Law of Georgia on Vine and Wine, the price of undamaged grapes with a sugar content of at least 20% will be GEL 1.30 per kilogram; grapes with a sugar content of between 17% and 20% will be priced at GEL 0.80 per kilogram; and grapes with a sugar content below 17% will be priced at GEL 0.30 per kilogram. 

Information concerning the grape harvest is available through the hotlines: 1501 and 032  219 37 18.