The Head of National Wine Agency Introduced the Report in the Parliament
Head of LEPL National Wine Agency of Ministry of Agriculture of Georgia, Giorgi Samanishvili introduced the report of 2016 year in the Parliament Committee of Agricultural Issues.
The main direction of National Wine Agency is popularization of Georgian wine, improvement of viticultural and wine-making product quality and supporting export potential growth, that is implemented by permanent cooperation with the Ministry of Agriculture of Georgia, also with governmental organizations, NGO and private individuals.
As Giorgi Samanishvili stated, 2016th year was important for viticultural and wine-making field in several main directions: wine export progress, that was achieved by diversification of markets; carrying out organized vintage; implementation of vineyard cadastre program, alcohol beverage quality control and improvement activities.
Wine export growth was promoted by the marketing activities carried out by LEPL National Wine Agency of Ministry of Agriculture of Georgia with private sector involvement since 2012 up to now. According to data of 11 months of the current year, 45 628 091 (0,75l) bottles of wine have been exported Georgia to 53 countries worldwide, that is 40% higher then the similar data of the last year.
In period under review 104 million USD worth of wine have been exported, that is 17% higher than the similar data of the last year. The tendency of progressive export was fixed as on the market of European Union countries, as on USA and other traditional markets: China - 128% (4 886 145 bottles), Ukraine – 73% (5 179 454), Belorussia - 62% (1 060 806), Russia - 48% (24 914 877), Poland - 47% (2 123 500), Estonia - 37% (588 450), Canada – 30% (198 456), USA – 27% (294 382), UK-25% (87 428), Latvia – 15% (1 139 706), Japan - 14% (144 126), Kirghizia – 9% (202 666), Germany - 4% (270 176) and etc. Totally, wine, brand, Chacha, wine material, brand in pour and brand alcohol export income in the period under review amounted 175,2 mil USD. The similar indicator of the previous year was 133,4 mil USD, growth amounted 31%. Georgian wine was represented to all the fairs and degustations of the international importance in 11 countries worldwide and in Georgia also.(USA, China, Japan, UK, Ireland, Germany, France, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and Poland).
The organized and succsessful vintage 2016 is also notable. Totaly, 115 252 tones of grapes were industrially reprocessed, the income of the population amounted 101,1 m Gel, 18 875 viticulturists delivered their grapes to wine companies, in Kakheti, 178 companies were involeved in wine-reprocessing, 24 companies in Racha-lechkhumi; The subsidy given to the viticulurists amounted 34,55 mil Gel; In the current year, the share of the state company reproduced grape was reduced in the total amount – 27% of total amount was reproduced by Pty «Akura», that is the lowest index of the past 3 years. The government kept his promis for the viticulturists not to have any problems with realization of the grapes and no grape was left unreproduced.
National Wine Agency started implementing vineyard departamental cadastre program Racha-lechkhumi region in 2014. Cadastre system works succsessfully in every European Union country, viticulture and wine-making field is developed. The similar system never existed in Georgia before. Cadastre base is absolutly necessary for regulation of vineyard registration, making desicions in viticultural field, corresponding planning of vintage process, wine producing and control and viticultural and wine-making field regulation in general. In 2015, the program was implemented in Kvareli municipality. This year, cadastre works are processed in Telavi municipality, that includes taking orthographic photos, making up cadastre maps, collecting information about viticulturists, identification and vectoring of vinyards.
The aim of «Georgian vine and wine culture research» program is the introduction of Georgia as a country of ancient traditions of viticulture and wine-making and showing rich cultural heritage as a result of joint researches of Georgian and foreign institution scientists. In 2016, important works were implemented with the participation of Georgian and foreign scientists in this direction for scientific fulfillment and enrichement of Georgian vine and wine culture and history: archeological expeditions were organized in «Gadachrili Gora» and «Shulaveri Gora», the findings have been sent for further researches to diferent research institutions worldwide, articles about Georgian wine culture have been published in important scientific publications and etc.
After the presentation of the report, the head of the Agency answered the questions of the committee members. As the first deputy of the head of Agricultural Committee stated, general statement of the field is fine and future perspectives are possible to be spoken about, though, winemaking development direction should be defined distinctly, what niche should be taken as on international, as on the national markets. In his opinion, small enterprise creation should be promoted due to their variety and different quality characteristics. In Gela Samkharauli\'s opinion, this needs new mechanisms to be activated.
“The future of our wine-making seems to me like this – to be many small companies, family enterprises, which produce their unique production. The state should not pay subsidies permanently, this has been wrong attitude for years and step-by-step, we must come out of this freak form, the amount is promoted, not the quality. If we don\'t improve the quality, the amount can\'t make us better. I think that some additional program should be created for promotion of such small enterprises and more attempt is necessary in this direction” - stated Gela Samkharauli.
During the evaluation of the results of the Committee meeting, the head of the Agricultural Committee Otar Danelia stated, that the fact of implementing export of 525 mil USD worth of wine within 4 incomplete years is important itself. During this 4 years, approximately half billion Gel of income was taken by the families of Georgian viticulturists and peasants. As he says, this gives the opportunity to step forward new direction – viticulture should become the least subsided, industry should improve and the field become sustainably developed.
“We understand, that subsidy is not the correct form, but it has been a result of necessity up today. The state should not interfere without inevitability, particularly in wine-making. In addition, estimation of the statement that wine-making is already a successful field is requisite, Georgian viticulture is popular, also small wineries, the number of which has grown 50 times. Promotion should be made in this direction” - stated the head of the Committee.
He also said, that the work of National Wine Agency is priceless. “It can be made as a good guide for popularization and promotion of other products. We will have to work harder in this direction, as the agricultural supportive programs include Georgian product popularization in other countries considering high competitiveness promotion” - stated Otar Danelia.
He also added the importance of the fact, that Georgia is attractive as a tourism country, including wine tourism, as one of the interesting lines and support should be kept on this side, the support will be the parliament also.
As the head of the Committee stated, working on a new vine and wine bill will correspondingly hastened “It will be modernized due to the international practice, as our viticulture and wine-making need new attitudes. Despite of being one of the ancient countries, we need modern legislation compatible with today\'s world” - stated Otar Danelia.