“The promotion of Georgian wine, both on the domestic and export markets, begins in the vineyard; that’s why it is very important that the grapes are of high quality. To support grape-growing farmers during the harvest season, the state has to purchase surplus grapes. This year, we have decided that the state will once again buy surplus grapes from farmers, but the purchase price will be differentiated — there will be a significant price difference between high-quality and low-quality grapes. In addition to sugar content, grape quality also means the grapes are healthy and free from disease,” said Levan Mekhuzla, Chairman of the National Wine Agency.

As Levan Mekhuzla noted, methods for evaluating grape quality are currently under discussion. Work on the technical details is actively underway.

“We must do everything possible to ensure the harvest is of high quality and, accordingly, that the quality of Georgian wine products meets the highest international standards. This is the only way to continue and maintain the development dynamic of the grape and wine sector seen in recent years,” said the Chairman of the National Wine Agency.

It is worth noting that during the 2024 harvest season, an unprecedented quantity of grapes — around 320,000 tons — was processed, which is about 45% more than the equivalent figure in 2023.