Georgian National Wine Agency: Georgia faces challenging grape harvest season

National Wine Agency Chairman Levan Mekhuzla says that Georgia may face a challenging grape harvest season this year.

Already under way, Mekhuzla said that the harvest may be affected by earlier anticipated Russian sanctions on the import of Georgian wines, and thus a decrease in demand on grapes this year. 

• Putin opposes economic sanctions against Georgia: ‘I wouldn’t do that out of respect for the Georgian people’

Producers say that they will buy less grapes than planned, as they might have problems selling wine … The National Wine Agency has fully mobilised its resources to help farmers resolve all possible problems related to the process of selling their grapes”, said Mekhuzla. 

Export of Georgian wine to Russia

Mekhuzla said that the export of wine from Georgia to Russia has been decreasing over the past months.

In May 2019, 4,522,250 bottles were exported, which was a 28% decrease y/y, whereas in June, figures dropped again by 18%. In July, exports dropped another 27% to 3,550,264 bottles.  

• Jan-July 2019: Georgia generates $114 mln by exporting 47 mln bottles of wine

Mekhuzla said that in 2018 Georgia enjoyed a record grape harvest during which 230,000 tonnes of grapes were processed.

• Georgia enjoys record grape harvest in 2018, farmers generate 300 mln GEL 

He said that during this harvest about 250,000 tonnes of grapes are expected to be picked.

A special grape harvest coordination centre opened today in Telavi in the heart of Kakheti, that will offer support to wine growers and producers around the clock.