Georgian National Wine Agency: Georgia faces challenging grape harvest season
Chairman of the National Wine Agency said that the export of wine from Georgia to Russia has been decreasing over the past months. Photo: Wine Agency.
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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.
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.
Mekhuzla said that in 2018 Georgia enjoyed a record grape harvest during which 230,000 tonnes of grapes were processed.
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.
Georgia exported about 47.2 million bottles of wine to 47 countries in January-July of 2019, which is a 4% increase compared to the same period of 2018, announces the Georgian National Wine Agency. In the reporting period Georgia generated over $114.2 million from the sale of wine abroad – 6% increase year-on-year.
Over 230,000 tonnes of grape have been processed during the grape harvest of 2018 and the income of 22,000 grape growers exceeded over 300 million GEL, announces Agriculture Minister of Georgia Levan Davitashvili, who says this result is a record high.
After a 400-year-long break, restored historic terraced vineyards in mountainous Meskheti is giving its first grape harvest.
About 155 tonnes of grapes have been picked in Georgia’s western Racha region as of September 30.
Twelve different kinds of amber wines from Georgia, Japan, Croatia, New Zealand, Italy, and Slovenia were presented in Daejeon, Republic of Korea, where a special tasting of amber wines was held.
5,500 tonnes of grapes have been processed in Kakheti region as of September 2.
Twelve different kinds of amber wines from Georgia, Japan, Croatia, New Zealand, Italy, and Slovenia were presented in Daejeon, Republic of Korea, where a special tasting of amber wines was held.
Over 6,000 tonnes of grapes have been processed in Kakheti region as of September 13.
The volume of grapes processed on a daily basis in Georgia has reached 9,000 tonnes in the past 24 hours, which is the highest rate of harvest over the last 30 years in Georgia’s grape-producing Kakheti region.
Head of the Adjara region government Tornike Rizhvadze has announced that tangerines will be exported to new markets in several EU member states this year.
Georgia is getting ready for the major grape harvest season during which more than a hundred thousand tonnes of grapes will be picked, packed and sold locally or exported. Traditionally, the wine harvest begins in September in Georgia’s winemaking regions – Kakheti, Imereti and Racha.