Grape harvest up 33% in Georgia’s wine region of Kakheti compared to last year
About 40,000 tonnes of grapes of various varieties have been processed in Georgia’s eastern winemaking region of Kakheti as of September 14, which is 33 per cent more year-on-year. Photo: The National Wine Agency of Georgia
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About 40,000 tonnes of grapes of various varieties have been processed in Georgia’s eastern winemaking region of Kakheti as of September 14, which is 33 per cent more year-on-year.
The National Wine Agency of Georgia says that about 9,000 tonnes of grapes are being processed daily in Kakheti, noting that the grape harvest is now entering the active phase.
Of the 40,000 tonnes already processed, around 28,000 tonnes of grapes were of the Rkatsiteli variety, 8,000 tonnes were Saperavi, while 1.3 tonnes were Kakhuri Mtsvane.
The grapes have been processed by 67 wine companies and cellars so far, reports the agency.
As the viticulture and winemaking sector has been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, the government of Georgia will subsidise Kakhuri Mtsvane and Rkatsiteli. The subsidy will be given to wine companies that buy and process at least 1,000 tonnes of the mentioned varieties of grapes in the Kakheti region”, says the agency.
Companies are obliged to pay not less than 0.8 GEL to farmers while purchasing 1 kg of grapes.
When purchasing 1 kg of grapes, the amount of subsidy a company will receive is 0.3 GEL per 1 kilogram.
A special grape harvest coordination centre is located in the heart of Kakheti, in Telavi, that offers support to wine growers and producers around the clock.