Foreign diplomats attend grape harvest in Tsinandali, Kakheti
Representatives of the diplomatic corps visited wine company Shumi and Vazioni wine museum in Tsinandali, where they were introduced to unique varieties of grapes and took part in the harvest. Photo: The Ministry of Agriculture.
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Georgian Agriculture Minister Levan Davitashvili and Foreign Minister Davit Zalkaliani have hosted foreign diplomats at a grape harvest in Tsinandali, in Georgia’s eastern winemaking Kakheti province.
Representatives of the diplomatic corps visited wine company Shumi and Vazioni wine museum in Tsinandali, where they were introduced to unique varieties of grapes and took part in the harvest.
Agriculture Minister Levan Davitashvili spoke to diplomats about the importance of viticulture and winemaking for Georgia.
Traditionally, the grape harvest is associated with celebration in Georgia. Harvesting several tons of grapes is a very important and exciting moment for Georgians. We want to introduce our traditional culture to foreign friends, diplomats and ambassadors accredited in Georgia. Therefore, this event is a demonstration and sharing of Georgian culture with the international arena. Despite the existing challenges and difficulties in 2020, with the help of the Agriculture Ministry not a single kilogram of grapes will remain unsold”, said Davitashvili.
Georgian Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani noted that the event, a joint initiative of the ministries of Agriculture and Foreign Affairs, is a good opportunity to introduce diplomats to Georgia’s rich culture and ancient winemaking traditions.
The grape harvest is continuing actively in Georgia’s eastern wine region of Kakheti, where as of today, 133,000 tonnes of grape have already been processed.
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 government of Georgia will subsidise the 2020 grape harvest, especially grape varieties of Rkatsiteli and Kakhuri Mtsvane in order to support farmers completely sell their produce, announces Prime Minister of Georgia Giorgi Gakharia.
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.
Four individuals have been detained for stealing half a tonne of Saperavi grapes from vineyards in Kvareli municipality, Kakheti region, says the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
232,000 tonnes of grapes have been processed in the Kakheti region as of October 2, but the process still continues until mid-October.
Farmers in Georgia’s Racha-Lechkumi region have begun the grape picking bustle, while the grape harvest is coming to an end in the leading wine-producing region of Georgia, Kakheti.
About 600 tonnes of Aleksandrouli and Mujuretuli grape varieties have been picked in western Georgian region of Racha as of October 12, where the harvest started last week, announces the Georgian National Wine Agency.