Georgia becomes Chair of World Wine Trade Group

The country’s representation was handed the position of the Chair following a spell in the status of the United States, with the change formally marked at the annual WWTG meeting in Brussels today. The country will assume the status on May 1. Photo: National Wine Agency of Georgia

Agenda.ge, 16 Mar 2023 - 14:19, Tbilisi,Georgia

Georgia will lead international wine industry experts in discussions relating to global wine trade issues over the next 12 months as part of the country’s newly assumed status as the Chair of the World Wine Trade Group, the National Wine Agency said on Thursday.

The country’s representation was handed the position of the Chair following a spell in the status of the United States, with the change formally marked at the annual WWTG meeting in Brussels today. The country will assume the status on May 1. 

The state body for promotion of Georgian wine called the result “another recognition of Georgia as a wine producer country”. The position will “contribute to the promotion of Georgian wine and the growth of exports, including among the member countries of this WWTG”, Levan Mekhuzla, the Chairman of the Agency, said.

Katherina Bedard, the representative of the US wine industry at the Group, congratulated Georgia on becoming the Chair country. She noted the Group was working on wine labelling practices, waste management, sustainable development and other initiatives important to the industry.

The WWTG is an informal grouping of government and industry representatives from wine producer countries including Argentina, Australia, Canada, Chile, Georgia, New Zealand, the United States, South Africa and Uruguay.

Georgia chaired WWTG in 2014 in the country’s previous spell in the position.