National Wine Agency says 2500 tonnes of grapes processed in Kakheti region at this stage
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Levan Mekhuzla, the Chair of the National Wine Agency of Georgia, on Saturday said 2500 tonnes of grapes had already been processed in the eastern winemaking Kakheti region.
Grape yield has increased over the last 10 years due to the growth of exports and the development of the industry, Mekhuzla noted and added that the harvesting process would enter “a more active phase” from the next week, stressing “not a single kilogram of grape” would be left unprocessed.
He also said the state enterprise was “ready to receive” grapes damaged by the climate conditions and would subsidise the farmers 90 tetri for 1 kg of grapes, the Agriculture Ministry said.
Over 110 wine enterprises have already been registered in the harvest coordination centre, Mekhuzla emphasised.
He also highlighted the Government’s decision to subsidise Rkatsiteli and Kakhuri Mtsvane varieties of grapes, stressing it would give an opportunity to up to 25 thousand winegrowers and 500 wine producers to develop and continue their activities.
About ₾50 million ($19mln) has been allocated to subsidising this year’s grape harvest across Georgia in order to “financially support farmers” and ensure "not a single kilogram of grapes is left behind", Agriculture Minister Otar Shamugia said on Thursday.
The Georgian Government will subsidise the harvest of winemakers across the country in the coming fall and also anticipates a part of this year’s yield to be of “inadequate quality” due to “climate conditions”.
The National Wine Agency of Georgia on Thursday revealed it had joined Eco2Wine, a project supported by the European Union’s Horizon Europe Doctoral Training Network aiming to strengthen global innovation and communication in the winemaking industry.
Georgia exported about 103 litres of wine worth $252.5 million to 66 countries in 2022, Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili told the country’s Parliament on Friday, adding the figures marked a “record high” in the independence period of the country since the early 1990s.
Georgian Agriculture Minister Otar Shamugia on Wednesday highlighted the Government’s support for the country’s agriculture sector over the recent years, noting the backing given to winemakers and hazelnut farmers in particular.
Within the framework of Harvest 2023, up to 8000 tonnes of grapes had already been processed in the eastern winemaking Kakheti region, including 3600 tonnes of Rkatsiteli, 3000 tonnes Saperavi and other varieties, Levan Mekhuzla, the Chair of the National Wine Agency of Georgia said on Saturday.
The National Wine Agency on Sunday said the state enterprise Harvest Management Company was ready to receive and process grapes damaged by the climate conditions, following heavy rainfall, hail and strong wind late on Saturday, affecting several villages in eastern winemaking Kakheti region.
Georgia's Ministry of Agriculture on Tuesday said 1,050 tonnes of grapes damaged by heavy rainfall, hail and strong winds in the country’s eastern winemaking region of Kakheti last week had been accepted from farmers by the state enterprise Harvest Management Company thanks to a state subsidy.
A group of British wine professionals including Sara Abbott, the Director of Swirl Wine Group and a Master of Wine, are visiting Georgian producers to explore new tastes in the winemaking region of Kakheti.
The Georgian Wine Festival, an event introducing wine, cuisine and other aspects of the country's culture, will be hosted next month at Dartington Hall, an estate in the south-west of England.
Georgian Agriculture Minister Otar Shamugia on Saturday said wine export from Georgia was increasing every year, noting the country had exported about 103 million litres of wine in 2022 and this year the figure was expected to increase.