Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia

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Otar Shamugia: "Strengthening laboratory capacity is crucial for wine quality control''

According to the Minister, maintaining the international image of Georgian wine remains a priority for the state, and quality control is a big challenge with increased export conditions.

As mentioned by Mr. Shamugia, the capacity of the wine laboratory is gradually enhancing in line with international standards.

"In recent years, we have made significant investments and reforms in the viticulture and winemaking field. As a result, the vineyard area and wine production have expanded, export figures have also increased, and dozens of new, modern enterprises have been created in the country. Nevertheless, quality is essential, and we place a high value on it.

This year we have taken another step in this direction: on January 1, 2023, a new regulation came into force, that requires a certification for wines produced and supplied to consumers across the country. This is another step for improving the quality control of wine. Moreover, strengthening laboratory capacities is crucial for us, especially to have a successful wine laboratory that conducts research in compliance with modern standards. The wine laboratory has recently been equipped with additional modern equipment. The laboratory serves our entrepreneurs and conducts relevant research, which is crucial for wine quality control," said Mr. Otar Shamugia.

"Irma Chanturia Wine Laboratory" conducts grape and grape product testing in compliance with different certification criteria and requirements to facilitate the creation of a quality assurance system for Georgian wine and the development of the private sector in compliance with European standards.

According to the laboratory's director, Mrs. Tinatin Jajanidze, the laboratory was fully equipped with the most expensive equipment to improve quality control and conduct research at the international level. The laboratory provides high-performance testing of heavy metals, also impurities analysis in alcoholic beverages.


It should be emphasized that the respective laboratory has long-term cooperation with the Austrian company "Anton Paar". The Austrian side provided our laboratory with a device that determines 15 major characteristics/parameters of a wine and/or must sample with the highest accuracy. In addition, the laboratory enables the determination of various isotopic ratios, which meets the requirements of large markets in several European countries.