News
The coordination headquarters for Grape Harvest 2024 opens in Telavi.
An estimated 300,000 tonnes of grapes are expected to be harvested this year.
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"We have prioritized the winemaking and viticulture fields over the years, making significant investments in this direction. We have concrete results reflecting the annual growth of vineyard areas and wine exports. In 2024, we observed a 20% growth based on data for the last seven months.Â
Moreover, we had record-breaking exports the previous year and expect growers to earn a record USD 350 million this year. The government's decision to support the Rkatsiteli variety is one of the prerequisites for this process. All is set up to ensure that the harvest is as well-organized as possible", said the Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture, Mr. Otar Shamugia.
The Minister commended the winegrowers and winemakers for launching the harvest, stressing the need for fully handling/settling the grapes.
During the meeting with the representatives of wine-producing companies, Mr. Shamugia focused on the quality of Georgian wine, noting that it is essential that factories receive ripe and high-quality grapes, as grape's quality determines wine quality and competitiveness, which in turn affects the price and export figures.
 The Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture, Deputy Minister Mr. Yuri Nozadze, Kakheti Region State Representative, Mr. Giorgi Aladashvili, Regional Majority Deputies Gela Samkharauli and Irakli Kadagishvili, Chairman of the National Wine Agency Levan Mekhuzla, and local government representatives attended the event.
 The Government of Georgia offers grape harvest subsidies this year, as well, enabling over 20,000 winegrowers to sell their harvest and 500 companies to easily buy and process their grapes. The purpose of these subsidies is to encourage the sale of grapes produced by winegrowers and support the steady growth of the winemaking industry.
During the 2024 harvest, all companies that purchase and process at least 100 tonnes of Rkatsiteli grapes grown in the Kakheti region will receive a state subsidy and pay the buyer at least GEL 1.00 per kg of grapes. Companies in the Kakheti region receive a subsidy of GEL 0.20 per kilogram of Rkatsiteli grapes.
The grape coordination headquarters and the hotline of the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture (1501) operate 24 hours a day in Telavi. The Chairman of the National Wine Agency, Mr. Levan Mekhuzla, heads the coordination center.