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David Songulashvili: “Improving Wine Quality Is Closely Linked to the Growth of the Sector and the Interests of Winegrowers”
The Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture, Mr David Songulashvili, spoke about the progress of the grape harvest, the process of receiving and processing the crop, and the challenges facing the wine sector.
According to the Minister, the grape harvest is progressing actively in Kakheti, although it has not yet reached its peak. To date, approximately 15,000 tonnes of grapes have already been harvested and processed. This year, Georgia is expected to record a record grape harvest, with the forecast standing at approximately 320,000 tonnes.
Minister Songulashvili noted that the Harvest Coordination Centre is actively coordinating the process. The necessary resources have been mobilised to ensure that the crop is received and processed as efficiently and systematically as possible.
“This year’s harvest is notable for its volume, and according to our forecast, Georgia will record the largest grape harvest in the history of its independence. Our primary objective is to manage this volume of grapes in an organised manner and ensure that not a single gram of the harvest is left unhandled. Particular attention is being paid to the efficient organisation of the grape harvest. Some queues are unavoidable, as a large volume of grapes meeting the required quality standards is delivered within a short period. However, with the resources currently available, we are managing the process as efficiently as possible, so that winegrowers spend as little time as possible waiting in line,” Mr David Songulashvili said.
The Minister thanked the leadership of the Kakheti region, local self-government authorities, and relevant regional agencies for their active involvement in the harvest.
Minister emphasised that the involvement of local authorities plays an important role in ensuring the orderly conduct of the harvest and the effective management of queues.
“It is essential to us that the grapes are of high quality, that their delivery and processing are carried out in an organised manner, and that this quality is ultimately reflected in the wine. High-quality Georgian wine is an important export product for our country, and improving its quality is directly linked to the development of the sector as well as to the interests of our winegrowers,” Mr David Songulashvili stated.
The Minister also addressed the international challenges facing the wine sector. According to him, global wine consumption is declining, and in response to this challenge, one of the state’s key priorities is to enhance the quality and competitiveness of Georgian wine.
“Global demand for wine is at its lowest level since 1961, creating significant challenges not only for Georgian wine but for the global wine sector as a whole. Despite these challenges, I would like to emphasise that exports of Georgian wine continue to grow year on year, and we have maintained stability in this regard. Nevertheless, we must be prepared to respond to emerging challenges. This, in turn, means that we need to place even greater emphasis on wine quality and continue improving it,” Mr David Songulashvili said.
The Minister noted that one of the significant new measures introduced as part of this year’s harvest is the classification of grapes based on quality, which is expected to contribute to improving wine quality.