Tbilisi (GBC) - Levan Mekhuzla, Chairman of the National Wine Agency, stated that "a new price will appear in next year's harvest - grapes with a sugar content below 17% will be delivered much cheaper."
“The global wine market has experienced relatively low consumption; fierce competition and overproduction are prevalent worldwide. Consequently, we believe that the spontaneous vineyard cultivation observed over the past decade needs to be regulated. Our focus must be on the quality of the final product, wine. From the soil to exposure, location, grape variety, and rootstock, everything must meet standards that enable us to produce a harvest of the highest quality, suitable for crafting exceptional wine. The legislative amendments aim to present the finest wines, made from the best grapes, to international markets,” said Levan Mekhuzla, Chairman of the National Wine Agency.
Mekhuzla further explained that greater attention will be paid to grape conditions during the 2026 vintage to ensure wine quality.
“Even though this year’s harvest saw two different pricing tiers, some winegrowers still focus on quantity rather than quality and condition. There have been instances where poor-quality grapes, with around 15-16% sugar content, were harvested. This is unacceptable even for alcohol production. Consequently, a new pricing policy will be introduced next year: grapes with less than 17% sugar will be sold at a substantially lower price. I would encourage all winegrowers to prioritise quality rather than quantity. Achieving a 17% sugar level in grapes is quite straightforward under Georgian conditions,” added the Chairman of the National Wine Agency.
This week, the Georgian government discussed and approved the “Draft Law on Amendments to the Law of Georgia on Vine and Wine,” which seeks to promote the production of high-quality, competitive alcoholic beverages of grape origin. It also aims to consider the requirements of both local and international markets to facilitate their sale, reports the National Wine Agency.