Tbilisi (GBC) – The volume of state subsidies for viticulture in the Racha-Lechkhumi region is increasing sharply by 2025 and will reach 10.97 million GEL. According to data provided to GBC by the National Wine Agency, this figure is almost twice as high as the previous subsidy budget for 2024.

Statistical dynamics show that since 2021 (GEL 4.62 million), state funding for the sector has increased by 137.2%. Although the subsidy rate for 1 kg of Aleksandrouoli and Mujuretuli has remained stable at 4 GEL for the past four years, the increase in the total budget is related to the expansion of production scales and increased logistics costs.

The subsidy has a short-term economic effect, says a GBC winemaker from Rachveli, who was interviewed by the agency on condition of anonymity.

“We have been using subsidies since 2020. This is good for the enterprise, because it buys grapes cheaply, instead of 8 GEL, the enterprise pays 4 GEL. In fact, it buys at half price. This does not have a positive effect on the quality of the grapes, provided that the subsidy is issued. The farmer is guaranteed that he will sell the grapes. In practice, it is difficult to buy good quality grapes and buy a lot, because the subsidy issued by the government on the winegrower has an economic effect, they try to bring a lot in quantity and do not pay attention to the quality.

In my opinion, there should not be one subsidized price for all types of grapes. The yield per hectare should be controlled so that we do not get low quality. The condition of the grapes should also be controlled so that they are healthy with the appropriate sugar content.

The worst thing is that wine cannot be sold and have a surplus. In addition to the subsidy, the state purchased a very large amount of grapes itself in 2025. In other words, there was no demand for these grapes, and the fact that there was no demand is bad. The state should not have to purchase these grapes. But if it were not for the subsidy, in the absence of demand, many farmers would have unsold crops,” a winemaker from Racha said in an interview with GBC, adding that “the main challenge for the Racha-Lechkhumi winemaking sector is not the purchase of grapes, but the sale of wine. One of the winemakers notes that wineries need more help with sales, market research, and positioning than with purchasing grapes.”

Although the subsidy per 1 kg of grapes (Aleksandrouli and Mujuretuli) has increased from 3 to 4 GEL and has remained stable for the past four years, industry experts believe that this does not mean an increase in farmers' net profits. The increased subsidy is mainly used to compensate for the increased cost of production.

According to analysts, the 2025 “budgetary leap” increases the vulnerability of farmers, as the viticulture of Racha-Lechkhumi is becoming increasingly dependent on state donations, which poses a risk to the sustainability of the sector in the long term.