The Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture, David Songulashvili, visited the Grape Harvest Coordination Center in the city of Gurjaani, where he reviewed the center’s operations and was briefed on grape delivery, harvest processing, and storage.

“We got acquainted with the progress of the grape harvest on site. At this stage, almost half of the vineyards have already been harvested, and the grape harvest is currently at its peak. We were briefed on the Harvest Coordination Center's operations, queue management, and quality-based segregation of grapes. The harvest is proceeding in an organized manner, with most of the grapes delivered being of high quality. Based on the available data and projected harvest volumes, this year’s grape harvest is expected to rank among the largest and highest-quality harvests in the history of independent Georgia.

For the first time this year, the introduction of a quality-based grape classification system has provided winegrowers with an additional incentive to focus on grape quality, which will ultimately be reflected in the quality of wine.

Overall, these measures will further enhance the competitiveness of Georgian wine and strengthen its position in international markets”, - said David Songulashvili.

As of October 5, a total of 168,500 tonnes of grapes have been processed in Kakheti, of which 166,865 tonnes, or 99%, are classified as high- and medium-quality grapes. Of the total volume of grapes processed to date, 86,700 tonnes are Saperavi, nearly 70,000 tonnes are Rkatsiteli, and the remainder consists of various other grape varieties. More than 12,000 winegrowers have delivered their grapes to wineries.

To ensure the organized conduct of the grape harvest and the full sale of the crop, the Government of Georgia has decided that, in case of an excess harvest, all winegrowers will have the opportunity to deliver their crop to the Harvest Management Company LLC, which accepts grapes harvested in Kakheti from individual winegrowers under the established conditions.

For Saperavi grapes with a sugar content of at least 20%, the purchase price is GEL 1.50 per kilogram. For grapes with a sugar content of between 16% and 20%, the price is GEL 1.00 per kilogram, while grapes with a sugar content below 16% are purchased at GEL 0.50 per kilogram. For Rkatsiteli and other wine grape varieties, the price is GEL 1.30 per kilogram for grapes with a sugar content of at least 19%; GEL 0.90 per kilogram for grapes with a sugar content between 16% and 19%; and GEL 0.50 per kilogram for grapes with a sugar content below 16%.

The Grape Harvest Coordination Center in Gurjaani oversees and coordinates the grape delivery process. For additional information regarding the grape harvest, the public can contact the hotlines at 1501 and 032 2 19 37 18.