The Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture gets familiar with the ongoing grape harvesting in the Kakheti region.

The Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture gets familiar with the ongoing grape harvesting in the Kakheti region.

Minister Shamugia met with the representatives of wine-producing companies at the grape harvest coordination headquarters in Telavi and got information about grape harvesting.

As of September 6, up to 30,000 tonnes of grapes have been processed, of which up to 15,000 tons are Rkatsiteli and 10,000 tonnes - Saperavi, while the remaining are various varieties.

Mr. Giorgi Aladashvili, the state representative in the Kakheti region, Mr. Davit Songhulashvili, the Majoritarian Deputy of Gurjaani, Sighnaghi, Sagarejo, and Dedoplistskaro, and Mr. Yuri Nozadze, the Deputy Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture attended the event.

As mentioned, the grape harvest coordination headquarters and the relevant bodies of the local government of the Kakheti region, including the wine companies, are fully mobilized to ensure smooth harvesting and help all winegrowers in handling/settling their crops.

In 2024, grape harvest is expected to reach 300,000 tonnes. According to the preliminary forecast, more than 500 wine enterprises will be involved in the current harvesting.

Currently, 340 wine companies are registered in the grape coordination headquarters and will be gradually involved in grape processing.

The Government of Georgia subsidizes the grape harvest this year as well, encouraging winegrowers to sell their grape harvest and supporting the stable development of the wine industry.
The subsidy will enable more than 20,000 winegrowers to sell their harvest while assisting 500 wine companies- to easily purchase and process their grapes.

The companies purchasing and processing at least 100 tonnes of Rkatsiteli grapes during the harvest will receive the state subsidy and pay GEL 1 to the growers per kilogram of grapes.

The grape harvest coordination headquarters and the hotline of the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture (1501) operate 24 hours a day in the city of Telavi.