Georgia expects plentiful grape harvest 2017

As summer draws to an end, Georgia’s grape harvest season is just beginning with experts estimating 150,000 tons of grapes this year will be picked.

The 2017 wine harvest is expected to begin from September in Georgia’s winemaking regions – Kakheti, Imereti and Racha.

Harvest will start from the town of Dedoplistskaro in Kakheti and will cover the whole region step by step.

A special grape harvest coordination centre has already opened in Telavi, Kakheti today to offer support to wine growers, producers and others in the industry.

Georgia’s Agriculture Minister Levan Davitashvili promised that this year’s grape harvest will be successful.

“We expect over 100 wine companies to process more than 150,000 tonnes of grapes this year. This year’s harvest will be very successful. We expect plentiful grape harvest this year despite complicated climate conditions,” said Davitashvili.

To note, the Government decided not to subsidise the Saperavi grape variety.

Grape processing works are expected to be completed in the middle of October.

Last year, 49.84 million bottles of wine were exported from Georgia, which was a 38 percent increase year-on-year (y/y). As for this year, in January-July Georgia exported 38.3 million bottles of wine, a 60 percent increase y/y.

As of today, the state has supported and financed 23 new enterprises involved in producing wine and other alcoholic beverages. Furthermore, 48 enterprises expanded their activities as a result of state support.

In total 5,123 hectares of vineyards are insured within the State Agriculture Insurance Program.
(Agenda.ge)