The grape harvest in Kakheti is in full swing, with the daily processing rate exceeding 10,000 tons, according to the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture. As of September 26, the region has already processed 133,000 tons of grapes.
Around 11,000 winegrowers have supplied grapes to wineries so far. Of the total grapes processed, approximately 64,000 tons are Rkatsiteli, 62,000 tons are Saperavi, while the remainder includes other grape varieties.
This year, 532 wine companies and cellars are registered with the Harvest Coordination Headquarters. Out of these, 270 are actively involved in grape collection and processing.
The Kakheti region is expected to produce between 200,000 and 250,000 tons of grapes this year.
To stabilize the market, the government has decided that the state enterprise LLC Crop Management Company will purchase surplus grapes at differentiated prices based on quality. The set rates are as follows:
- 1.50 GEL per kg for Saperavi grapes harvested in Kakheti;
- 1.20 GEL per kg for other wine varieties permitted under Georgia’s Law on Vine and Wine;
- 1.00 GEL per kg for substandard, damaged, or diseased grapes.
Notably, unlike previous years, private wine companies in Kakheti will not receive state subsidies for grape collection.
