In the years 2017-2023, wine-producing companies received a funding of GEL 169 million from state agro-projects, GEL 74 million of which was distributed to those companies whose owners and/or managers have donated money to the Georgian Dream. They have donated a total of GEL 6.1 million to the Georgian Dream, - according to the report published by TI Georgia.
According to the document, of the 20 wine companies that received the highest amount of subsidies from the state (GEL 64 million in total), 15 companies are donors of the Georgian Dream. Among these, 2 companies whose owners are Bidzina Ivanishvili’s brother, Aleksandre Ivanishvili, and MP Zaal Dugladze, received GEL 11.5 million. The owner of 4 companies that received a total of GEL 19.4 million is Vakhtang Karichashvili, a business partner of Bidzina Ivanishvili’s cousin, Ucha Mamatsashvili.
In the years 2022-2023, 126 companies received state funding as part of the subsidy program for the grape harvest; the owners of 52 of these companies are donors and/or managers of the Georgian Dream.
8 of the 10 companies that exported the most wine to Russia in 2023 are donors of the Georgian Dream. At the same time, the owners of 2 companies are Bidzina Ivanishvili’s brother, Aleksandre Ivanishvili, and a member of the Parliament of Georgia from the Georgian Dream, Zaal Dugladze. The owner of 2 companies is Vakhtang Karichashvili, a business partner of Bidzina Ivanishvili’s cousin, Ucha Mamatsashvili.
In 2023, 221,000 tons of grapes were harvested in Georgia, which is 23% less than the figure for 2022. However, the grape harvest has increased by 28% in the past 10 years.
Despite the fact that the market (nominal) price of grapes tends to increase, its real price (adjusted to inflation) is decreasing.
For the past 10 years, the wine exports have had a clear tendency of growth, which was mainly due to the Russian market.
In 2023, the share of Russia in wine exports was 65%, which is the highest figure since 2006. Russia is followed by the EU with 12%.
In 2023, Georgia exported wine to 66 countries, among which Russia ranks the 61st with the average price of 1 liter of wine (USD 2.7). From the large markets, the average price of 1 liter of Georgian wine is the highest in the U.S. – USD 6.2.
In the past 10 years, the average price of the exported Georgian wine (in USD) has decreased by 26%. From the large export markets, a tendency of growth is only observed in the U.S.
