The head of Georgia’s National Wine Agency, Levan Mekhuzla, says achieving 17% sugar content in grapes should not be difficult for vineyards planted in suitable wine-growing regions and properly maintained.
Speaking about preparations for the 2026 grape harvest season, Mekhuzla said the government’s differentiated grape purchase prices are designed to encourage farmers to produce higher-quality grapes. He noted that failure to reach the required sugar level is usually linked to poor agricultural practices, excessive irrigation, overuse of chemicals and fertilizers, or planting vineyards in unsuitable areas.
Under the government support scheme, the state-owned Harvest Management Company will purchase excess grape harvests at differentiated prices. For permitted grape varieties, grapes with sugar content above 20% will be purchased at GEL 1.30 per kilogram, while those with 17–20% sugar content will receive GEL 0.80. Grapes below 17% will be purchased at GEL 0.30 per kilogram.
For the Saperavi variety, the purchase price will be GEL 1.50 per kilogram for grapes with sugar content above 22%, GEL 0.90 for 17–22%, and GEL 0.30 for grapes below 17% sugar content.
