Gia Piradashvili, co-founder of wineries Vineria, Chateau Mere Wines and Janiani, says recurring challenges during Georgia’s grape harvest should be addressed through cooperatives rather than temporary solutions. Speaking on BMG TV’s Analytics, he said farmers should take greater responsibility for the quality of their grapes, with stronger involvement from the private sector.
Piradashvili said successful cooperative models already operate in countries including Italy, Spain, France, Germany and Austria. He proposed establishing well-managed cooperatives and two or three efficient wineries in Georgia, saying he would be ready to contribute financially and professionally to such an initiative. “If we bring order to all of this and show farmers the right approach, everyone can be satisfied,” he said.
According to Piradashvili, under a cooperative model farmers could receive income not only from selling grapes but also from the sale of the resulting wine. He cited an example of a large cooperative where an investor financed production, hired professional management and attracted around 1,200 farmer shareholders. The winery processes tens of thousands of tonnes of grapes and exports wine to around 40 countries, he said.
Asked why the state does not sufficiently consider proposals from the private sector, Piradashvili alleged that corruption and longstanding state involvement in grape procurement were among the reasons. His comments come after Kakheti grape growers blocked a road on September 22 to protest delivery conditions and sugar-based prices. The government subsequently revised the differentiated purchase prices, lowering the sugar-content thresholds and increasing payments.
