Tamaz Omanadze, founder of Khomli’s Winery, stated on BMGTV that the government’s role should be limited to ensuring wine quality, without interfering in the winemaker’s methods or style.
Last week, Parliament approved a law requiring entrepreneurs to obtain government approval before planting vineyards for commercial purposes. The National Wine Agency, previously only a supervisory body, will now regulate market entry, and growers planting vineyards without approval will not be able to sell the grapes or wine. Existing vineyards are not affected.
Omanadze criticized requirements such as maintaining technological journals, noting that small, biodynamic producers cannot realistically meet these bureaucratic obligations. He emphasized that such regulations, modeled on Soviet-era standards, threaten the authenticity and uniqueness of Georgian wine, which is key for international recognition.
He added that while state resources are spent on subsidies, little effort goes into promoting Qvevri winemaking globally. Omanadze personally educates foreign experts about Georgia’s unique methods, but he stressed that this should be a state-led effort to help Georgian wines secure a place on the international market.
