Alcoholic beverage producer Askaneli expects an abundant grape harvest this year, with the Rtveli harvest now entering its active phase. Askaneli Executive Director Irina Kitashvili told BMGTV that despite drought and excessive rainfall, the crop avoided major diseases, although some vineyards have experienced sunburn damage.
Kitashvili said harvesting has already begun, particularly because Askaneli’s focus on sparkling wines requires grapes with relatively lower sugar content. She noted that this year’s harvest is not following a standard pattern due to the large crop and changing external conditions, requiring decisions to be made on a daily basis.
“It will be a very intensive phase. This is a harvest that requires a new decision every day. It is not proceeding entirely according to conventional methods because there is a large yield and we depend on external factors,” Kitashvili said, adding that she expects the process to go well.
At the same time, finding and developing qualified staff remains one of Askaneli’s main challenges, from agronomy to sales. The company plans to launch a scholarship program with higher education institutions this year to attract young specialists, provide on-the-job training and support their long-term professional development.
