Some winegrowers in Georgia’s Racha region say this year’s grape harvest has been below expectations in terms of quality, raising concerns that the 2026 vintage will not produce high-quality wines. They attribute the situation to unfavorable weather, which delayed the start of the harvest and reduced projected yields compared with last year’s record crop.
Local growers are particularly concerned about lower sugar levels in the grapes. Winemaker Zura Maisashvili told BM.ge that sugar content, which reached 24–26% last year, has fallen to around 20–22% this year — a relatively low level for grapes grown in Racha.
The harvest of Aleksandrouli and Mujuretuli grapes is currently underway in the Khvanchkara microzone, known for its protected-origin wine.
The state is paying companies GEL 4 per kilogram of grapes of both varieties. Subsidies are available to wineries and wine companies that purchase and process at least three tonnes of grapes harvested in the Khvanchkara microzone.
