Nugzar Ksovreli, founder of Ziari Farm, says recent increases in National Wine Agency service fees were introduced without sufficient consultation with the wine sector. From September 1, certification and other service fees increased, with certificates for exported or imported products rising from GEL 450 to GEL 650.
Nugzar Ksovreli says even small cost increases in Georgia can significantly raise wine prices in international markets. “A 10-cent increase here can mean a 50-cent to $1 increase in the US market,” he said, noting that weaker global wine sales make higher prices particularly damaging to competitiveness.
The sector is also preparing for a new wine labeling system next year, with a proposed fee of 10 tetri per bottle. While the National Wine Agency says the system will improve traceability and combat counterfeiting, Nugzar Ksovreli argues that it will effectively become an additional tax and could create confusion during the transition.
Nugzar Ksovreli recalled that Georgia previously used holograms, a system that was later abolished, and warned that the same problems could return. The labeling fee must be set by February 1, 2027, while the Agriculture Ministry estimates the measure could increase the National Wine Agency’s revenue by GEL 14–15 million.
