The GEL 10 certification fee introduced for wine sales in Georgia creates an additional burden for small wineries, particularly when they handle small orders, according to Tamar Mosiashvili, founder of Mamisauli Winery.
Mosiashvili said small wineries often receive orders of only two or three boxes, meaning they must pay the certification fee repeatedly for relatively small quantities. She argued that the current system makes such transactions more difficult and increases costs for small producers.
She said a more practical model would be to issue one certificate for each bottling or production lot. “If one certificate were issued per bottling, per lot, it would be much more acceptable,” Mosiashvili said.
Mamisauli Winery produces Rkatsiteli Bolnisi, Tavkveri and Saperavi from the Bolnisi microzone and is currently focused more on improving quality than increasing production volumes. The National Wine Agency’s new tariffs took effect on September 1; the domestic conformity certificate costs GEL 10, while export certificates range from GEL 110 to GEL 650 depending on processing time, with separate preferential rates for small wineries.
