Prime Minister Meets Winemakers

Georgian PM Zurab Nogaideli met with a group of leading winemakers on August 29 to discuss problems resulting from Russia’s ban on Georgian wine imports, which was announced in March.  

As the harvest approaches, wine-growers, mainly in the Kakheti region where some 60% of Georgia?s vineyards are located, may face serious problems selling their grapes.

?The government will be mobilized to deal with the entire harvest. War has been declared against this sector [Georgian wines] and we should act like we would in a war,? PM Zurab Nogaideli told reporters. However, he added that the government is not going to subsidize the sector.

?After the closure of the Russian market to Georgian wine, companies? demand for buying grapes has drastically decreased. Of course, private companies will not be able to buy as many [grapes] as last year,? Levan Koberidze, who chairs the Georgian Winemakers? Association, told RFE/RL Georgian Service.

Reportedly, 85 thousand tons of grapes are expected in this year’s harvest, while wine producing companies will only be able to buy a projected 30 thousand tons. 

Agriculture Minister Mikheil Svimonishvili says that about 25 tons will be purchased by companies producing brandy and about 20-25 tons by companies producing juice.

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