National Wine Agency: Over 323,000 tonnes of grapes processed across Georgia

As of 30 October, close to 323,300 tonnes of grapes have been processed across Georgia, according to the National Wine Agency.

Harvesting operations remain in full swing in the western region of Lechkhumi, where roughly 500 tonnes of grapes have been processed to date. Total yields for the Lechkhumi region are projected to reach around 1,300 tonnes. Both private wineries and the state-owned Harvest Management Company, which steps in to purchase surplus yield from local growers, procure grapes.

In Kakheti, the nation’s primary winemaking hub, the harvest is ending, with nearly 314,500 tonnes processed. Quality metrics remain exceptionally high: damaged or low-grade grapes account for just 0.7% of the total harvest, with the remainder classified as high- or mid-grade. The Harvest Management Company has been purchasing grapes from individual growers based on strict quality-linked pricing:

Saperavi: Grapes with a sugar content of at least 20% fetch GEL 1.50 per kilogram; those between 16% and 20% are priced at GEL 1.00; while grapes below 16% receive GEL 0.50.

Rkatsiteli and other wine varieties: Grapes with sugar levels of 19% or higher are bought at GEL 1.30 per kg; those between 16% and 19% receive GEL 0.90; and those under 16% are priced at GEL 0.50.

Meanwhile, harvesting has officially concluded in Racha, where nearly 3,600 tonnes of Aleksandrouli and Mujuretuli grape varieties—the sole ingredients for Khvanchkara wine—were processed.

The government implemented a subsidy program for the Racha region to encourage private sector participation and ensure efficient harvesting. Under the scheme, wineries qualify for state subsidies if they purchase and process at least three tonnes of Aleksandrouli and Mujuretuli grown within the Khvanchkara micro-zone, paying growers a minimum price of GEL 8.00 per kilogram. Qualified wine companies receive a government subsidy of GEL 4.00 per kilogram for both varieties.