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Saturday, July 28, 2018

Georgian government to stop vintage subsidies, to reform wine sector

28.07.2018 (Hvino News). This year Georgian government will suspend state subsidization of vintage. Georgian minister of Environment Protection and Agriculture Levan Davitashvili said that the government will show new mechanisms for the 2018 vintage Government started subsidizing grapes in 2013.

Mr. Davitashvili discussed organizational issues of vintage 2018 and the wine sector reform at the meeting with the representatives of wine industry at a recent meeting with representatives of wine sector.

According to the minister, the last year’s approach, when the state was no longer involved in determining the price of grape prices, resulted in the outcome and the market itself determined the prices, which in turn positively reflected in the sustainability of the sector development. Vintage 2018 will be carried out without subsidizing, but the state will be involved in the vintage organizing, accounting and tracing process, according to the minister.

Levan Davitashvili also made an official presentation of the Wine Sector Reform and Management System. According to the minister, the aim of the reform is more sustainable and result-oriented  development of  the sector.

Friday, July 27, 2018

Major winemaking companies facing quality problems

27.07.2018. Several days ago businessman Mamuka Khazaradze made comments about Georgian wine quality issues  and stressed that Georgian wines should not be sold for the same price as Borjomi. In his interview for the Anaklia magazine, he explains that Georgian wines should regain their obvious quality.

«We should restore the quality of Georgian wines. It is excellent that a lot of wine cellars have activated efforts, but we still cannot say: Georgian wine is a high-quality product. We cannot provide valuable and proper positioning of Georgian wines. It is incorrect that Georgian wines cost 2 USD. According to my information, about 70 million bottles were sold in 2017 and total value made up about 120 million USD. It is inadmissible when the country with 8000-year history of winemaking sells wines at the price of Borjomi. Higher prices on Georgian wines  will enliven Georgian peasants. This is a very important message for me – we should make accents on quality and uniqueness. When we invite top-class wine experts to the country and make investments in this infrastructure, Georgia will become a unique country, where we will taste such wines that cannot be met elsewhere in the world», Khazaradze noted.

The Caucasus Business Week (CBW) has inquired how Georgian winemakers appraise the businessman’s considerations and whether quality problem is a real challenge in the Georgian winemaking.

«Quality problem is most evident in major winemaking companies», Giorgi Aladashvili, director of Ruispiri Biodynamic Vineyard company noted in response to the statement by Mamuka Khazaradze.

Thursday, July 26, 2018

Rare Megrelian vine varieties restored

26.07.2018. Rare Megrelian vine varieties Chvitiluri and Koloshi have been restored, Misha Tsirdava, founder of Obene family wine cellar, told BM.ge. Several other Megrelian vine varieties will be also restored, namely, Kachichi, Chechipeshi, Cheqobalio and Makhvatina, he added.

For the purposing of finding the mentioned vines, Tsirdava visited all corners of Samegrelo Region and managed to restore two vine varieties Chvitiluri and Koloshi for two years. He planted these varieties on the wine cellar territory of about 1 hectare. At the same time, he has also made wine from the mentioned varieties in small volumes and international experts highly approved the mentioned wines.

“I have read a lot of books about ancient vine varieties. When Georgian researchers wrote about Megrelian winemaking, they stressed two varieties, Chvitiluri and Koloshi, which were spread in while Samegrelo , but especially high-quality grapes used to grow in Mukhuri, Jgali, Salkhino, Tsalenjikha. Chvitiluri is a white grape varsity, Koloshi – red grape variety. Both varieties give top-quality dry wines.

Russia’s Georgian drinking problem

Is Russia's warning on Georgian wine about consumer protection, or geopolitics?

by Giorgi Lomsadze

26.07.2018. Russia, the world’s biggest drinker of Georgian wine, has threatened to tighten control on alcohol imports from Georgia in a step many take as a political shot across the bow.

About 16,000 liters of Georgian alcohol were denied entry to Russia during the first half of 2018, Russia’s federal consumer protection agency, Rospotrebnadzor, announced in a July 19 statement. The shipments did not meet “the standards defined by technical regulations and Russian law for consumer protection,” the agency declared (see details here).

Russia, to be sure, still tossed back 24 million bottles of Georgian wine over that period, representing a 24 percent spike from the year before, according to Georgian export statistics. Last year, Russia gulped down almost 48 million bottles of Georgian wine, 62 percent of all wine exports from Georgia.

Friday, July 20, 2018

Russia to strengthen quality control of imported Georgian wine

20.07.2018 (Hvino News). Russia's Federal Service for the Oversight of Consumer Protection and Welfare "Rospotrebnadzor" in the first half of the year did not allow 16 thousand liters of alcohol from Georgia.

According to official press release, the alcohol products "did not comply with technical regulations to import into Russia, and the agency decided to strengthen control over imported alcohol products from Georgia".

"In the first half of 2018, lots of alcohol products were found that did not meet the mandatory requirements established by technical regulations and Russian legislation in the field of consumer protection.All lots of products that did not meet mandatory requirements totaling more than 16 thousand liters were not admitted to the territory of Russia ", the release reads.

According to Rospotrebnadzor, the analysis of the quality and safety of the products indicates "a violation of production technology and an inadequate level of control over the products produced, both from the side of manufacturers and from the side of authorized Georgian governmental bodies".

© Hvino News

The First Saperavi World Prize: RESULTS

Monday, July 16, 2018

MadamWine: EU4Business helps all-women Georgian winery expand

16.07.2018. With funding from the European Union and its EU4Business initiative, the EBRD’s Advice for Small Businesses programme has helped an all-women Georgian wine producer to grow its presence online and increase visibility to attract new clients and explore new export markets. As a result, the company has boosted its outreach and found clients both on domestic and foreign markets.

As one of the oldest wine-making countries in the world, it is little wonder that Georgia is home to so many wine producing companies. But MadamWine is a unique winery, where the founder, manager, staff, and wine-maker are all women.

Although the company targets women customers with specific types of wine, men also favour the brand’s distinct taste. Being a small wine producing company, MadamWine does not have its own production facility.

MadamWine had been represented at various local and international exhibitions, with samples sent to South Korea, Japan, and Hong Kong. But in order to promote the brand further and attract the attention of international investors, the management of MadamWine was keen to strengthen its online presence.

Friday, July 13, 2018

"The Drinks Business": Georgia wine exports in H1 driven by Russian demand

by Natalie Wang

13.07.2018. Georgian wine exports in the first half of the year have recorded double-digit growth in both volume and value, driven by bullish demand from Russia, and new markets in countries such as Japan.

The ancient winemaking country’s exports from January to June rose by 21% year-on-year to 38.2 million bottles, while its value jumped 28% to US$90.3 million, according to figures released by its official wine trade organisation, National Wine Agency.

Russia still remains the country’s biggest export market with more than 24 million bottles of Georgian wines shipped during the period, followed by Ukraine (4.19 million bottles), China (2.9 million bottles), Kazakhstan (1.65 million bottles) and Poland (1.57 million bottles).

Thursday, July 12, 2018

Georgian wine export to Japan to be simplified

12.07.2018 (Hvino News) According to the National Wine Agency (NWA), four Georgian testing laboratories were granted official certification in Japan. For Georgian winemakers this will simplify wine export in Japan.

Previously, additional requirements were applied to the wine exported from Georgia to Japan, adding costs. To resolve the problems, Georgia suggested a list of Georgian laboratories for certification in Japan. Japanese Embassy helped by arranging the representatives from their Health, Labour and Welfare Ministries to discuss with the Georgian side. In result, the Japanese side certified the following laboratories: "Wine Laboratory" Ltd, Ltd "Norm", LLC "MultiTest" and LLC "Expertise +".

“Japan is one of the strategic export markets for Georgian wine. 130 thousand bottles of wine have been exported there over the past 6 months, which is 200% higher than the same period last year," - the National Wine Agency noted.

© Hvino News

The First Saperavi World Prize: RESULTS

Saperavi Khashmi is the newest protected Georgian wine appellation name

12.07.2018 (Hvino News) National Wine Agency (NWA) reported that a new variety was added to the list of protected Georgian appellation wines. The new protected appellation is Saperavi Khashmi. According to the press release, NWA addressed the National Intellectual Property Center "Sakpatenti" for registration of Saperavi Khashmi last year, which was preceded by the  joint work of the Agency and National Agricultural Research Center to prepare specifications required for registration.

Saperavi Khashmi is red dry wine from Khashmi microzone, located in Sagarejo municipality. "According to historical sources, the cultivation of the vineyard in the Khashmi area is associated with the name of Queen Tamar, who ordered Davit Gareji monks to cultivate the vineyard  here", - reads the NWA's release.

Previously there were 18 Georgian appellation wines registered in Georgia: Khvanchkara, Mukuzani, Tsinandali, Akhasheni, Gurjaani, Kindzmarauli, Manavi, Kakheti, Napareuli, Teliani, Ateni, Sviri, Vazisubani, Kardenakhi, Tibaani, Tvishi, Kvareli and Kotekhi.

© Hvino News

The First Saperavi World Prize: RESULTS

Sunday, July 8, 2018

Georgia to produce qvevri on 3D printers (with video)

08.07.2018 (Hvino News). QvevriXYZ is a company, which announced a 3D printer technology to revolutionize the ancient Georgian method of production of the qvevri. 

This uniquely Georgian amphora-like vessel used in winemaking is traditionally produced of clay according to tradition which has  not changed during several thousand years. Modern technology, however, has reached this millenia-old craftsmanship.

QvevriXYZ says that "with elements of traditional qvevri making process and modern technologies, we improved its structure and quality, yet kept its unique characteristics".



Traditionally, it takes months to make a qvevri. For a 3D printer, it takes several hours, plus normal pottery burning/drying process.

Theere are four "founding fathers" behind QvevriXYZ: David Mizandari, Nika Gujejiani, Giorgi Mamasakhlisi, who are from Georgia, and a Dutch Olivier van Herpt. Hvino News contacted Nika Gujejiani, who kindly answered our questions.

Hvino News: What substance do you use for production?

Tuesday, July 3, 2018

"Wine Enthusiast" explained why readers should pay attention to Georgian wine

03.07.2018 (Hvino News). "Why You Should Be Paying Attention to Georgian Wine" is the title of yesterday's article in the leading American magazine Wine Enthusiast. 

This is how the author Kelly Magyarics starts her explanation: "About the size of West Virginia, Georgia is home to more than 500 grape varieties". "In 2017, Georgian wine imports to the United States grew 54% from the year before, translating to 458,000 bottles versus 294,000 in 2016. While that still puts them way behind powerhouse countries like Spain, Italy and France, the demand for and availability for Georgian wine is stronger than ever."

"Georgia made natural and organic wines long before they became buzzwords... Natural wine producers have also embraced qvevri, the egg-shaped clay vessels buried underground that UNESCO designated a signature part of Georgia’s winemaking heritage. Their porous nature allows for natural temperature shifts and aeration, and their lack of corners promotes wine’s contact kinetic movement allowing constant natural less stirring and more uniform oxygen contact. Qvevri are indispensable for amber wines."

Full text can be found here. Kelly Magyarics is a wine and spirits writer, and wine educator in Washington, D.C.

© Hvino News

The First Saperavi World Prize: RESULTS