Levan Mekhuzla: It Is Essential That Georgian Wine Is Recognized for Its Authenticity and High Quality
Chairman of the National Wine Agency of Georgia, Levan Mekhuzla, has commented on the recent amendments to Georgia's Law on Vine and Wine, explaining that one of the key changes introduces mandatory organoleptic tasting for all wines produced for commercial purposes, with the exception of the natural wine category.
"Georgia is the birthplace of wine, and that is not only a source of pride but also a responsibility. It is therefore essential that Georgian wine is recognized for its authenticity and high quality. The existing quality control mechanisms, including the mandatory tasting system, are designed to achieve this goal.
In reality, there has been no fundamental change to the tasting system itself. Since 2007, all Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) wines have been subject to mandatory tasting, and since 2017, the same has applied to all export wines, regardless of category. Consequently, the latest legislative amendments affect only those producers who neither exported their wines nor produced PDO wines. Even under the most optimistic estimate, this represents only about 5% of Georgia's total wine production. The remaining wines have already been subject to organoleptic evaluation for many years," said Levan Mekhuzla.
Addressing the exemption provided by the amended law, Mekhuzla explained that it reflects the unique production methods used for natural wine.
"Natural wine is a distinct category whose producers deliberately avoid the use of modern additives. This method is the closest to the winemaking tradition that existed in Georgia 8,000 years ago, making it an especially important niche for our country. Because of the nature of its production, natural wine may display certain characteristics and acceptable variations from conventional standards.
For this reason, as is the case in a number of countries, including France, natural wine is identified through a dedicated designation. This ensures both full traceability for regulatory authorities and greater transparency for consumers, enabling them to make informed purchasing decisions," Mekhuzla added.
