“99% of Grape Growers Produced Quality Grapes” — Levan Mekhuzla

“Quality remains the priority, and no compromises on quality can be allowed. If only five truckloads of unripe grapes were delivered during this year’s harvest, next year there should not be even one—that is our goal. Today, grape growers can produce smaller quantities of quality grapes at lower costs and earn substantial income,” said Levan Mekhuzla, Chairman of the National Wine Agency, while discussing the ongoing harvest.

According to Mekhuzla, farmers had known since February about the framework governing grape deliveries to the state-owned enterprise.

“The main reasons for the minor adjustments to the differentiated pricing rules were heavy rainfall and a relatively cool summer, which delayed flowering and grape ripening. This is one of the latest harvests in recent years. Growers became concerned that their grapes might not reach the required quality standards.

“The purpose of setting prices according to quality is to ensure the efficient use of labour and expenditure and maximise returns. Statistics on the grapes processed so far clearly show that the reform is working. Ninety-nine per cent of grape growers produced quality grapes, and only 0.5% of the grapes delivered were of poor quality,” said Levan Mekhuzla.