Georgia Today reports that the Georgian government has submitted amendments to tighten wine regulation, including mandatory organoleptic testing for all wine categories sold both domestically and for export, plus a paid bottle-labelling system that officials expect could generate €14 million to €15 million a year for the National Wine Agency. The proposal is notable because it combines stricter quality oversight with a financial and structural shake-up, lowering the threshold for “small cellar” status from 40,000 litres to 25,000 litres, affecting around 50 producers directly while leaving about 550 small cellars exempt, and adding new definitions such as “natural wine” while dropping the term “home wine”.
Georgia
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Georgia Tightens Grape Quality Rules for the 2026 Harvest
Georgia Today reports that Georgia will raise its minimum grape sugar requirement to 17% for the 2026 harvest, with grapes below that threshold classified as low quality and bought by the state at a much lower price, according to National Wine Agency chair Levan Mekhuzla. The outlet says the previous acceptable range was around 14 to 15%, and it details a differentiated state pricing structure by sugar level, aimed at pushing growers toward higher quality and stronger international competitiveness.
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Georgian Wine Sales Surge as Ancient Traditions Go Global
The Guardian reports that Georgia’s 8,000 year winemaking heritage, including qvevri fermentation in buried clay vessels, is helping drive renewed international interest in its distinctive wines. The article links the boom to the country’s 525 plus indigenous grape varieties and to the wider rise of natural wine, noting that UK volume sales of Georgian wine increased by 72% in 2024, and it name checks producers and regions such as Kakheti and Imereti.