Georgia has introduced more rigorous standards for vineyard quality through a new planting reform.
From 1 May, anyone seeking to establish or restructure a commercial vineyard must first gain written consent from the National Wine Agency of Georgia (NWA).
The move forms part of the Rules for Establishing a Commercial Vineyard, which are set to be formally adopted by the Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture.
According to Wines of Georgia, the reform addresses long-standing structural issues in Georgian viticulture, including the use of uncertified planting material, errors in variety selection and disease-impacted vineyards.
The tightening of regulations aims to position Georgian wine alongside more strictly controlled systems in countries such as France and Italy, as well as other PDO regions.
On the updated rules, Levan Mekhuzla, chairman of the National Wine Agency, said: “The quality of Georgian wine and its success in international markets starts in the vineyard.
“Over the past decade, vineyards have often been planted without enough planning and that needs to change. The focus should be on producing high-quality wine and maintaining a diverse range of grape varieties. These changes are designed to strengthen the entire wine sector.”
Under the new framework, applicants must submit a comprehensive dossier to the NWA, including land ownership details, a cadastral map and a detailed soil analysis.
The NWA will then have up to 20 working days to assess the application. Once granted, consent will be valid for three years and will cover new plantings as well as the restoration and upgrading of existing vineyards.
Vineyards planted without NWA consent will be barred from registration in Georgia’s Unified Vineyard Cadastre, meaning their fruit cannot enter the regulated winemaking supply chain.
UK imports
As UK imports of Georgian wine continue to grow, Wines of Georgia said the reform signals a serious commitment to quality and supply chain transparency.
The organisation added that interest from the UK trade has increased in recent years, driven in part by demand for qvevri-aged amber wines, and that the new rules will help reinforce this growth.
It also brings Georgia more closely in line with EU PDO regions, making its quality assurances clearer for importers, buyers, on-trade operators and sommeliers.
