Georgian Wine - National Wine Agency

“In recent years, the quality of Georgian wine has been consistently improving; however, our goal is for an increasing volume of Georgian wine to be of high quality. All categories of wine must comply with clearly defined regulatory requirements, ensuring that the wine is free from defects,” noted Levan Mekhuzla, Chairman of the National Wine Agency, while discussing the amendments to the Law of Georgia “On Vine and Wine”.

According to one of the amendments to the Law of Georgia “On Vine and Wine”, all wine intended for commercial production, except for wine belonging to the “natural wine” category, is subject to mandatory tasting.

Levan Mekhuzla stated that the tightening of regulations has been implemented gradually.

“A tasting commission has been operating in Georgia since 2008, and since that time all Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) wines have been subject to mandatory tasting. Since 2017, all categories of wine intended for export have also been subject to mandatory tasting. Under the latest amendments to the law, effectively all wine intended for sale is subject to organoleptic evaluation, except for wine belonging to the “natural wine” category. This exception is related to the technology of natural winemaking, as natural wine, due to its production method, differs from other categories of wine,” noted Levan Mekhuzla.

The State Tasting Commission operating under the National Wine Agency conducts its activities on a daily basis to ensure that wine producers do not experience delays in the tasting process.

“The commission consists of more than 60 professional tasters. The majority are active winemakers representing various companies, as well as sommeliers and laboratory personnel working in the wine sector. Five tasters participate in each individual tasting session,” noted the Chairman of the National Wine Agency.