Under the new regulations, individuals or companies looking to plant commercial vineyards will have to acquire a state licence from the National Wine Agency of Georgia. Existing vineyards are not impacted by the amended Law on Vine legislation, with the rules only applying to vineyards planted after 1 May 2026.
The agency’s chairman, Levan Mekhuzla, said the regulations aim to raise vineyard quality, and preserve the long-term sustainability of Georgia’s wine industry – which is considered, by many, to be the ‘birthplace’ of wine.
“We are leaving the vine to the next generation, so the vineyard should be designed for long-term investment,” he said. “The farmer must maintain agrotechnical characteristics, varietal purity, and vineyard cultivation technology; the soil and the place where we grow the vineyard are crucial, because it is the place of origin that determines the quality of the wine”.
Corruption concerns
Elsewhere in Europe, similar regulatory systems already exist, Mekhuzla continued. “The quality of Georgian wine and its success in international markets depend on the quality of the vineyard,” he added.
But the move has come under fire from trade bodies and winemakers alike.
NGO “Transparency International-Georgia” has warned that the new law will increase corruption risks, with the National Wine Agency set to take on greater power as it steps up from its role as a supervisory body, to a market access regulator. Additionally, it warned of the added dangers of the arbitrary harassment of small cellars.
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