On August 29 at Sheraton Metechi Palace the Prime Minister of Georgia Zurab Noghaideli met representatives of the viniculture and viticulture sector, discussed with them the expected vintage and problems existing in the viniculture.
"This year the viniculture suffers from the political aggression from the side of Russia. Accordingly we shall face the vintage in adequate manner. The Government will be fully mobilized in order to carry the vintage maximum successfully. Successful vintage will be the condition for solution of many problems which we face today. During the vintage process the agriculture minister will stay mainly in Kakheti and other regions of viticulture. I and other ministers will be mobilized to solve all problems in time.
Some days ago I visited Kakheti and I would like to tell you that we have all grounds to carry the vintage successfully and then we will do all our efforts to introduce Georgian wine in other markets.
In March Russia made political decision against Georgia in order to cause the macroeconomic damage to our country. However, they have miscalculated. Moldova, indeed, ended the first 6 months with catastrophic macroeconomic results. They planned that Georgia will pass the similar way but they failed to attain this goal. Today we have quite other items on the agenda and we shall avoid the same social and other problems. The Government will be mobilized for the successful vintage of this year."
At the end of the meeting the Prime Minister summed up once more the results of the meeting with winemakers.
"Today I have summed up the positions with the winemaking and winegrowing sector and have vintage started assured that we have taken the correct way and shall operate in coordinated manner. This year the 2 weeks earlier and this year we also are expecting a good vintage like in the past year. Our of the grapes some 35 thousand tons will be distilled. We have two programs of distillation: about 25 thousand tons will be distilled into cognac, or brandy spirit. The Government together with private structures has developed the program which is being implemented with our assistance. However, at the same time I would like to mention that the state will not involve in the pricing in case of violation of market mechanisms.
In Gurjaani is to be opened the juice factory and about 26000 tons grapes will be processed in juice.
We will do all our best efforts in order to provide the storage of all vintage. The Government will be maximum mobilized because this sector was declared wars and we, accordingly, shall act as in battle."
Press Center of the Chancellery of the Government of Georgia