PM: Georgia aims to position wine as premium global product

Georgia’s Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze has said the government remained focused on improving quality standards and expanding into new export markets in an effort to strengthen the international position of Georgian wine.

Speaking at a conference dedicated to National Wine Day on Friday, Kobakhidze said the government’s goal was for Georgian wine to be recognised globally as a premium product built on an 8,000-year winemaking tradition combined with continuous development.

The PM described Georgian wine as one of the country’s most important national symbols and said winemaking had played a defining role in Georgia’s history and culture for millennia.

He also highlighted the significance of wine in Georgian traditions and hospitality, noting that the country has more than 525 endemic grape varieties.

Kobakhidze referred to the international recognition of Georgia as the cradle of wine civilization by the global scientific community in 2017 and noted that the traditional Georgian qvevri winemaking method was added to UNESCO’s list of intangible cultural heritage in 2013.

The PM also said Georgia’s wine industry had become a strong and modern sector, adding that export geography had doubled over the past decade as a result of targeted government policies.

According to Kobakhidze, Georgian wine was now exported to 70 countries and nearly 90 million litres were exported in 2025, with the total value reaching 268 million dollars. He said the growth trend had continued into 2026.

He further noted that the number of wine producers had increased almost thirtyfold, with around 3,000 registered wineries and wine companies currently operating across the country.

Kobakhidze added the expansion of small and family-run wineries had been particularly notable, attributing their growth to state support measures and export market diversification.

He added that the development of the wine industry was helping strengthen Georgia’s regions and create new jobs, while expressing confidence that cooperation between the government, grape growers and winemakers would continue to reinforce Georgian wine as a symbol of the country’s economic strength and international recognition.