The President of Georgia visited the Kotekhi Wine Factory where he attended the process of pressing and buying grapes. Mikheil Saakashvili symbolically participated in the process and helped a farmer with transporting grapes. The Head of State later spoke to managers of the factory and expressed interest in the grapes buying process and prices. Mikheil Saakashvili also received information from farmers on site.
“Farmers sell grapes for 65 Tetri now, and it will reach 1 GEL with vouchers present. Despite the fact that 30% of the harvest was destroyed, the amount of grapes is same as it was last year. This means that realization markets have appeared and the Russian embargo has not broken our back. This is of the most importance. We always thought that the price of grapes in Kakheti should not by lower than 1 GEL. We have the best breeds. We just needed markets. The lab is sweetening it. We need several years and with good advertising I am sure that the price can reach up to 2 GEL. We have to let the entire world know what kind of treasure we own. The most important thing is the fact that the 70% of harvest we have saved from disaster is roughly equal to 100% harvest of last year. For example, one vineyard owner harvested 3 tons of grapes last year as well as this year, but he earned 1,600 GEL last year and 3,000 GEL this year. We have the best wine in the world. I am sure of this. I taste wines everywhere and the more I taste them the more I am sure that Kakhetian wine is the best. Europeans say this” – noted Mikheil Saakashvili.
Later the President arrived at the Gurjaani Branch of Liberty Bank with a farmer Gia Chalatashvili, and attended the voucher cashing process. The farmers get the price of grapes from factories and the state adds 35 Tetri on a kilogram of grapes through vouchers, which increases the price of grapes up to 1 GEL. The farmers receive state subsidized price of grapes through Liberty Bank.
“In 3-4 years the price of wine must become 2 GEL and the state will provide that. This is a complex process. More money must be invested in advertisement because we are reaching new markets each month, and we have better wine realization indicators in Germany, USA, England, and the countries of CIS. By the way, it is selling the best on European and US markets. We have found new markets and we are already exporting to South Korea. You would receive 1,200 GEL two years ago for the same amount of grapes. Now the price has doubled. If you are earning that much for half a hectare this is already a relief. When we have increased income we have to have more vineyards. This is why we gave out compensation for farmers, and we have to come up with a grapes insurance plan. I am going to spend the next few days in Kakheti and monitor the vintage” – stated the President of Georgia.
The Head of State focused attention on the infrastructural projects which are going on in Kakheti. He spoke about rehabilitation of the region and mentioned that Kakheti will become the best place in every sense very soon.