State-Supported Winery in Racha Produces 12 Varieties of Wine.

The Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture, Mr. David Songulashvili, visited the village of Itsa in the Ambrolauri Municipality, where he observed the harvest preparations at “Itsis Marani” LLC.


The winery was established in 2019 with co-financing from the Rural Development Agency. The total support under the “Co-Financing of Processing and Storage Enterprises” amounted to GEL 600,000. The company also benefits from other state programs, including “Technical Assistance for Enterprises” and the “Preferential Agrocredit” project. The winery produces 30,000 bottles of wine annually across 12 different varieties, marketed under the brand name “Bimbili.”


“Harvest season is now in full swing in the Kakheti region, and starting next week, the grape storage process will begin in another key winemaking region—Racha. This year, we expect a harvest of approximately 1,500 to 2,000 tonnes in Racha. The harvest will be carried out in an organized and efficient manner, and we have mobilized all necessary resources to ensure that every grape grower can deliver their crop without interruption. Notably, this year Racha was granted a new appellation of origin, ‘Racha,’ further emphasizing the region’s uniqueness and its growing contribution to Georgia’s winemaking industry—the development of this area remains a top priority for us,” stated Minister Songulashvili.
 

Since 2013, under the “Preferential Agrocredit” program, over GEL 17 million in loans have been issued in the Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti region to support wine production. Co-financing from the Rural Development Agency has exceeded GEL 5 million.


Mr. Papuna Margvelidze, State Representative in the Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti region; Mr. Gocha Enukidze, Member of Parliament representing the Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti region; Mr. Giorgi Avaliani, Acting Director of the Rural Development Agency; and representatives of local self-government, accompanied the Minister.