The Minister of Agriculture of Georgia, Otar Danelia, along with the Head of the National Wine Agency of Georgia and the Governor of the Racha Region, visited the Coordination Headquarters during the grape harvesting period in Racha. The Minister stated: “More than 600 tonnes of grapes have been harvested in Racha as of today (11 October 2014). The profit for the population has reached GEL 5 million. About 100-150 tonnes of grapes are still to be harvested.”

FactCheck

took interest in the progress of the grape harvest in Racha and verified the accuracy of Mr Danelia’s statement.

The statistics of the Georgian grape harvest for 2014, including Racha, can be found on the official website of the National Wine Agency of Georgia.

According to the data of the National Wine Agency, a total of 873.1 tonnes of grapes for Khvantchkara wine (Aleksandrouli and Mujuretuli grape varieties) with a total value of GEL 6,984,800 have been harvested in Racha as of 17 October 2014. A total of 927 tonnes of other varieties of grapes with the value of GEL 7,055,842 have also been harvested. According to these data, the overall amount of the grape harvest equalled 1,800 tonnes in Racha as of 17 October 2014 with the profit for the population reaching GEL 14,040,642.

A total of 1,993 tonnes of grapes were harvested in Racha in 2013 the profit for the population amounting to GEL 14,445,378, of which the Aleksandrouli and Mujuretuli varieties constituted 996.1 tonnes (GEL 7,968,800) whilst the other varieties equalled 997 tonnes (GEL 6,476,578).

Table 1:

 Total Value of Grapes Harvested in Racha in 2013 and 2014

	Khvantchkara	Sum	Other	Sum	Total	Sum
2014	873.1 tonnes	GEL 6,984,800	927 tonnes	GEL 7,055,842	1,800 tonnes	GEL 14,040,642
2013	996.1 tonnes	GEL 7,968,800	997 tonnes	GEL 6,476,578	1,993 tonnes	GEL 14,445,378

We interviewed Senior Specialist of the National Wine Agency of Georgia, Petre Meskhidze, about the grape harvest in Racha. According to him, the grape harvest in Racha is nearing its end. Part of the harvest this year has been damaged due to high temperatures and hailstorms and the grapes have lost the quality necessary for processing. Hence, presumably, fewer grapes will be harvested this year as compared to the previous year. However, the statistics of the Racha grape harvest 2014 are not final and are being updated upon a daily basis. As for the value, the record price of 2013, GEL 8 per kilo, has been maintained in 2014 as well as the demand for Aleksandrouli and Mujuretuli varieties remaining very high. Based upon this fact, the state has stopped subsidising these varieties since 2010. According to Mr Meskhidze, 14 companies are buying grapes in Racha at this stage.

The National Wine Agency also confirmed that a total of 600 tonnes of Aleksandrouli and Mujuretuli had been harvested by 11 October 2014 and that the profit for the population had reached GEL 5 million by that time.

Conclusion According to the data of 17 October 2014, a total of 1,800 tonnes of grapes have been harvested in Racha with 873 tonnes comprising the grapes for Khvantchkara winemaking (Aleksandrouli and Mujuretuli grape varieties). The profit for the population was over GEL 14 million with GEL 7 million having been received for Khvantchkara winemaking. Based upon the statistics of the National Wine Agency of Georgia and the interview with the Senior Specialist of the same Agency, we conclude that the statement of the Minister of Agriculture of Georgia, Otar Danelia: “More than 600 tonnes of grapes have been harvested in Racha as of today. The profit for the population has reached GEL 5 million,” is TRUE.