In February 2002, AFC Consultants International started in Tbilisi the implementation of the project "Introduction of a Quality System for Georgian Wine", on behalf of GTZ and financed by the German Government.

It is carried out in three phases, and aims to establish a quality assurance system for wine - including a modern analysis laboratory - that guarantees domestic and foreign customers a quality product up to the expectations of international markets. The first project phase was carried out from February 2003 to December 2004, the second phase followed from January 2005 to December 2006, and the third phase began in January 2007 and is scheduled to end by December 2008.

Project activities concentrate on the provision of advice to the Georgian Government on the introduction and implementation of the necessary legal requirements for a wine quality assurance system which covers EU standards and creates the pre-conditions for a functioning wine quality assurance system in Georgia. Furthermore, the project assists in the implementation of the institutional arrangements necessary to implement the wine quality assurance system through institution building measures. In addition, human resource development measures in the various control measures and methods of analysis aiming to improve the capabilities of the personnel to operate the wine quality assurance system are carried out, as is the training of local viticulture and winery experts on quality-related issues.

An important part of the project is the establishment of and continued assistance to a modern wine analysis laboratory able to operate according to EU standards. This laboratory is effectively functioning since 2005, and is operated since April 2006 by a limited company owned by a foundation established by the Georgian Government and 23 major Georgian wineries in 2003.

On Friday, 18 April 2008, a ceremony attended by representatives of the Georgian wine industry and the Georgian and the German government, was held to formally turn over the wine analysis laboratory to the Georgian foundation.

 

 

      

 

This concludes an important step forward for the Georgian wine industry, and is expected to contribute to the further development of the entire sector and the country's economy.

 

For further information on the project, please contact:
Mr. Johannes Geisen: Johannes.Geisen (at) afci.de