Georgia defies global wine production slump

While global wine production has hit historic lows, Georgia has bucked the trend with its 2024 vintage, according to new data. Global wine production in 2024 has fallen to its lowest levels since 1961, according to new figures from the International Organisation of Vine and Wine (OIV). Extreme weather events, including drought and hail, were major contributors to the sharp decline, which has left the wine industry grappling with challenges across traditional regions. However, amid the global downturn, Georgia has emerged as a rare bright spot. With both quality and volume surpassing recent years, the 2024 Georgian wine vintage has been hailed as “exceptional”. According to the Georgian National Wine Agency, the 2024 harvest was 20% above the five-year average and 27% higher than 2023, a year that saw significant losses due to hail. Producers have welcomed the rebound not just for its scale but for the quality it brought across all regions of Georgia, with the red grape variety ...