Georgia will require state approval before establishing new commercial vineyards under amendments to the Law on Vine and Wine approved by the Parliament of Georgia. The legislative changes were adopted at the third reading by the Parliament’s Agriculture Committee and will come into force on May 1, 2026. The new regulation will apply only to vineyards planted for commercial purposes after that date while existing vineyards will remain unaffected.
Under the new rules, the National Wine Agency of Georgia will be responsible for granting formal authorization to individuals or companies seeking to plant commercial vineyards. The government is expected to adopt detailed regulations by May.
Levan Mekhuzla stated that the regulation is intended to maintain vineyard quality and ensure the long-term sustainability of Georgia’s wine sector. Mekhuzla noted that factors such as soil conditions, location and varietal purity play a crucial role in wine production and emphasized that similar regulatory systems already exist in several major European wine-producing countries.
The new rules will apply only to commercial growers. Farmers who establish vineyards without receiving prior authorization will not be permitted to sell grapes or wine produced from those vineyards.
However, individuals planting vines for personal use will not be required to obtain state approval, meaning the regulation will not affect small household vineyards intended for non-commercial purposes.
