National Wine Agency of Georgia

The National Wine Agency of Georgia, operating under the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia, is the government body responsible for the regulation, promotion, and development of the Georgian wine industry. Georgia is widely recognized as the cradle of wine, with archaeological evidence of winemaking dating back over eight thousand years, making it the oldest known wine-producing region in the world. Georgian wine production is characterized by its unique traditional method of fermenting grapes in clay vessels called qvevri, buried underground, which was inscribed on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list in 2013. The agency oversees the Georgian wine appellation system, which protects the geographic indications of origin for wines from regions like Kakheti, Imereti, Racha-Lechkhumi, and Kartli. Annual Georgian wine exports exceed one hundred million bottles to over fifty countries, with China, Russia, and the European Union being key markets, and the agency plays a central role in marketing campaigns, quality control, and international promotion of Georgian wine culture.