Georgian Wine Sector Boosted by International Advisory on Export Strategy
Georgian wine producers, exporters, and marketing professionals gained deeper insights into exporting their products. 76 professionals attended a two-day online training session led by Julie Peterson, FAO’s International Expert on Wine Sales and Marketing.
The educational opportunity was made possible by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), within the framework of the ENPARD IV Programme, funded by the European Union (EU) and Sweden.
It aimed to support the country’s wine sector in building the knowledge needed for export diversification into specific markets.
The online training was held following positive feedback from participants in the wine sector on the consultant’s earlier sessions this year, which covered the US, Canada, Germany, Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden, where customers' expectations are all different.
This time, the sessions focused more deeply on logistics, regulations, market positioning, branding, and sales strategies relevant to each market. Participants also gained insights into distribution structures, pricing, and long-term growth planning.
“Through the support of our valued partners – the EU and Sweden, FAO continues to sustain one of Georgia’s most significant agricultural sectors with knowledge-exchange opportunities,” says Ana Bokeria, FAO Project Component Manager on Food Safety for Exports. “The Georgian wine sector representatives have expressed interest time and again toward sharing knowledge on exporting to European and US markets. The two-day online training addresses this request, and FAO believes that the activity will significantly contribute to successfully expand Georgian wine export to the markets where higher-value wines are in demand.”
“By investing in knowledge, skills, and market understanding, the EU supports Georgian producers’ commercial strategies in positioning their unique wines on international shelves,” says Denis Reiss, Programme Officer for Sustainable Food Systems at the Delegation of the EU to Georgia. “Strengthening the sector’s professional competence helps ensure that the cradle of wine story, diversity and uniqueness of Georgian winemaking reach consumers worldwide.”
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About the European Union
For more than 30 years, the European Union has built a close partnership with Georgia, supporting its development through knowledge and experience sharing, expertise, innovation and financial support. The relationship between the EU and the citizens of Georgia is based on shared values of peace, freedom, democracy, human rights and inclusive economic growth. More about the EU’s support in Georgiahttps://eu4georgia.eu/the-european-union-in-georgia/
About ENPARD
The European Union supports rural development in Georgia through its ENPARD Programme. Aiming to reduce rural poverty, ENPARD has been implemented since 2013. The Programme started by supporting the development of the national agriculture potential. Subsequently, it also concentrated on creating economic opportunities for rural populations in Georgia. Since 2021, the Programme has also been working on improving food safety in the country, with additional support from Sweden and with FAO and the Czech Development Agency as the main implementers of this food safety component under ENPARD IV.