Why cider?

Cider is one of the oldest light alcoholic beverages made by fermenting fruits, mainly apple juice. It is also called apple wine. One can use apples, which is not suitable for food, to make a drink. In many cases, sugar or any other fruit juice is added to regulate the alcohol content during the second stage of fermentation. However, experts believe that apples should be at least 90% of the real cider. British regulation partially takes this view into account and obliges producers to make at least 35% of the apple’s share of the beverage production.

The alcohol content of cider is similar to that of beer, though with its abundant flavors it reminds you more of wine.

European store where cider and beer are sorted together

Cider sommelier Dan Pucci says it’s the perfect drink; With distinct acidity and low alcohol substitution.

Dan Pucci – Cider Sommelier

Thanks to these unique taste properties it is becoming more and more popular all over the world.

At this stage, cider is consumed in the largest quantities in Europe, especially in the United Kingdom, although apple cider is slowly regaining the status of the country’s number one drink in the United States. Where they have already begun rebuilding apple orchards cut down during the dry law.

One of the English cider cellars (made in oak barrels)
According to Rabobank, as a result, cider production will increase by 5% annually and will reach 3 billion liters by 2020.

In European countries you will find apple wine mainly in the beer section. It is bottled in an aluminum jar or glass bottle. It is sold in the same way in clubs, beer or special bars, there are also spaces where you can buy craft cider.

The drink is produced in the region by Turkey, Belarus, Ukraine, Russia and Azerbaijan.

Apples make up 50 percent of the annual fruit harvest in Georgia and its average weight is equal to 200,000 tons. It is on the list of 21 priority products with export potential. However, in reality, farmers are only able to move their produce to post-Soviet countries. In the domestic market, the price of one kilo of apples is about 8 tetri.

Given that we have high quality water, a variety of apple varieties, the quality of which the Ministry of Agriculture has been working on for many years, the ancient culture of winemaking, and unique, pitcher technology Georgia is an ideal country for cider production. Currently only 20 out of 100 local varieties are used for industry. All of them can be used to make cider. The size and color of the fruit are also insignificant for the cider growers, which will allow the peasants and farmers to actually get 100% of the crop.

However, the start of the process is hindered by a law passed during the old government, according to which each liter of cider (in case of 5% or more alcohol) is taxed at 5 GEL. Then the need for this law stemmed from the threat of wine counterfeiting, and now that such a threat no longer exists, it is time for Parliament to start working to change the law. For comparison, according to 2017 data, the excise tax on beer is 12 tetri, while the excise tax on wine is generally free. Consequently logically, cider should not be taxed because it is an apple wine, or taxed as a beer because the alcohol content and consumption are identical. Given that this is a secondary law for Parliament, it will not be so difficult to change it.

“Cider is consumed as a beer, but the brewing process is similar to wine, so winemakers need to understand that cider is not a threat to them, it is a new opportunity,” said Mark Socio, an analyst at Rabobank Beverage.

Indeed, the process of making wine and cider is identical, therefore Georgian entrepreneurs can use traditional technology to get the best quality cider. Especially since apple wine can be made in less busy times of the year, for example after the harvest, which will significantly increase the plant’s resources to smoothly produce grape wine.

Cider made with qvevri technology in the USA

As a result, winemakers will be able to grow cider at least twice a year with seasonal fruits and thus increase production. Jobs will be created, and peasants and farmers will have their problem with the key to apple raw materials completely eliminated.

Cider with different flavours

In return we get a healthy, health-friendly natural product that will be sold both locally or in the post-Soviet market, as well as around the world.