Georgia is starting grape harvesting, which is more than simply agricultural works, but a national holiday known as Rtveli, News Georgia reports.
Urban families will visit their relatives and friends to help them collect grape for wine-makers.
Rtveli was initially planned for August 25, but wine-makers in Kakheti, the Georgian wine center, started grape reception.
Heavy rain and hail this year destroyed about 8,000 hectares of grape. The harvest in Kakheti dropped from 130,000 to 80,000-90,000.
The sugar level of grape has reached 22 degrees.
55 centers for grape reception will be operating, compared with 40 last year, head of the Gurjaani District administration David Meskhishvili said.
About 113,000 tons of grape, including 82,000 tons of Rkatsiteli and 26,000 tons of Saperavi, were collected in Kakheti in 2011.
