In the village of Sanavardo in Kvareli Municipality, the five-star Askaneli Resort has opened, created with the participation of the international hotel operator Wyndham.
Total investment in the construction of the hotel amounted to 35 million lari, of which 10 million was subsidized by the state under the "Produce in Georgia" (Enterprise Georgia) program. Meanwhile, the company Askaneli's total investment in developing the winery, infrastructure, and 400 hectares of its own vineyards in this area has reached 70 million lari.
The hotel has 50 rooms with views of the Caucasus Mountains. The resort grounds also include a spa area, gastronomic spaces, and a "Kakheti courtyard" designed to acquaint guests with the traditions of the region and wine culture.
Going forward, the investors intend to expand the resort's infrastructure: building conference halls and concert venues, as well as a gated community of residential villas. According to the company, the project has already created about 100 permanent jobs for residents of Kvareli Municipality.
At the same time, the company's wine business recently faced restrictions in the Russian market. On October 10, it became known that Rospotrebnadzor had temporarily banned imports of products from Askaneli Brothers and several other Georgian producers, citing sanitary reasons and stating non-compliance with safety requirements. Russia remains Georgia's largest market for wine: according to Geostat, for January–August 2026 it accounted for about 102 million dollars of Georgia's total 164 million dollars in wine exports.
RELATED: From Borjomi to wine giants: who makes up the top largest exporters from Georgia to Russia
The development of the hotel business expands Askaneli's presence in Kakheti beyond wine production. The resort is intended to become part of a regional tourism offering combining accommodation, gastronomy, and familiarization with local wine culture.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze attended the opening ceremony. He described the project as an example of successful cooperation between the state and private business and expressed confidence that the hotel would bring significant benefits to Kvareli Municipality and to Kakheti as a whole.
"This initiative is a good example of successful cooperation between the private and public sectors. Such partnership reflects our vision for regional development. I am confident that this five-star hotel will bring significant benefit to the region, Kvareli Municipality, and all of Kakheti," Kobakhidze said.