Askaneli has officially opened a modern brandy wine factory in Bakurtsikhe, Kakheti, with an investment of EUR 20 million, including GEL 14 million in financing from TBC Bank. The facility, located at a key regional crossroads, is expected to become a major agro-industrial hub in Eastern Georgia.
The opening ceremony was attended by Levan Mekhuzla, Head of the National Wine Agency, Gocha Chkhaidze, Askaneli’s founder, Vakhtang Butskhrikidze, CEO of TBC Bank, and Czech Ambassador Petr Kubernat. Designed by Anouk Legendre, the renowned French architect behind Bordeaux’s La Cité du Vin, the factory combines modern technology with distinctive architecture.
“The new Bakurtsikhe factory, due to its strategic location, will become a regional agro-industrial hub. This investment will provide a stable delivery point and the most important support for Georgian farmers,” Askaneli notes.
The enterprise will employ around 100 locals and has a processing capacity of 22,000 tons of grapes. Equipped with advanced stainless-steel fermentation tanks and a unique two-stage distillation system capable of processing 130 tons of wine per day, the facility ensures high-quality brandy production.
According to Chkhaidze, the project represents “a foundation for the future of Georgian brandy and wine,” supporting farmers, raising production standards, and establishing a new cultural landmark. A second stage of development will include a wine museum showcasing Georgia’s 8,000-year winemaking history through interactive 3D exhibits.
