AbonnéTravel & Wellness

Georgia Believes in Its Wine Heritage and Dreams of a Peaceful Future

By Justine Offredi30 octobre 2025

Driven by a dynamic economy and booming tourism, Georgia is more than a nation troubled by persistent political conflicts. In the southeast, the Kakheti region — which produces about 75% of the country’s wines — is now attracting an upscale clientele in search of a unique oenological experience. A market that could soon appeal to the luxury industry.

Two hours from the capital Tbilisi, nestled in the foothills of the Greater Caucasus Mountains, lies the Lopota Lake Resort & Spa, an establishment that has become a must-visit destination in the heart of the Kakheti wine region (Lopota Lake Resort & Spa)

9.4%

Georgia's GDP growth in 2024

$2 Bn

Georgia's tourism revenue in the first half of 2025

95 Mio

Liters of wine exported from Georgia in 2024

Founded in 2008 by Goga Maisuradze, the Lopota Lake Resort & Spa covers 60 hectares and now offers 311 rooms (Lopota Lake Resort & Spa)

Shortly after leaving Tbilisi Airport, the Georgian capital, the mountains of the Greater Caucasus emerge in the distance, forming a picturesque backdrop. It takes about two hours by car to reach the Kakheti region in the far east of the country, and the destination of this report — the Lopota Lake Resort. The drive winds through endless mountain roads and small villages where time seems to have stopped. Here, it’s not unusual to see cows crossing the road or stray dogs darting out of abandoned garages and shops along the way. The scars of Georgia’s turbulent history — from civil war to conflict with Russia — are still visible in these villages. Yet despite the trauma, Georgia is determined to believe in a better future. Officially a candidate for EU membership since 2024, the country remains deeply divided between a ruling party seen as pro-Russian and a pro-European opposition.

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A Growing Economy Driven by Tourism and Wine

In 2024, Georgia exported 95 million liters of wine, generating nearly $276.1 million (Lopota Lake Resort & Spa)

Supported by a resilient economic model, Georgia posted an exceptional GDP growth of +9.4% in 2024, ranking among the fastest-growing economies in the world. Since 2000, the numbers are even more striking: GDP per capita has soared by 370%, and experts from Batumi Projects forecast a 500% increase per capita by 2030.

Tourism — which boomed after the pandemic — and viticulture, the country’s second-largest export sector, are central to this dynamic. In the first half of 2025, Georgia’s tourism industry generated a record $2 billion in revenue, up 3.8% from the same period the previous year, and 35.4% higher than pre-pandemic levels in 2019. This enthusiasm is also fueled by the growing number of direct flights from Europe in recent years, responding to increasing demand from passengers and airlines alike.

We are a luxury hotel, but we don't want to be one in the traditional sense. We want our guests to experience the quality of our products and facilities

Anri Kiladze, Marketing Manager, Lopota Lake Resort & Spa

Perched on a hill on the estate, offering breathtaking views of the Caucasus Mountains, is Château Buera. A majestic Renaissance-style venue that is the heart of the resort (Justine Offredi)

In Kakheti, considered the historical cradle of Georgian wine and home to three-quarters of the nation’s vineyards, wine tourism is booming. Between 2020 and 2022, a new generation of wine-oriented hotels opened in Telavi, the regional capital, and about twenty high-end properties are scheduled to open between 2025 and 2028 across the country. The year 2024 was also exceptional for Georgian wine exports: 95 million liters exported, generating $276.1 million in revenue, up 6% and 7%, respectively. Growth was especially strong toward the UAE (+80%), Turkey (+62%), and the UK (+42%), even though Russia remains Georgia’s main market, absorbing nearly two-thirds of its wine exports.

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