Not quite in Europe and not quite in Asia, and the subject of much Russian meddling over the centuries, Georgia has burst on to the international tourism radar. Here are 10 things to know about visiting.

Georgian culture and language has a saying that translates to, "Guests are from God." This phrase symbolizes two things: The family-first, Orthodox Christian lifestyle in the country, and the creed with which they welcome visitors. Georgians take great pride in celebrating their guests. If you're hanging out with locals, you can expect to be the subject of many a toast. As tourism continues to grow in Georgia, the country is continuously finding unique ways to make its guests feel welcome. For example, a bottle of Georgian wine was given out to every visitor as they went through immigration during the holidays of 2016.

Historians say that Georgia is one of the oldest wine-producing regions in the world, dating back 7,000-8,000 years. Georgian-style wine is made underground in a clay pot called a qvevri, where not just the juice, but the skins, stems, and seeds are all fermented for up to six months. Because the temperature cannot be controlled as it can in modern wine-making techniques, Georgian qvevri wines are always dry. One of the most popular grapes in the country is Saperavi, and the country's premiere "wine country" destination is Kakheti, less than two hours from the capital, Tbilisi.

After the qvevri has been emptied of the wine, the leftover skin stems, and seeds-collectively known as the pomace-is collected and used to make one of the country's most popular drinks: Chacha. Pronounced "ja-ja" by locals, the pomace is distilled to make a fiery brandy-esque liquor with a taste and consistency similar to grappa. Many local families produce it at home, especially in rural areas, and it is the most traditional after-dinner drink in the country. You can see a video of how chacha is made here.

There are three UNESCO World Heritage sites in Georgia: the Gelati Monastery, Mtskheta Historical Monuments and Upper Svaneti. The latter is renowned for the village of Ushguli, the highest settlement in Europe, as well as its 9th-12th-century Svan towers, once used for protection from local and foreign invasions.

When the wine and chacha start flowing, look out. Georgians love to drink, and they love to toast to the good life and friends around them. At formal and informal gatherings alike, you can expect one person to assume the role of toastmaster, known locally as "the Tamada." At formal events, this person will work as an emcee of sorts, offering toasts for the occasion at hand. Though informal gatherings of friends won't have an official tamada, there will always be one person who takes the lead on raising his glass. As a guest, you can expect it to be raised your way several times. Statues honoring the tradition of the tamada can be found in city squares across the country, including Tbilisi. It is typically depicted as a many holding a sheep's horn, which was traditionally used as a celebratory glass.

The official religion of Georgia is Orthodox Christianity with an emphasis on the importance of family. The best way to learn about the history behind religion in the country is to visit the country's former capital, Mtskheta. It's home to Svetitskhoveli Cathedral, a frequent pilgrimage destination for Orthodox Christians that holds the remains of a robe once worn by Jesus, as well as the stunning Jvari Monastery, which sits on top of a large hill and pays homage to St. Nino, the woman who brought Christianity to Georgia.

Because of the country's location at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, Georgia's culinary scene comes at you from all directions. At street level, the Georgian diet consists of comforting dishes like Chikhirtma (chicken soup), khinkali (Georgian dumplings) and marinated or stewed meat, like Ostri (spicy beef stew). But at Tbilisi's upper-end restaurants, you'll get a fusion of flavors that extend beyond the staples. One of the country's best restaurants is the family-owned Barbarestan.

Two and a half years ago, while making preparations to open the restaurant, the family-father, mother, and son-were browsing in a flea market, when a book caught their eye. It was no ordinary book. It was an extensive collection of recipes-more than 800 in total-written in 1874 by Georgian Princess Barbare Jorjadze. The recipes capture the spirit of Georgia's cuisine over the centuries, including outside influences of the Soviet Union, European, Middle East and others. Today, Barbarestan is regarded as one of the best restaurants in the city, and a copy of the book is now housed at the Georgian Literature Museum and the Georgian National Library.

Georgia is home to several ski destinations. The most established resort areas are Gudauri and Bakuriani, both within two-to-three hours of Tbilisi. A new ski region consisting of three small resorts is budding in Svaneti, although its remoteness has kept it a local secret. Arriving at the Svan resorts of Hatsvali, Zuruldi or Becho requires a six-hour drive from Tbilisi, the last three hours on a winding mountain road that often closes because of avalanches and rockslides.

As with many countries that border Russia - Estonia and the rest of the Baltics come to mind - Georgia has a rough past with its northern neighbor. Its most recent conflict was a five-day skirmish in 2008, and many young people you meet will have been a part of it. This is the most recent in a long history of border disputes. In 1993, there was horrific ethnic cleansing in Abkhazia, resulting in 250,000 Georgian refugees (you can see the red-roofed IDP camps on the outskirts of Tbilisi today).

Don't worry-it's safe and peaceful to visit Georgia. But before arriving, you should read up on these on-going conflicts to fully understand the context of history and relations between the two nations.

The road to Tusheti has been talked about as one of the most dangerous in the world since its inclusion on BBC's World's Most Dangerous Roads in 2014. It snakes its way over Abano Pass, which at more than 9,000 feet is the highest drivable pass in the Caucasus Mountains. With steep slopes and no guardrails, those who drive the road are treated to amazing views and an abundance of adrenaline. The reward for the slow-going, six-hour journey? A visit to Omalo, the main village of Tusheti and one of the most scenic, remote regions in the country.