Posted on 10/05/2006 2:35:33 AM PDT by MarMema
On the eastern border of the Black Sea adjacent to the Caucasus Mountain range rests a country of 5 million people on a land rich in history, agriculture, literature, and SUPERB WINE.......the Republic of Georgia.
Formerly a member of the Soviet Union, Georgia has a long history of winemaking. In fact, many people believe that the word "wine" is of Georgian origin. Ancient wine vessels dating back to 5000 B.C., recently unearthed by scientists, offer evidence to support this theory.
Georgia's moderate climate and moist air, influenced by the Black Sea, provide the best conditions for vine culturing. This small country is home to over 500 varieties of wine, which have been enjoyed by Georgians, Russians and many Europeans.
In 1997 Select Wines became one of the first US companies to market wines from the Republic of Georgia. Today we are proud to bring these distinctive wines to your table.
Visit the link to see the selections. Or check with a deli near your home to find Georgian wine.
Is Georgian wine anything like Billy Beer?
Georgian wine is excellent! You will not be disappointed. It is the best I have tasted.
Please consider a ping...
Please consider a ping....
Thank you for the Ping, MarMema!
The link to the article about our
1. American troops in Iraq talking about how proud they are to serve with the troops from Georgia Georgian troops change it upAnd the link to the
2. Georgian Embassy where they are still proudly displaying/ showing off the visit President Bush made to Georgia in 2005 The visit of President George W Bush to Georgiawere very heartwarming threads!
The region of present-day Georgia contained the ancient kingdoms of Colchis and Kartli-Iberia. The area came under Roman influence in the first centuries A.D. and Christianity became the state religion in the 330s.
Domination by Persians, Arabs, and Turks was followed by a Georgian golden age (11th-13th centuries) that was cut short by the Mongol invasion of 1236.
Subsequently, the Ottoman and Persian empires competed for influence in the region. Georgia was absorbed into the Russian Empire in the 19th century.
Independent for three years (1918-1921) following the Russian revolution, it was forcibly incorporated into the USSR until the Soviet Union dissolved in 1991.
Georgia's main economic activities include the
- cultivation of agricultural products such as grapes, citrus fruits, and hazelnuts;
- mining of manganese and copper; and output of a small industrial sector
- producing alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages,
- metals,
- machinery, and
- chemicals.
The country imports the bulk of its energy needs, including natural gas and oil products. It has sizeable but underdeveloped hydropower capacity.
The World Factbook Georgia
MarMema, thank you for posting this thread reminding us of our allies in Georgia and about
their current terrible plight facing down the threats complete economic annihilation at the
hands of Vladimir Putin in Russia.
SandRat, thank you for posting the story about the soldiers from Georgia
serving alongside our troops in Iraq.
"Today is a great day, not only for the Georgian people and the Georgian Army but for the Coalition Forces here in Iraq," said Col. Michael Beech, commander, 4th BCT, 4th Inf. Div.
Georgian troops change it up
Georgian Soldiers Headed to Iraq
Army trainers deem Georgians ‘combat-ready’
TIBLISI, Georgia – Georgian Army soldiers received a “combat-ready” stamp of approval from U.S. Army trainers here Friday after completing three months of intense training as part of ongoing preparations for an upcoming deployment to Iraq.
Nearly 600 soldiers, members of the Georgian 31st Light Infantry Battalion and 2nd Infantry Brigade Reconnaissance (Recon) Troop, were recognized in a sort of graduation ceremony Sept. 29 at the Krtsanisi Training Area. The battalion is the first of three Georgian light infantry units to be trained by sldiers from the 7th Army Joint Multinational Training Command (JMTC) and Joint Multinational Readiness Center (JMRC) which oversee the current phase of U.S. European Command’s Georgia Support and Sustainment Operations Program (GSSOP).
“Twelve weeks ago my unit started training with the U.S. instructors. Within this period we have mastered combat tactics and acquired lots of skills and experience,” said Senior Lt. Lasha Davitaze, 2nd Infantry Brigade Recon Troop commander, addressing his soldiers massed during the ceremony.
Instructions focused on light-infantry tactics and techniques from squad through company-level, and other specialized training for the battalion’s military police, medical, communications and military intelligence elements. Training also touched on the aspects of providing reconnaissance as well as command and control at the brigade level and above.
“Georgia is an important ally to the United States and an important partner in the Coalition fight against terrorism,” said Lt. Col. Craig Jones, training task force commander, during the ceremony. “… They are well trained, physically tough, disciplined, and ready to deploy to combat”.
Trainers have seen raw Georgian troops develop into a more cohesive and able unit, while their leaders embraced new leadership concepts. “The leaders of these soldiers have also trained hard and learned many things throughout the training,” Jones explained. “They arrived here with the same five weeks of training as the privates, but demonstrated the leadership potential to be placed in charge and assigned as leaders”.
Composed of hand-picked soldiers, the 2nd Brigade Recon Troop is one of only three such companies in the Georgian Army, making their training and growth that much more critical, according to Maj. Phillip Sounia, JMRC recon team chief. “Once they learn the right way to do a task, they want to do it perfect every time,” Sounia said. “You can’t beat the type of soldiers they have here. “They’re completely motivated and hard as rocks. They’re a joy to work with”.
JMTC and JMRC assumed responsibility for the training program from the U.S. Marine Corps this year and will continue through April 2007.
Army trainers deem Georgians ‘combat-ready’
MarMema, some people do not drink, yet a bottle of fine wine makes a lovely gift around the holidays, it's great to bring a bottle of good wine to dinner parties and wine makes a great housewarming gift.
Here is another link which brings up a list of many places which sell wine from Georgia:
Georgian Republic (Sakartvelo) Kakheti
Kakheti wines are distinctive and tannic due to fermentation in earthenware jars followed by an extended maceration of three to four months.
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