ZGRAPPA PROGRAM 2024

 

ZGRAPPA 2 – lecture schedule

 

Friday 15.11.

 

13:05  
Opening ceremony – organizer Marin Levaj – welcome speech

13:30
announcement of the winner of the 6th Crospirit – international evaluation of brandies, liqueurs and gins organized by Gospodarski list, the Faculty of Agriculture in Zagreb and the Faculty of Food and Biotechnology in Zagreb.

15:00 Masterclass:
“Unique terroirs from France”, Cecile Lecerf, export manager for Spirit France will present Armagnac from Janneau and Calvados from Boulard.
The house of Janneau is one of the oldest in Armagnac, founded in 1851. Relying on unique craftsmanship, Janneau offers Armagnacs produced by single or double distillation. This specificity defines its unique character recognized all over the world. Today, Janneau is the most valued Armagnac brand with the most awards and number one on the export market.
Founded in 1825, Boulard is the flagship brand of Calvados Pays d’Auge (AOC), the most prestigious of the three Calvados appellations. Boulard produces a refined and exceptional Calvados exclusively by double distillation of the best Normandy cider and as such stands out for its refinement, complexity and authenticity and quickly established itself as number one in exports. Pioneering and bold, Boulard has established itself as the reference Calvados for mixologists around the world.


17:00 Lecture: 
Anita Tepeš about the differences and liqueurs of the Martin Albus distillery
, known for combining centuries-old techniques with modern methods, which results in rich-tasting and high-quality products. The lecturers will highlight specifics in the selection of ingredients and the distillation process, as well as the importance of terroir in shaping the final profile of brandy and liqueur. Participants will be able to explore and taste different varieties of drinks from Albus’ offer and hear about the trends shaping the future of this industry. This lecture provides a unique opportunity to deepen the understanding and love for high-quality, authentic brandies and liqueurs.


19:00 Lecture:

Dejan ‘rakija’ Veljović
Why are brandies made from autochthonous fruit varieties a world brand?

How to be recognized in billions of gallons of the world’s most famous drinks? Why is BRANDY special and what are the chances of it becoming a global phenomenon? How is it that our autochthonous varieties have become recognizable in the production of brandy?
The solution to all problems in the world begins with questions. We will try to answer some.
Indigenous fruit varieties are experiencing a renaissance thanks to brandy producers. Yes, you heard right. These are not some naturalists or plant protection societies, these are true lovers of the drink we call BRANDY…
If you think that you are making a mistake somewhere, just ask yourself if you are natural?

 

Saturday 16.11.

 
15:00 Lecture:
Branko – The new face of šljivovice
Branko is a special plum brandy, where the strong character of traditional brandy has been translated into a new dimension, so this plum brandy can be compared to premium bourbons or rums.
Branko is a drink that pushes the boundaries of traditional brandies and introduces a new way of enjoying premium fruit spirits.


16:30 Masterclass:
“BBC Spirits presenting Ikigai Collection – Authentic Japanese Collection”
Lecturer: Marko Fois, sales manager for Europe
The Ikigai collection are authentic Japanese alcoholic drinks of the highest quality brought to Europe by the company
BBC Spirits, the European leader in this category.
Ikigai is a Japanese philosophy that translates as “reason for existence or purpose of life” and comes from 2 words ‘Ikiru’ which means living and ‘Shigai’ worth doing
This collection brings satisfaction, happiness and pleasure to customers and consumers while educating them about the tastes and philosophy of the Japanese way of life. Prestigious and innovative brands will be presented here – the legendary Japanese gin Etsu, BBC Spirits, a creation that embodies a true success story, and exceptional whiskeys from the Kurayoshi distillery.

18:00 Lecture:
Prof. Ante Lončarić and Dario Grabarić
Specificities and characteristics of strong alcoholic beverages – what about brandies?

1. Key principles in the production of strong alcoholic beverages
     a) Raw materials
     b) Fermentation
     c) Distillation
     d) Post-distillation operations
2. Characteristics of Whiskey
3. Characteristics of Tequila
4. What about brandies? Importance of Marketing/Etiquette!

The idea is to go through the key principles of the production of strong alcoholic beverages at a basic level with an emphasis on their influence on the quality of the final product.
Using examples of drinks such as whiskey and tequila, to give possible guidelines to brandy producers for the production of specific and characterful fruit brandies.
Emphasize the importance of communicating with customers through the label.