President Milanović Participates in Grape Harvest Event in Pregrada
The President of the Republic Zoran Milanović participated in the final part of the 50th edition of the “Branje grojzdja“ grape harvest in Pregrada. This is a local and traditional event nurturing traditional customs of the Croatian Zagorje region related to grape harvesting and the winemaking process.
The event dedicated to grapes and wine production is marking its 50th anniversary, and is held under the auspices of the President of the Republic of Croatia who considers this event serious since it deals with money, business and success.
“Wine is a tradition here, but throughout history wine had not been of excellent quality”, President Milanović said in his address. “These days we are witnessing the closing of tobacco and cigarette manufacturing plants. This is unfortunate, yet tobacco, nicotine, tar is unhealthy and toxic, and if I have to choose between wine and cigarettes, I have no doubt, I never had any. A good glass of wine”, the President said and recalled an advertising of fifty years ago that taught us to drink a little and drink well. “Croats always considered little being social drinking. Therefore, a lot was being drunk including bad wine, and now a bit too much is being drunk, but the quality is better. My message is – drink a little, drink well, from Zagorje, Dalmatia, Slavonia, Istria, Međimurje and not to omit some place, because there is more and more of it and it is of better quality. And it is really good quality”, the President noted.
“What the beauty of this and similar regions of Croatia is, is that they are small and exclusive. Perhaps not exclusive in terms of their high cost, but these are small areas, small, pleasant and intimate areas. This is ours, domestic and therefore people of Zagorje, let’s drink a little, but let’s drink well. Remember that!”, President Milanović concluded.
PHOTO: Office of the President of the Republic of Croatia / Tomislav Bušljeta