Fado in Podentes, Central Portugal

It’s May Day, So it’s Time to Party!

And that’s exactly what we did on Friday night. We and approximately 60 other people from the UK, Ireland, Holland and Portugal attended a Fado evening held in a local wine making “Adega”. For a nice change, the setting was not an old damp stone barn smelling of animals and sprouting potatoes – it was the spotlessly clean commercial wine production building of Maria Luisa D. Lapa dos Santos Reis. Produtore, Engarrafadora de Vinho.

Starting at around 8.30 on a beautifully warm evening we met in Poudentes, a small village which has been making wine since before the Roman invasion. The wine here  is well regarded in the local area and exported throughout Europe.

The evening was in aid of the CERSI charity of Penela and took the form of a full dinner with local wines, cheese, sausage, honey and other delicious morsels taken from the immediate area.

A word about the wine, we had red and white spumante, white wine, Silver medal winning red wine and Jeropiga or “farmers port”. Ten years old and wonderfully golden colored with huge flavors. All of this was supplied by our host Maria Luisa D. Lapa dos Santos Reis.

After chatting around the tables of starters we got down to the serious business of the fado. First of all we heard Lisbon Fado sang by a Fadoista with a beautifully melodic voice. Accompanied by the classical guitar, guitarra Portuguesa and a double bass. The sound filled the huge space even though there was no artificial amplification. The audience was captivated.

A short break for the serving of traditional deserts and coffees was had, after which, a duet including a male singer who sang Coimbra Fado began to perform.

The evening finished around one am with “Caldo Verde” soup served and heading for home.

Although the Fado is sang in Portugues. The shear strength of emotion that the singers sing each song with make you want to listen. A very enjoyable evening indeed.

Tags: central portugal, cheese, Fado, Food, wine, wine making