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As a tribute to the life and work of legendary fado singer Amália Rodrigues, Herdade das Servas has partnered with the Amália Rodrigues Foundation to bring a special treat to wine-lovers worldwide.
On October 27, the first ever Amália wine was showcased at the Amália Rodrigues House Museum, with part of the proceeds from sales to be donated to national charities AMI, Ajuda de Berço and the Portuguese Red Cross. Representatives from the three institutions were present at the event, joining with a number of celebrity guests, including actress Sandra Barata Belo, painter Jacinto Luís, Estrela Carvas (lifelong friend of Amália) and Vítor Marceneiro (grandson of fado singer Alfredo Marceneiro). Attendees were treated to a magnificent performance of three Amália songs by Cuca Roseta, backed by guitarists Mário Pacheco and José Manuel.
Produced by Herdade das Servas, the wine which now bears Amália’s name was recognised as one of the best Alentejo wines of 2006 by Confraria dos Enófilos do Alentejo. Dark-ruby-coloured, it exhibits black fruit aromas and intense, full-flavoured tannins, echoing the warmth and charm of the celebrated fado diva. Made from Touriga Nacional (40%), Aragonês (30%) and Alicante Bouschet (30%), the Amália wine is fermented in stainless steel wine presses equipped with automated treading/dipping machines.
It is aged for 15 months in a mix of French (70%) and American (30%) oak barrels and then laid down for a further 16 months in the Herdade das Servas cellars. This results in a wine with outstanding ageing potential, which can not only be stored for the next 12-15 years, but is also ready for immediate consumption, especially when paired up with strong flavoured dishes – mature sheep cheese, one of Amália’s favourite delicacies, comes highly recommended.
Herdade das Servas
One of the oldest wine-growing families in the Alentejo region, the Serrano Mira family proudly owns and runs an estate deep in the heart of rural Portugal, stretching across 200 hectares of vines aged between 15 and 55 years. The cellar, located in the Herdade das Servas property, in sun-drenched Estremoz, features top-of-the-range grape-gathering, wine-making and wine-ageing technology, able to produce highly distinctive wines under the Herdade das Servas, Monte das Servas and Vinha das Servas labels.
Amália Rodrigues Foundation
It was legendary fado singer Amália da Piedade Rodrigues’ dying wish that a foundation be set up to provide shelter and assistance to the poor, particularly orphans, the homeless and the dispossessed. The foundation would also aim at creating and supporting relief and social welfare institutions.
The Amália Rodrigues Foundation was established as a public charity by prime ministerial decree, issued in Series II of Diário da República of 19th October 2007, effective as from the date of the request in 2000.
AMI Foundation
AMI (International Medical Assistance) is a private, independent, non-profit, Portuguese Non-Government Organisation (NGO) with no political affiliation. Since its foundation on 5th December 1984 by urological surgeon Fernando Nobre, AMI has become a leading humanitarian organisation in Portugal, seeking to provide swift aid in emergency situations to overcome underdevelopment, eradicate social exclusion and alleviate hunger and poverty in communities anywhere in the world affected by the ravages of war.
Ajuda de Berço
Ajuda de Berço was founded in 1998 to provide assistance to children aged up to 3 years in urgent need of protection from harm and neglect, such as sexual abuse, abandonment, prostitution and domestic violence and trauma. Ajuda de Berço also aims to promote, defend and uphold human dignity by supporting pregnant women living in poverty and their children.
Cruz Vermelha Portuguesa
The Portuguese Red Cross is a non-governmental humanitarian organisation established as public charity. It operates in line with the Fundamental Principles of the Red Cross, unanimously adopted at the 20th International Conference of the Red Cross in 1965. The organisation also acts in accordance with the provisions of International Humanitarian Law, which seeks to ensure respect for human dignity, promote peace, mitigate the impact of armed conflict and protect life and health. |
