When the Pfälzer Schloss is bathed in warm light in the evening and cheerful guitar music drifts outside, Europe feels very close in Groß-Umstadt. Last Saturday, 21 March, we once again felt exactly that at our Portuguese wine tasting, the “Prova de Vinho”. Such evenings simply show wonderfully how unforced lived international understanding can be. Over a good glass of wine people come together, get to know each other and share a piece of culture. It is precisely this warm exchange that is the absolute foundation of our shared work for a cosmopolitan, humanist togetherness in our town.
Variety in the glass and on the plate
In fact, Portugal has more than 230 different grape varieties. A small but exceptionally fine selection of them was tasted together that evening. A total of eight wines were on the programme, presented in a very likeable and entertaining way by host Franziska Jourdan and our wine princess Joanne Castro Rodrigues. Three of these wines were even presented exclusively by our own wine royalty of the Odenwald wine island. A Portuguese folk group also provided plenty of life in the hall, not only pouring the wines energetically but bringing a good portion of southern joie de vivre along. And because a good drop goes with good food, guests enjoyed typical small bites. With crispy muslitos, fine olives, Serrano ham and spicy cubes of cheese, the evening felt almost like a short holiday.
Music that connects people at the Prova de Vinho
What would a Portuguese evening be without the right music? A talented fado singer and two guitarists created such a lovely, infectious atmosphere that after a short while the audience simply sang along cheerfully. It is exactly these unplanned, joyful moments in which strangers become friends. When we sing and laugh together like this, we fill the European idea with real life. We feel this not only in the close bond with Santo Tirso but just as much in our deep friendships with our other partner towns, Saint-Péray and Dicomano.
A huge thank-you to all the helping hands
How much the guests enjoyed it was clearly visible at the end of the official programme, as hardly anyone wanted to go home yet. The lovely atmosphere in the Pfälzer Schloss simply invited people to stay seated a little longer, refill their glasses and keep chatting. That this evening became such a great success is thanks above all to the Portuguese section of our organisation. A huge and heartfelt thank-you goes to all the volunteer helpers. Without your strong commitment in the background, such festivals would not be feasible for the twinning at all.
Become part of our European family
Do you feel like having a look at what we do? Europe doesn’t only happen in distant capitals but begins right here around the corner. If friendly togetherness across national borders matters to you as much as it does to us and you like discovering new cultures, then simply become part of our community. Help us set up great projects and keep friendship with our European neighbours alive. We would be delighted to welcome you among us at our next event – perhaps at the Twinning Festival in the Wendelinuspark on 7 and 8 August 2026. Just bring your curiosity, talk to us and let’s build bridges together!
A piece of Portugal in Groß-Umstadt: our Prova de Vinho at the Pfälzer Schloss
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