Herdade da Malhadinha Nova

Rooms

The original farmhouse, Monte da Peceguina, has 2 Suites, one Junior Suite, and 7 Doubles. I stayed in one of the Suites and would find it hard to fault my immaculately conceived sleeping space. Both Suites have high-ceilinged sitting rooms with a mezzanine level where a second double bed has been tucked beneath the beams. Down below you can slump into a comfy sofa or lounge on to the ottoman. Their focus is a woodburning stove which, Janus-like, looks forward to your sitting room and back into the main bedroom.

Here, in addition to an enormous 2x2m bed dressed in fine linen with your monogrammed bathrobe and slippers neatly bundled up, you'll find a freestanding tub, a big fitted wardrobe and a writing desk with a perspex Starck chair. Expect loads of little treats: your complimentary bottle of the estate's Monte da Peceguinha wine on a silver tray for booking through i-escape, a bowl of fruit next to the bath tub and a big vase of cut flowers.

Your suite's bathroom leads off from the sitting room but is visually linked in with the bedroom by a glass panel behind the twin surface-top sinks: drop-down blinds determine to what extent you share your ablutions. There's a walk-in rain shower to complement the tub next door.

The junior suite also comes with a huge kingsize double and the treat of a freestanding tub next to the bed, whilst the 7 standard rooms are smaller but have the same range of creature comforts: airconditioning, underfloor heating, fitted wardrobes, as well as all of the towels, toiletries and special extras that you get in the suites. The baths have an overhead shower although, in this case, it's within the bathroom itself. And a big plus for booking a standard is that you get a slice of deck outside your room with direct access down to the main pool and spa.

Since we last visited, Casa Das Pedras and Casa Do Ancoradouro have been added to Malhadinha (housing 4 and 7 double suites respectively) - plus 3 standalone villas (Venda Grande (sleeps 8) is about 5km away, but Casa Da Ribeira (sleeps 6) and Casa Das Artes e Ofícios (sleeps 4) are set within the vineyards). Expect the same graceful collision of traditionalism and modern design touches, plus pools, the odd in-room bathtub and gorgeous views of the Terges stream. We cannot wait to see them for ourselves.

Features include:

• Air conditioning

Eating

A stay at Malhadinha is very much about good food and wine, and the heart of the matter is the Restaurante Gourmet da Malhadinha (closed Sundays and Mondays), which looks out to the vineyards and inwards to the gleaming steel vats of the winery. The idea was to create dishes that would showcase the estate's red, white and rosé wines. Under the guidance of Michelin-starred chef Joachim Koerper, the restaurant offers a modern take on regional dishes. Reasonably priced 3- and 5-course menus change with the seasons and follow the dictates of nouvelle cuisine: manageable portions, light sauces, fresh-as-fresh ingredients and eye-catching presentation.

A typical lunch or dinner might begin with a selection of amuses-bouches, followed by salt cod confit in an olive crust, then Iberian pork shoulder with apple and celeriac puree, and melon carpaccio with port wine ice cream to finish. Everything looked so pretty on the plate I felt almost loathe to disturb their culinary artwork. And everything that they magicked up for me was simply scrumptious.

If you're more of a traditionalist you can also order time-tried Alentejo dishes like a hearty cocido (a bean soup), an ensopado de borrego (a type of lamb stew) or some variant on the game theme: a lot of hunting goes on in the region.

Breakfasts are less formal events and take place back in the hotel's open-plan sitting-cum-dining room. You eat at one big, square wooden table flanked by 12 perspex Philippe Starck chairs or, when the weather's right, at individual tables on the decked terrace which overlooks the pool and spa.

Your meal takes the form of a big buffet and will include fruit salad and freshly squeezed orange juice, alentejano hard and soft cheeses, locally cured ham, a selection of freshly baked breads, croissants, yoghurts, homemade cakes and biscuits as well as any variant on the cooked breakfast theme that takes your fancy.

Light snacks can be prepared at the hotel at any time during the day and gourmet picnics can also be created but these need to be ordered in advance. The villas have their own kitchens, should you wish to prepare your own food.

If you want to eat elsewhere try one of the two local restaurants, Restaurante O Celeiro or Restaurante A Cavalariça for simple traditional fare.

Features include:

• Restaurant

Activities

• Take a tour of the bodega to see how Malhadinha's wines are put together and, if you're new to the game, let the basics of wine tasting be explained to you
  
  
• Grab a mountain bike, or saddle up a horse, and ride out through the estate, perhaps with one of Vítor's gourmet picnics
  
  
• Fish in the river that cuts through the property: rods and lines are provided
  
  
• Spend the day exploring nearby Evora: the town has a deliciously out-of-time feel to it, and there are some excellent Roman ruins including a temple. Nowadays it has the happy buzz of any university town
  
  
• Take to the air with a balloon flight over the vineyards
  
  
• If you're here at the end of the summer join in with the grape harvest
  
  
• Go kayaking on the River Guadiana, 40km from the hotel
  
  
• Chill out by your pool then head to the spa for a steam and a massage or choose a detoxing or relaxing treatment from the extensive menu; ask if you'd like to have some yoga tuition while you're here
  
  
• Enquire about the week-long cooking courses, which Vítor Claro runs, or sign up for a wine week or activity week (including painting and photography)

Activities on site or nearby include:

• Cooking classes
• Cycling
• Fishing
• Hiking
• Horse riding
• Kayaking
• Shopping / markets
• Wine tasting
• Yoga

Kids

Although this is a sophisticated place, kids would certainly enjoy exploring the estate and meeting its animals (pigs, cows, hens, peacocks, turkeys). The possibility of learning to ride a horse would be an added attraction for older kids, and the pools and mountain bikes could provide plenty of entertainment. There are all sorts of accommodation options, so you'll easily find something that suits.

Best for:

Children (4-12 years)

Family friendly accommodation:

The two suites in Peceguina both have a second double bed hoisted up on their mezzanine levels, while Ancoradouro Suites have sofabeds that can sleep 2 kids. The private villas - Casa Das Artes e Ofícios (sleeps 4) and Casa Da Ribeira (sleeps 6) - would work well for families.

Cots Available, Extra Beds Available

For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection

Location

Herdade da Malhadinha is in the Alentejo, 3km from the village of Albernoa; the nearest large town is Beja, 23km away.

By Air
The nearest airport is Faro (124km), a little over an hour away by car; from Lisbon (200km) it is nearer 2 hours by car. You could also fly to Seville, in which case allow half a day for getting to Malhadinha.

From the Airport
We'd recommend that your hire a car in order to make the most of the area - see our car rental recommendations. Alternatively, take a taxi. Airport transfers are also available via the hotel.

Detailed directions will be sent to you when you book through i-escape.