Herdade da Malhadinha Nova

A holy trinity of country house, winery and gourmet restaurant at the heart of the Baixo Alentejo

After many years retailing fine wines throughout Portugal, it was natural that the Soares family should dream of making their own top-quality wines. And now, 10 years on the vineyards are established on their rolling 450-hectare estate, as is the reputation of their exceptional range of Alentejo reds, whites, and rosés. They didn't stop there: next they built a slick, contemporary restaurant next to the huge stainless steel vats of the winery, with a gourmet menu that would serve as the perfect partner to their fabulous crus.

In the latest chapter of this story for sybarites, they've added 10 sumptuous guest rooms and suites in a restored farmhouse 500m away. All in all, this place is as good as it gets for foodies and wine lovers and, should you overindulge, there's a big range of outdoor activities on offer as well as a subterranean spa. Seductively southern, perfectly Portuguese and alluringly alentejana, visit Malhadinha in the knowledge that you're guaranteed a truly remarkable hotel experience.

Highs

• Great food, top wines, fab rooms: what more could you want?
• The staff at Malhadinha are charming, informative and genuinely helpful: they all go beyond the call of duty
• The estate feels rural and remote yet you're within easy driving range of the Algarve beaches and of some fascinating inland towns
• The sitting room and wine bar have a really intimate vibe, as does the winery restaurant
• You can learn how the Malhadinha wines are created and, if you like, join in with the annual grape harvest

Lows

• Access to the farm is tricky so be sure to remember your arrival instructions
• It's a 5-minute drive from the hotel to the restaurant for dinner
• When I stayed, the background music being piped through to the hotel's sitting room was a weird pot-pourri of Frank Sinatra, Spanish rock and oriental Chill