Book Herdade da Malhadinha Nova with VIP Benefits

Local materials run through the interiors. Stones gathered on the property and regional marble sit alongside handmade chairs and contemporary Portuguese furniture. Artisans' work has a visible place among pieces by international designers, so the rooms have detail to explore without losing their rural character. Ceramics, lighting and carefully chosen furniture give each interior a distinct identity. An Olaio piece or Vista Alegre object belongs to the same setting as a locally made chair. This attention to individual objects makes the houses feel collected and personal, with the region's craft traditions carried into rooms built for present-day comfort.

Monte da Peceguina has seven 32-square-meter rooms and three 90-square-meter suites, a library, wine bar and two shared pools, one heated. Casa das Pedras contains four 100-square-meter suites, each with its own terrace and private pool. It is recommended for adults. Casa do Ancoradouro has seven 100-square-meter suites with private terraces and one shared outdoor pool; the entire house can also be reserved.

For a whole-villa stay, Casa da Ribeira spans around 370 square meters, with three 75-square-meter suites, private outdoor spaces, a kitchen, living and dining areas, and an outdoor pool. Casa das Artes e Ofícios has two 25-square-meter bedrooms on a mezzanine within its 180-square-meter layout, plus a kitchen, living and dining spaces, and an outdoor pool. These two houses give families or friends communal living space as well as separate bedrooms.

The estate's 80 hectares of vineyards occupy gently sloping, well-drained schist soils. Rainwater collected in five dams supports irrigation, while weather stations and soil-moisture sensors help the team manage water use. Wildlife corridors are maintained as part of the approach to pest control. These are practical details of winegrowing in the Alentejo, where managing soil and water is part of the vineyard's daily work. The rows of vines visible across the property belong to a producing wine estate, with the farming decisions behind each vintage taking place around the guest houses.

Guided visits combine the property and winery with tastings of Malhadinha Nova wines. The selection ranges from an introduction to the estate's bottles to sessions focused on single varieties or premium wines. A more technical visit with the winemaking team explores production and compares newer wines with older vintages. This allows someone beginning to explore Portuguese wine and an experienced collector to approach the same estate at different levels. Tastings and guided visits are arranged in advance, with the format agreed when booking. The winery visit gives useful context to wines encountered later at the restaurant.

At Malhadinha Nova's restaurant, executive chef Joachim Koerper works with Alentejo traditions and ingredients grown on the property or supplied by local producers. Organic estate produce forms a substantial part of the cooking, and the restaurant holds a Michelin Green Star. Provenance is tangible here: the estate produces wine, olive oil and honey as well as raising livestock and cultivating food for the kitchen. The menus bring those ingredients into a more composed dining setting while keeping their regional origins recognizable.

Executive pastry chef Cintia Koerper oversees the sweet side of the kitchen. Dining also extends to lunches at Monte da Peceguina and Casa do Ancoradouro, with separate children's and snack menus providing alternatives to the restaurant's gastronomic menu. There is room for a family lunch as well as a more involved dinner, without making every meal follow the same format.

The organic gardens grow aromatic herbs used in Alentejo cooking, including pennyroyal, coriander and rosemary. Vegetable beds and fruit trees broaden the kitchen's supply, with citrus and loquats among the orchard crops. Across the farm, Iberian black pigs and Alentejana cattle graze, while Merino sheep help control weeds between the vines. The cork-oak woods are part of this agricultural landscape. Seeing the animals and cultivated plots gives a meal here a particular context: the ingredients belong to a working system that guests can explore, through the gardens, pastures and vineyard rows that supply and surround the table.

M Wellness Spa occupies 110 square meters and was designed by the Aires Mateus studio. Its three treatment rooms are accompanied by a sauna and sensory shower. Facials use products from the Azorean brand IGNAE, while body treatments draw on ingredients such as wine, honey and rosemary. The menu spans massage and facial appointments, with treatments available to guests aged 16 and older. It is an intimate spa with a small number of treatment spaces, so the experience centers on an individual appointment. Yoga is another option within the estate's wellness program, separate from the treatment menu.

The estate's Lusitano horses are part of its farming identity and its riding program. Sessions in the riding ring and private lessons provide a different format from a guided ride across the property. The latter takes guests out with an estate horseman, following the landscape on horseback. Walking and electric-bike outings give other ways to explore, and there is also a tennis court.

Children can visit the farm animals and vegetable garden, join a treasure hunt or take part in practical workshops. Bread baking, cookie making and pottery painting draw on food and craft traditions already present at Malhadinha. Babysitting can be arranged separately. The workshops put children in contact with the estate's ingredients and traditional ways of making things, with activities selected around the family's interests.

The estate is inland in southern Portugal, near Beja, making it a countryside stop on a journey between Lisbon and the Algarve. Arrival is by road, and the hotel arranges private car or minivan transfers from Lisbon and Faro. Buggies and mountain bikes are available for moving around the property. With accommodation distributed across the estate, travel between the houses and activities is part of the stay, while a car remains useful for exploring the wider Alentejo.