Torre de Palma Wine Hotel
Alentejo region, Portugal
The lowdown A whitewashed gem in the heart of the Alto Alentejo. Best for Sublime isolation for wine devotees.
When a hotel is dedicated to living life Roman-style, centred around wine, olive oil, horses and spas, it’s a safe bet you’re in for something special. And from the moment you pull up to the complex of traditional, pristine whitewashed estate buildings and elegant, sympathetically renovated manor house, you won’t be disappointed. Climb up the central tower for welcome drinks on your first evening to take in the sunset and vast views across the estate’s 14th-century vineyards and you’ll fall instantly under Torre de Palma’s spell. Inside is a fusion of old and new, with 18 rooms and suites decked out in sophisticated neutrals, vintage touches and layered textures. Pay homage to Alentejo wine at the hotel’s traditional winery, where an array of wine-related activities are on the menu, from tastings to harvesting and stomping grapes. There are also majestic Lusitano horses waiting for you at the stables and a stunning spa for some chill-out time. Then head to the bar to grab a perch on a rope swing to continue sampling the best wines from the region. The house Vinho Branco, made from the prized Antão Vaz grape grown in the hotel vineyard is well worth a tipple. Total bliss.
Book it Double rooms from approx £120 (designhotels.com).