Design, Wine and Downtime in Rural Portugal

Hearty local fare: check. Design hotels: check. Laidback lifestyle: check. Portugal’s previously overlooked rural region of Alentejo has become such a hot item, even Madonna is rumored to own a farm here – clearly, the slow pace of life and incredible food are finally getting the attention they deserve.

Évora's cobblestone streets are the picture-perfect representation of all things quaint. There's a Roman temple ruin and ancient Roman baths; while the museums and churches alike offer a plethora of religious art.

There's a youthful vibe emanating from the second-oldest university in the country, but overall life is slow, so you'll fit right in, relaxing in the shade of one of the city’s myriad outdoor patios.

Fita Preta, the estate winery just outside Évora, is owned by António Maçanita – a man with charm, a large Instagram following, and a deep understanding of all things wine. Unsurprisingly, all of this has earned him frequent accolades, like ‘Winemaker of the Year.’

Try the fabulous Vai Nua (‘Go Naked’) from the touriga nacional grape – Portugal's finest – as you stroll around the lush winery.

Alentejo is home to the largest cork forest in the world, which is great for bottling those gorgeous wines but also provides a sustainable living situation at the Ecork Hotel. This blissfully quiet and luxurious eco-hideaway is just outside of Évora, with a cork-clad exterior to keep the well-designed, cork-heavy interiors nice and cool.

For more astounding design, there's Dá Licença in the town of Estremoz, an old farm amongst 120-hectares of olive groves. It was completely renovated with interiors inspired by the Jugendstil and Anthroposophical design movements, complete with its own art gallery.

Closer to the Spanish border and next to one of Europe’s greatest artificial lakes, São Lourenço do Barrocal is another marvel of farmhouse restoration. Created by some of Portugal's most respected architects, it's finished with a gorgeous swimming pool set in the meadows. Activities include discovering the 16 Neolithic dolmens that are scattered around the extensive farm and vineyards, ideally by bike or on horseback.

Drop us a message and we'll start planning your trip to rural Portugal.

Images courtesy of Ecork and Fita Preta; São Lourenço do Barrocal by Ash James. The remaining images were sourced from Shutterstock and Unsplash.