Mr & Mrs Smith

A dynamic duo – Luis and Bruno – are the hotel’s ‘Guest Experiences team’: ask them about grape picking and grape-trampling (pulverising the fruit with your toes) during the August harvest. Try out the Jacuzzi and the Turkish baths in the spa, and indulge in treatments. Have a yoga lesson, go horse riding in the vineyards and countryside, and have a cookery class with the hotel’s Michelin-starred chef. Embark on a boating adventure – the hotel has three man-made lakes (you can go fishing, too). Luis and Bruno can arrange hot-air-balloon rides, canoeing, and day trips to Evora for some sight-seeing: the old town counts mediaeval walls and a Roman temple among its historic lures. Quad biking, target shooting, treasure hunts and orienteering missions will keep older children and teens entertained. Have a guided wine tasting with one of Malhadinha’s expert wine makers – you’ll sample the Monte da Peceguina red, white and rosé, and nibble typical local cheeses.

If you manage to tear yourself away from chef Joachim Koerper’s creations, Hotel Vila Gale Clubé de Campo (www.vilagale.pt) at Herdade da Figueirinha, Santa Vitória, has a rustic restaurant with a greed-defying buffet of traditional Portuguese dishes (the cod and veal are particularly tasty). The dining room has wooden beams and a striking central fireplace, and the little bar serves potent cocktails. Pousada de Sao Francisco (+351 284 313 580; www.pousadas.pt) is a Portuguese restaurant chain which adapts its menu to highlight local cuisine and specialities. The hotel’s closest branch is at Largo D. Nuno Álvares Pereira, Beja.