Malhadinha Nova has been featured at the latest must-have book “150 Hotels You Need To Visit Before You Die”, by renowned journalist Debbie Pappyn.
Travel writer and journalist Debbie Pappyn has been on the road since 2004. Her never ending pursuit is to find the most unexpected and remote places around the world.
The result, from compelling and genuine travel stories, travel trend features to inspiring photo essays, have been published in Monocle, Telegraph Luxury, Travel & Leisure, Conde Nast Traveller, SCMP, Bloomberg, Departures,…
Before this latest edition of carefully chosen hotels around the world, Debbie published the book Remote Places, in 2014, with Gestalten. The photo-driven book is a collection of remote places to stay, from a secret monastery in the deep south of Italy to a cozy, wooden lodge in Alaska only reachable by bush plane.
In 2020 the book 150 Hotels to Stay Before You Die was published and is again a personal collection of must-stay places around the world, from thousands of travelling experiences, a selection of the 150 most beautiful and inspiring hotels in the world - each having a unique story to tell. From Paris to New York, from New Zealand to the Arctic and, of course, Alentejo, where the 460 hectares of pure nature dazzled Debbie Pappyn during her stay at our property.
We asked Debbie some questions about her experience, inspirations and suggestions.
1. If you could describe Malhadinha in three words, which ones would you choose?
Pure, Wild, Endless.
2. What does Malhadinha has that made you chose it for your 150 list for the book?
It touches the soul and essence of Alentejo in a very refined and elegant way. The location is mind-blowing, the way modern aspects blend in with the old and the traditional.
3. Has a traveler, what do you seek in an hotel?
Authentic, singular, with character. It does not matter if it’s a Park Hyatt in a big city or a small inn. The place needs to impress and make the traveller feel welcome and feel at home at the same time.
4. What book would you choose to read while drinking what Malhadinha wine?
A Pico Iyer book, like The Art of Stillness: Adventures in Going Nowhere. Because the Alentejo is very much about stillness and solitude. Which we all need in these troubled times.
5. Can you describe a moment you had at Malhadinha that stucked with you?
A fabulous brunch on the 1st of 2020 with probably 20 ºC and a clear blue sky, with amazing homemade food and wines, good company. Nobody knew this was going to be a challenging year that day, but at least the guests that joined that brunch next to the river will always have that souvenir of that beautiful moment. Relaxed, easy, charming.
6. If you could suggest/invite to Malhadinha an idol or celebrity, death or alive, whom would you choose?
It would definitely be a singer, to have an intimate small concert somewhere on the property for a select group of friends or guests. Maybe somebody who would understand the soul and character of the Alentejo. Rough but with a kind soul. Maybe Bruce Springsteen who could play a little gig amongst the vines. Or Kate Bush, who would probably be super intrigued by the Cante Alentejano and might take the experience back home to influence a future song.