10/26/2025
We were fortunate enough to experience two extraordinary places- São Lourenço do Barrocal & Herdade da Malhadinha Nova.
As a child, my happiest place was the barn. There was a freedom in those long afternoons, riding for hours through the orchards, no fences, no boundaries, just that easy rhythm between girl and horse. I’d race there after school, saddle up, and stay until dusk, dusty, tired and content. As a teen, we moved to the city, trading my riding boots for Top-Siders- Leaving my horse world behind.
At Barrocal, those childhood memories woke, the smell of hay and leather, the soft breath of the horses, the rhythm of the morning. It was all so familiar, so grounding. I felt like that girl again, unhurried and free, riding through the vineyards.
An eighth-generation family farm, Barrocal carries its story quietly, in the weathered stone walls, the olive trees, and the food that comes straight from the fields to the table. Everything here feels intentional and alive, a place where history isn’t preserved behind glass but lived in every detail.
At Malhadinha Nova, 750 hectares of vineyards, olive groves, and wild Lusitano horses stretch to the horizon. A true generational estate, where wine sits at the heart of everything - each vintage reflecting the family’s devotion to land and craft. The family’s children design the wine labels, pairing their drawings and words with the spirit of the land. Every glass tells a story -small production, deeply personal, rooted in connection.
Both places remind me that the best stories aren’t told – they are felt. In the rhythm of the land and the quiet joy of returning to something that’s always been part of you.
Onward to the Algarve…
