Tag Archives: Vines

L’And Vineyards: The Design Hotel Amidst Vineyards

L'And Vinyards-Hotel-Portugal-Alentejo-1-Photo Mademoiselle Le K-copyright 2014

Rolling the windows wide open and seeing the road, 

and playing the Black Keys (my favourite band of the moment)! The Alentejo landscape has something unreal, olive trees lost in desert lands … white quintas lined with blue or yellow… white clouds looming on an amazing blue sky, in one of the least polluted areas in Europe (let’s pray very hard as it lasts)! 

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The trip from Lisbon to the L’And Vineyards is fast, 

barely fourty five minutes. Stunning architecture of the hotel, maybe inspired by Alvaro Siza Vieira, one of my favorite architects. Straight clean lines, no useless frills (pictures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 11 and 12). Time to explore and take some pictures of our suite, we reach the surrounding vineyards, the call of nature!

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Soon the harvest!

The weather fluctuates between cloudy and light rain and vegetation starts to glow (pictures 6, 9 and 10). You can participate in wine tastings organized by the hotel. When we return, I swim in the outdoor pool (17 degrees) and the heated indoor pool (both on the picture 4). As for my long swims in the icy Atlantic, I spend hours swimming, floating, bubbled (lol). Especially when I have both pools all to myself! 

L'And Vinyards-Hotel-Portugal-Alentejo-2-Photo Mademoiselle Le K-copyright 2014L'And Vinyards-Hotel-Portugal-Alentejo-6-Photo Mademoiselle Le K-copyright 2014L'And Vinyards-Hotel-Portugal-Alentejo-7-Photo Mademoiselle Le K-copyright 2014

Some of the guests attend the wine tasting,

while the others are preparing for dinner. I should do the same … Because tonight: gourmet dinner at the L’And, the one star Michelin restaurant of the hotel, to discover the cuisine of the talented Chef Miguel Laffan (coming up post). Mademoiselle Le K, it’s time to get dressed!

L'And Vinyards-Hotel-Portugal-Alentejo-10-Photo Mademoiselle Le K-copyright 2014L'And Vinyards-Hotel-Portugal-Alentejo-11-Photo Mademoiselle Le K-copyright 2014

Photos : Mademoiselle Le K – copyright 2014, tous droits réservés.

Informations    

L’And Vineyards 

Related posts : 

 

HOTEL REVIEWSDESTINATIONS & LIFESTYLE  

Many thanks to The L’And Vineyards for this lovely invitation and as always these are my opinions.

South Tyrol: Manincor, The Sustainable Wine Estate in Caldaro

Manincor, a 400 Year-old Wine Estate

From the Schloss Hotel Korb to Manincor, there is half an hour drive. I visit the vineyard with its owner, the Count Michael Goess-Enzenberg, passionate about ecology and biodynamic farming. The setting near Caldaro Lake is superb (picture 3).

Between the vines, wild flowers grow and insects foraging. He applies the principles of biodynamic and focuses on the biodiversity. His key words are respect for the environment and sustainability.

Picture 1: the sap that flows from the size, contains valuable minerals and antioxidants. This liquid is the basis of a line of cosmetic facial, developed by the Count and his family, Acqua Vinea Nobilis, in collaboration with TREHS, the brand of natural cosmetics I discovered at the Vigilius Mountain Resort.

Picture 4: the tasting room, where I tasted a few wines. My favorite: the elegant Cassiano (2009) et Kalterersee Keil, a light ruby color wine to serve cold.

Informations   

www.manicor.comwww.suedtirol.info, www.meranerland.com, www.suedtirols-sueden.info, www.lufthansa.com    

Related posts : DESTINATIONS & LIFESTYLE

Many thanks for this beautiful invitation to Suedtirol and Lufthansa. As always these opinions are my own.

Castel Fragsburg: Fantastic Gourmet Restaurant

The road narrows into tight laces,

lined with vineyards, for your viewing pleasure! The restaurant’s charming Castel Fragsburg nestled atop a mountain, offers a panoramic on a bucolic landscape and the stonished Dolomites.

Simple, elegant and timeless, the atmosphere reminds me of the famous Dejeuner sur l’herbe of Renoir. I feel good, so I could spend hours on the terrace. With a good book under the shade of trees, lulled by a gentle breeze …

What choosing? A sparkling water followed by divine staters. Originality of tastes and textures and beautiful presentation. An unique mustard ice cream (picture 2). My plates look like paintings.

The presention is neat and airy,

with small proportions. I like the balance between solids and voids in a plate. The smiling staff is really professional, present without being intrusive. The main course is a succulent fish on a bed of black rice. Light and tasty.

More salty than sweet, I didn’t taste the desserts, but I like the concept of dark chocolate sticks with salty popcorn (picture 3). Very regressive!

I finish the meal with a great passion fruit tea (picture 4)! My gaze rests on a couch by the pool: now the farniente (or the “doing absolutely nothing” art) is calling me! Enjoy the break!

Informations   

www.fragsburg.comwww.suedtirol.info, www.meranerland.com, www.suedtirols-sueden.info, www.lufthansa.com    

Related posts : DESTINATIONSHOTEL REVIEWS & LIFESTYLE

Many thanks for this beautiful invitation to Suedtirol and Lufthansa. And thanks to the chef Luis Haller and his great team too. As always these opinions are my own.