August
August was a month of contrasts. It began on the coast of Ireland, where a weekend at a friend’s home meant mornings shark fishing and afternoons feasting on clams and lobster, fresh from the sea. With less than 24 hours back in London, we swapped the rugged coastline for three golden weeks in Quinta do Lago. Days were spent between the beach and long dinners, with a detour north to the Alentejo to discover Herdade da Malhadinha Nova, a family-owned Relais & Châteaux estate surrounded by vineyards, olive groves, and terracotta-toned landscapes.
From the beach, I’ve been turning my attention to the new season. August always feels like the moment to reset and build the foundations of my autumn/winter wardrobe. A few favourites I’ve invested in (and linked below) are already becoming staples, the kind of pieces that carry effortlessly from late summer into cooler months.
THE MOOD LIST
FROM MOOD TO MINE
THE MOOD I LANDED IN
As I was between jobs, I managed to take three weeks to myself and we flew out to Quinta. On our summer trips we usually carve out a day in Comporta, but this time we decided to try somewhere new: Herdade da Malhadinha Nova. A Relais & Châteaux property, it’s family-owned and spread across 744 hectares of rolling countryside.
We stayed in Casa das Pedras, though we had the chance to see most of the rooms, each one with its own character. My favourite, aside from ours, was Casa do Ancoradouro, largely because I’m in a terracotta phase and it hit the spot perfectly.
The property sits somewhere between a ranch and a vineyard. Originally purchased purely for winemaking, it still has an impressive working winery where you can take tours and, if you visit in the right season, even press the grapes yourself.
During our stay we did just that, pressing grapes for their red wine, as well as pottery, wine tasting, a tour of the land (which genuinely felt like a mini safari, complete with horses wandering up to the car), and more. Had we stayed longer, there would have been plenty else to dip into: horse riding, tennis, the spa and even hot-air ballooning.
What really defines Malhadinha, though, is the atmosphere. Everything is unhurried, quiet, and deeply calming.
