Finca Buen Vino, Spain
Looking to get away from it all? We all spend our holidays looking for a special place, a hidden gem out of the ordinary. As a creative, outdoorsy, nature led being, this really was a dream escape for me. One I almost want to keep secret for its peacefulness is something to be desired. Welcome to the Spanish Villa of Finca Buen Vino. A stunning oldy worldly villa, tucked in the mountains offers a grounding retreat for you to simply “get away from it ALL”.
This delightful find is definitely not for the pretentious, preppy or high maintenance. Unless that is, of course, that your demands are for Cordon Blue dining under the stars. An infinity pool on a mountainside or beautiful gardens in a self-sufficient family environment run by hosts Jeannie and Sam Chesterton.
DB&B Cordon Blue, in Aracena
Jeannie is a trained Cordon Blue chef. She married Sam and in their years together, they moved from England to Spain. Here they have lived for over 30 years now. They have raised their family here and created not only a wonderful and practical way of life rearing their own meat. Sowing their own fruit and vegetables. But sharing with others the “Spanish country way of life” with a lot of beauty, and a little bit of indulgence. Here Jeannie cooks for her guests daily, spoiling you with her homely culinary delights.
She also runs cooking holidays and courses for small groups – renowned in Aracena, Andalucia. Her cooking is influenced by Spanish ingredients and methods. Combined with her own chefing experiences, skill and tasted for perfection.
The food is out of this world! Succulent, healthy, flavoursome. I promise you won’t want to leave! Not one in our group has struggled with food. Quite the opposite! All-inclusive breakfast, lunch, cake and dinner, with drinks readily available for self-service on an honesty bar.
A Writers Retreat Abroad
So as you might have learned by now I’m not very good at sitting still for too long. So I’m really not much of a book by the pool all day, everyday girl. But my big sister is! So when we decided to go on holiday together with our fussy, arty and eccentric mother; we had a challenge on our hands!
One thing we knew for sure. We wanted to get away from it all! We wanted sun, scenery, good food (not your usual abroad holiday crap dining!) and we wanted activities (again not an annoying entertainment team with blaring music!). Rather we wanted relaxation, creativity and exploring.
We decided to go on an organised writing retreat in Aracena near Seville, at the beautiful multistory villa Finca Buen Vino. A work contact I knew, was running a writing retreat which was “wright” (sorry, I couldn’t resist!) up our street. You can book this Spanish villa as a holiday without the writing… BTW.
As a Scottish digital marketing agency owner, I wanted some warmth and escape from the rat race. Our little online agency specialises in looking after hospitality businesses. So good service, food and accommodation are right up our street. I have spent much of my life in luxury hotels, resorts and fine dining restaurants. So, I’m bored of the pretentious, but I crave the quality. This holiday villa in the sun kicks ass! I promise you.
Get Away From Tourists
Full of secret garden spaces, nooks and crannies to relax with an aperitif and wonderfully interesting hosts, I have truly found my hidden gem!
Okay, so it doesn’t have the luxury of air conditioning. But, we did have roof fans. Oh, how I love roof fans… they are simply meditative to me! Like ticking clocks… they lull me into blissful sleep. I love lying underneath feeling the cool swirl mix with the warm air under a thin sheet. Every day we would climb the flights of the old shuttered building (like a Spanish version of Downton Abbey). Spiralling around the central hall up to our room with a view. And what a spectacular view it was. Our annexe had two bedrooms (one for mum and one for Jo and I) plus our own bathroom and hall space. Spacious, clean, creative, eccentric and utterly at one with the earth. Here you will enjoy a holiday in the country like no other.
The Spanish Way, Our Holiday Routine
We would wake early for breakfast to allow us to get writing and complete a morning session together before the heat of the day. After a morning of exercises, we would spend our afternoons in relxation, reading by the pool, enjoying a dip. Or writing from one of the many garden, building or poolside locations. No matter where you look, you are sure to find a special sanctum for yourself. Space, relaxation and escapism.
This is exactly what I have found here in the Spanish mountains. This has been the most centring, relaxing and healing holiday experience in my life. If you are looking for the ultimate pick me up, refresh holidays, healing retreats, or simply need to get away from it all (at a very reasonable price) you really must slip offer to Finca Buen Vino.
In the evenings we would sit out with the crickets chirping and enjoy a tipple or two on one of the many seated patio areas. Enjoying each others company and stories. Then, after we were plied with our aperitif… or two, we would enjoy the most splendid 3-course meal, before more socialising under the warm Spanish moonlight night.
Retreat Holidays for Difficult Times
I have in the past twelve months come out of what has been one of the most difficult of my life. A divorce. A loss of who I am. Of where I was going. And of what mattered to me most in the world. I lost my identity momentarily. And a holiday retreat like this is just what I needed to get through a dark time. This place is truly earthy and spiritual. A healing place abroad in the sun!! The second I entered the building I was taken to an enchanting world of sanctuary. A massive old Spanish farmhouse full of character, stories and eccentricity, I felt like Alice in Wonderland… Maybe that’s what drew me to the above particular hat. Just one of the many eccentricities of this house – its chandelier hat holder, which I named Hillary hat stand!
The house is a big old farmhouse with secret nooks, crannies, corners and spaces all over to tuck away in, read, write, contemplate and simply let go. A quiet walk up a rocky path overlooking the valley you will find the secret doors to a private infinity pool. This is the exact kind of healing I needed.
What to do in Los Merines
Finca Buen Vino is surrounded by things to do in Spain for the active wanting to get down to the roots of being in Span or looking for a little culture. From morning walks and mountain biking to sleepy Spanish villages, castles, caves and monasteries.
Self-Catering In Spain
Prefer a self-catering holiday with the family? Finca Buen Vino also offers three spacious holiday cottages with large plunge pools in private gardens. These Spanish holiday cottages are set at the bottom of their vast 100-acre estate surrounded by natural beauty.
Solo Traveller Holidays
Or come on holiday to meet people. Or join as a solo traveller on holiday. As well as relaxing holidays, this Spanish villa offers regular group holidays for cooking courses, writing retreats and walking holidays in Spain.
Getting To Finca Buen Vino
We flew into Faro Airport, but you can also fly to Seville. From here we hired a car, crossed the border and drove north to the town of Los Marines – home of Finca Buen Vino. It is a 2hour 30-minute drive, but Sat Nav will take you. Whatsmore, its a lovely drive through the Andalusian mountains. Or you can take a train to Seville then bus to Aracena.
There are a few super places to stop along the way, such as the city of Huelva and many spectacular photo stops through the mountains. You must also make time to visit the Rio Tinto Mines and do the tour. It offers a welcome stop and some interesting historic insight.
