Travel Diaries: Ästad Vingård, a Swedish Vineyard and Spa


Here's one for the Scandi travel files. Ästad Vingård. An ecological vineyard and spa in Halland county, Southern Sweden. Per and I were invited on an overnight press trip a while back and we're still feeling relaxed! If you love rolling hills, wine tasting, good in-season food and a whole load of pampering, this is your place! Read on to find out more about our stay - I hope it will inspire you to visit one day when we're all free to roam once again. 

We pulled up to find Ästad Vingård nestled between the gently undulating slopes of the Åkulla nature reserve, surrounded by lakes and beech forests, The rural farm is surprisingly extensive and made up of a cluster of smaller timber cottages, as well as larger dwellings that house the winery, restaurants and accommodation - against a backdrop of over 22,000 vines. 

Once checked in, we ambled through the vines, sampling the organic Solaris - a green grape that flourishes in a Northern climate - as we went. Ästad Vingård also offers daily wine tours which take you on a tour of the cellars and winery as through through the vineyard - something for next time! 

Our walk was followed by an organised wine-tasting with a knowledgeable Ästad Vingård sommelier, who talked us through their very own ecological crisp white wine. A relatively young winery, Ästad Vingård only harvests a limited number of bottles each year, which they then use in their restaurants. Even if they had bottles to sell, Sweden's strict alcohol laws mean we'd have needed to go to the state-owned monopoly to buy it. I'm super curious to know if this will change since Southern Sweden is becoming something of a wine hotspot and hailed as an up and coming wine region in the sommelier world! Who would have thought it? 

Ästad Vingård mainly produces sparkling wine but in a good year, they also produce wonderful crisp dry white wine - and we were fortunate enough to tuck into a bottle of Solaris 2018!  


Having relaxed over a glass or two (ahem), Per and I changed into our designated robes and slippers and headed off to sample the Sinnenas Spa

Meaning 'spa of the senses', Sinnenas Spa' is made up of a series of indoor and outdoor areas, inviting you to relax in a myriad of saunas, steam rooms, hot tubs, heated pools and hammocks. If you're brave enough, there's even a fresh-water lake for cooling off.  Word of warning: fellow spa-goers can see you from the underwater sauna, so make sure you've tightened your trunks before you dive in! 


You could spend several days floating in the wonderful indoor and outdoor pool - or even just sitting on a hammock or lounger looking out over the nature reserve! 

Ästad Vingård offer day trips for the tours and spa, however, if you really want to go all in, there are a large number of lodgings available - from luxury suites with a private spa, to cosy timber cottages with a turf roof.


As someone who has a bit of a thing for interiors, I was excited to find our room had been decorated with natural materials throughout  - from raw wood and leather to stone and iron. 

Another lovely touch: the mini bar had been kitted out with locally produced items such as gin from the Swedish island of Ven, Gårdschips (farm crisps) from Halland and Malmö chocolate! Yum!

The room was super smart too: at the flick of a switch, we could open and close the curtains, play music, control all the lights and probably a load of other things which are far beyond my (limited) technical skill. 

I've been wondering how to install electric curtains in my bedroom ever since - preferably with a timer set for lengthy lie-ins! Wouldn't that be wonderful? 

Perhaps best of all - our bathroom had an incredible stone bath and a little private sauna - just to ensure we felt truly relaxed. Pure bliss! 


In the evening, we headed to the in-house Restaurant Logen for a four course Swedish farmer's menu. Visitors also have the option to reserve a table at Restaurant Äng where the head chef Filip Gemzell prides himself on serving incredible dishes inspired by the local Halland nature and traditional Scandinavian fare - made with ingredients from the nearby forest, meadows and fields. 

Next time! 


All in all - a wonderful stay - and one for the travel files if you'd like too pamper yourself and sample some local organic Swedish wine the next time you're in Sweden!

I'd suggest going mid-week so you can enjoy the tranquil surrounding and spa a little more to yourself (it's a fairly big centre and can get pretty busy at the weekend). Oh, and pack your hiking boots if you'd like to wander through the nature reserve! 

More info about booking a stay can be found here

Skål to the upcoming Swedish wine industry and a huge thank you to Ästad Vingård for the press trip. We'll be back!

Niki

Photography: 1,2 3, 5, 9, 10, 11, 14, 15 Kristian Sahlberg. The rest: Niki Brantmark. 

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A Beautiful Farm Stay With a Pared-Back Rustic Vibe

I hope you had a lovely weekend? We enjoyed a magical midsummer at a friend's cottage in Båstad (pronounced B-or-stard - in case you were wondering!!). It had everything I featured in Thursdays 'midsommar round-up' - including the famous four seasons in one day (the Swedish weather gods treated us to 27 degrees celsius and sunshine, a hail storm and thunder and lightning) - a true Swedish midsummer! We're staying at our own cottage for a few days now - and will stay put in Sweden the entire summer- but it doesn't stop me from drooling over ideas for future holidays abroad! In case you're in the same boat, you might just want to archive this wonderful farm stay in Portugal. Surrounded by vast fields in the beautiful Alentejo region, Herdade Cucumbi is a guest house offering four bedrooms and three apartments with a pared-back, rustic interior and a lovely Scandinavia meets Portugal vibe. Oh, and you might just like to enjoy a book and aperitif by the pool too! 







Something for 2021 perhaps? Perhaps I'll see you by the pool! Make mine a Ginjinha

You can read more about this wonderful hotel here

Curious about other travel destinations? 

You'll find a ton of amazing design hotels in this archive and might also come across some pared- back, rustic holiday homes stays in here too! 

While on the subject of holidays, one of the things that has struck me during the pandemic is how I've been inspired to adapt my home to feel more like a holiday home. I mean, why wait until we can travel (even cross country) - when we can bring a touch of sunshine to our own homes? I hope the rustic and natural touches in this hotel might inspire you to adapt your living space a little too!

Niki

Photography Sanda Vuckovic found via SF Girl By Bay with thanks. 

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A Dreamy Bed & Breakfast in Florence, Italy

A few summers ago, Per and I went to Florence, Italy for a long weekend. We searched high and low for somewhere beautiful to stay but never really came up trumps. I wish we'd known about this family run Bed & Breakfast. Dating back to the mid 19th century, Valdirose is located in the hills of Lastra a Signa, around 14 km from the centre of Florence. In 2007, Irene Berni completely revamped the family home and transformed into a dreamy B&B. Today, Valdirose promises to be a perfect stay for anyone who loves to surround themselves with antiques, family memories, soft colours and beautiful details. Let's take a peek inside...



I love how Valdirose is family-run in every sense:

"I cannot talk about my family, only describe the flavour: of brandy to my father who awaits the return of the guests....the pride of my husband with his shaky English, of freshly baked cake behind which hides my Mother, shy as a child, and finally wildflowers, my favourite, the daily gift I get from my daughter."




Valdirose has four double rooms or a family room with a double and single room connected. I particularly love the look of Orizzonti! Every room is different but still in keeping with the understated earthy look of the residence with its soothing cream, chestnut and cappuccino shades. 




These sheer curtains are so pretty, I can imagine them billowing in the breeze.  You buy similar made to measure ones on Etsy here*. This curtain with a powder hue and ruffles* is also really pretty!

Isn't it beautiful?

I think a return trip to Florence might be in order. It's such a romantic city! Have been?

You can book your stay at Valdirose here

Looking for other lovely places to stay in Europe? Here's a small selection of my favourites:


And if you're heading my way - how about one of these 20 instagrammable places to stay in Sweden

Niki

Photography courtesy of Valdirose / @valdirose shared with kind permission

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Could You Imagine Staying In This Dreamy Riad in Marrakech?

One day I'm excited about Autumn, the next I'm dreaming of an escape to warmer climes (yep, my mood is as fickle as the between-season Skåne weather!). But seriously, who could blame me with places like this waiting for us all? Riad 42 is nestled in the heart of the bustling Medina in Marrakech and has been lovingly restored by French-Belgian duo Sarah & Grégoire. The couple worked with the existing architecture and added a soothing neutral palette, handwoven textiles, a touch of that Moroccan style we all so love - and one very refreshing rooftop pool! Could you imagine recharging at this serene bed and breakfast?! 



I love these cross taps but struggling to find them online - does anyone have any tips? 

Simplicity which works beautifully thanks to the patina on the surfaces (both the wall and shower head / taps).

Lounge chairs like these have become increasingly popular and so easy to work with inane space. I stumbled across this woven leather one which is similar - and oh so beautiful!

Not a bad place to hang out after a day at the souks, right?! 



So dreamy! 

Can you imagine the sense of calm you'd feel just walking through the door?! 

If Marrakech isn't on the horizon right now - there are still so many homes with a Moroccan touch to feel inspired by. Here are a few of my favourites:


I'm feeling a teeny bit excited. First the sun has come out for the first time in days (such a relief!) and secondly, I'm off to visit my new office in Malmö. I'll be sharing the space with two very fabulous, very creative ladies! Yay! We need to do a little work on the interior, but I hope I can share some pictures of it soon! 

I hope you have a fab day!

Niki

Photography courtesy of Riad 42 with thanks!
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