Assouline Publishes Tome on Herdade da Malhadinha Nova

Assouline has released "Malhadinha: The Heart of Alentejo," a volume chronicling the transformation of an abandoned property in Portugal's Alentejo region into a luxury hospitality estate. Founded in 1998 by Rita Soares, her husband, and her brother- and sister-in-law, Herdade da Malhadinha Nova now features vineyards, heritage horses, and a sustainability-focused restaurant. The book, written by Brazilian journalist Gaia Lutz and photographed partly by Belgian photographer David de Vleeschauwer, emphasizes the concept of saudade—a Portuguese term for a longing for something irreplaceable. Soares discusses the estate's philosophy of restraint, including the use of dirt roads, native plantings, and electric vehicles. The property recently achieved 98% energy self-sufficiency and is building a new olive mill that will also press olives for local villagers. Wine labels are illustrated by Soares's children, with the house wine featuring a cow drawing. Soares notes that the collaboration with Assouline involved a fresh writer who had never covered the estate before, and the text was approved without changes.