Wine and design: raising a glass to the 10 vineyard hotels taking things to the next level

Jackalope
Melbourne, Australia

Set dramatically atop a ridgeline amongst Willow Creek’s 11-hectare vineyard, the 46-room Jackalope is the debut project of 29-year-old entrepreneur, Louis Li. Moody ebony hues are revealed through black-painted walls, deep-soak Japanese bath tubs, muted furnishings and an inky 30m infinity pool that overlooks the vineyard and the adjoining yoga lawn. There is Rare Hare, an immersive casual restaurant, but Doot Doot Doot could well be the hotel’s highlight: the four- or eight-course degustation menus lean heavily on Mornington Peninsula produce and are artfully prepared by chef Guy Stanaway, a former star at the luxe Aman resorts.

166 Balnarring Road; tel: 61.3 5931 2500; www.jackalopehotels.com; rates: from AUS $650

Babylonstoren
Paarl, South Africa

Owned by former magazine editor and local style guru Karen Roos, Babylonstoren, a leisurely hour’s drive east from Cape Town, ticks all our boxes for an old-fashioned yet contemporary and luxurious getaway. Its location at the foot of the Simonsberg Mountains is a picturesque palette of muscular ridges and vineyard-swathed rolling hills. The masterplan comprises just 13 whitewashed cottages that slot seamlessly among the existing preserved Cape Dutch buildings that date back to the 17th and 18th centuries. There is a dreamy spa; a clean-lined steel and glass wine tasting room; and Babel restaurant, which serves up farm-to-fork fare in a disused cowshed. But it’s the kitchen garden that is the star of the show, where eight acres of more than 300 edible plants are best explored in the early morning, on foot with a guide, before heading back to the restaurant to tuck into a hearty breakfast.

Klapmuts Simondium Road; tel: 27.21 863 3852; www.babylonstoren.com; rates: from £327

Mitchelton Hotel and Day Spa
Melbourne, Australia

It might only be an hour and a half north of Melbourne’s city centre, but arriving at Mitchelton Estate is like stepping into a bygone era, especially for its retro 1960s architecture that sits within the endless rolling grasslands of the area. And while the winery’s restaurant has always enticed visitors looking for a day out of town, Melburnians can at least now have the option of staying the night (or two) thanks to a brand new hotel designed by local firm Hecker Guthrie. Slotting seamlessly into its surroundings, the property has views of the nearby river or the rolling vineyards, and there’s a cosy spa to round off your stay.

470 Mitchellstown Road; tel: 61.5 736 2222; mitchelton.com.au; rates: from AUD $289

Casa de Uco
Mendoza, Argentina

Wine tasting is one thing, but sipping a first growth Malbec while wandering through a sprawling 320 acre vineyard and resort in the shadow of the Andes Mountains is quite another. Located 1,200 ft above sea level, along Argentina’s famed Mendoza wine route, the property, designed by Buenos Aires-based firm Alberto Tonconogy & Associates takes full advantage of the setting. Inside, is a calm palette of shag rugs and timber panels, while deeply set bay windows, offer views of the spectacular landscape mountain, organic kitchen garden, lake and vineyards that stretch almost to the edge of the Andes.

Route 94, Road to Manzano; tel: 54.9261 476 9831; http://casadeuco.com/en/index.php; rates: from $500

Las Alcobas
Napa Valley, USA

The 68-room Las Alcobas comprises a three-acre spread in St Helena and a grand 1905 Georgian-style pile, the latter now housing a restaurant, six guest rooms and a boardroom. The interiors by Yabu Pushelberg are warm shells lined with oak, stone sinks and marble, with the upper category rooms featuring outdoor terraces, fireplaces, and soaking tubs with views over vineyards. In the bijou Acacia House restaurant, chef Chris Cosentino works a summery touch on risotto which he pairs with sweet corn, chilled heirloom melon soup, and Cornish game hen with roasted grapes. All paired, of course, with smartly edited wine-list.

1915 Main Street; tel: 1.707 963 7000; www.lasalcobas.com; rates: from €695