Staying at the Finca Buen Vino is like being part of a house party in the most wonderful location and with most gracious hosts. An English country house, eclectically decorated and dropped into the beautiful Sierra de Aracena national park. We thoroughly enjoyed the family feel of tea in front of a roaring log fire, drinks and tapas pre dinner and a communal meal in the elgant wood-panelled dinign room, with delicious food, excellent wine and interesting conversation. Possibly not the best choice if you want an intimate romantic holiday a-deux, but great if you enjoy meeting new people.

If this was a cheap B&B, its quaint old fashion style might charm. Unfortunately we concluded that it is certainly not worth £140 a night when compared to the other hotels we stayed in in Andalusia during our trip. Therefore we felt this was very, very overpriced. Compared to competition in this price bracket, this B&B falls well, well short. This review below might seem harsh, but if the family charge these prices it needs to be judged to the standards of its competitors in this price bracket. We stayed in a number of hotels on our trip round Andalusia and this B&B was by far the most expensive AND the least nice we stayed in.

The building and interior: It very much feels like someone else’s family home where they have given over the spare rooms to receive guests, rather than commercial hotel you are paying to stay at. How much is this a home instead of a hotel? There are no locks on the bedroom doors!!! We had the exclusive use of the bathroom across the hall and the lock didn't even properly work on that!!! It reminded me of staying at a friend's house in the spare room (which is fine, but you don't pay £140 when you stay in a friend's spare house). The décor is a mismatched of old furniture. There is no theme or design, but rather furniture is the product of what the family has picked up over the years. It is their old, tattered and mismatched belongings, and with the family photos around the house, it really does feel like this is their home, rather than a place designed to review outside guests. Definitely not smart boutique. The bathroom was just terrible and the worst mismatch of leftover stuff of it all.

The views: Amazing. This is what you come for and it cannot be denied that they are very good. The views from the pool are particularly impressive.

The owners: a very nice and well mannered British family (the grown up kids were there when we stayed). The family have most of the rooms on the ground floor as their living space so you see quite a lot of them, especially at dinner.

Dinner: The house is about 7km from Aracena. Therefore, eating with the owners is the only option if you don’t want to drive. Canapes are served before dinner and guests share small talk before sitting down to eat. The father of the family seated each of the guests alternatively male then female around a single dinning table and takes his seat at the head of the table. Dinner is eaten with the owners and served by the grown up children of the family. It is basically a dinner party with the owners. The food is nice, but at €35 a head for a set menu, as with everything else about this B&B, it is very overpriced (it does include some very drinkable wine though).

I love this place so much and yes, I know my review is so terribly overdue - this is my first for Finca Buenvino, yet we have been there so many times. I think our first time was in 1998, how time flies.
Anyway, I have always felt at a loss as how best to describe this wonderful place and how to put into words the effect being there has had on us.

Situated within easy reach of both Seville and Portugal is the beautiful Sierra de Aracena range, and close to the town of Aracena in a fabulous location atop a hill, lies Finca Buenvino. There is the main house, which is effortlessy elegant and tasteful - as are the owners Sam & Jeannie (they live in this part of the property and have 4 rooms available here.) The stunning infinity pool is closeby and has one of the best vistas in all of Spain and this is where you will find 'The Pool House' room.

Go down the track, into the valley and across a little stream and there are a 3 restored, old cottages. At present, one is home to the Finca Buenvino Organic Gardener (during our last visit we sampled some of his Autumn harvest as part of our delicious Dinner up at the House) the other cottages are available and all have private pools. They are in peaceful, natural surroundings where wildlife abounds. Wild boars roam, owls hoot, the world famous black pigs oink, huge swallowtail butterflies float, the mantis pray and salamanders swim. (I once rescued a rare fire salamander from the pool after heavy rain.)

Meals taken at the house are a real treat and we always look forward to them. You might be seated on the terrace, or in the conservatory or possibly dining by candlelight in the intimate wood panelled dining room. Among your dining companions there will always be somebody interesting. It could be anybody from anywhere across the Globe - perhaps Royalty, or a well known media figure or - just Jeannie, Sam and their lovely family. One thing you can be certain of is that there will be great company and delicious local produce on offer - expertly prepared to perfection, by Jeannie (I believe she has her own cookery book coming out soon and I can't wait to try her recipes at home)

We now count Sam and Jeannie as our friends, (albeit ones we seldom see) but friends nonetheless. Over the years we've gained a few wrinkles and seen their children become adults. We always feel sad when we leave but, absence makes the heart grow fonder and we always have our next visit to look forward to.

Whatever the time of year - Finca Buenvino is a truly magical place
*See meadows coloured with wildflowers in Spring.
*Cool off in the pool at the high heat of Summer.
*Watch black pigs feast on acorns in Autumn.
*Cosy up by the fire and feast on the black pigs in Winter.


Q. What effect has being there had on me?
A. Being there has enriched my Soul.

Found this place through a nephew of the owner, a beautiful villa decorated in old english upper class style... rooms were super comfortable, breakfast the best I ever had in my life, thanks to Charlie, the son of the owners who took care of us, place is just magnificent, there is a fireplace, beautiful property, pool, a full and I mean full bar.... Location just outside of Jabugo on its own massive estate... I wouldnt think twice about going there again, not a question of if, but when.....