But after sampling his wine, I take it all back. Sir Cliff's personal vineyard, deep in Portugal's Algarve, is a pleasant surprise within one of Europe's most accessible holiday destinations.

The Adega Do Cantor (as it's called) is the result of our Cliff's passion for the region — which goes back 40 years.

Beach beauty: A snapshot of the picturesque fishing village of Carvoeiro on the Algarve coast

And I can vouch for his Vida Nova and Onda Nova ranges, which we consumed in large — and enjoyable — quantities during a two-week family-and-friends break.

The vino was one of several, delightful surprises. Portugal's most southerly region offers historical attractions, fabulous golf courses, pristine beaches — from Praia da Luz to Armacao de Pera — thermal springs at Caldas de Monchique and miles of limestone caves, grottoes, cliffs and bays.

There is even a mountain zoo for endangered species, which makes a splendid day out for children of all ages.

I had been here once before. At the time, I was single and travelling with a group of journalists covering an England team in a junior football tournament.

Local fan: Brigitte Nielsen has enjoyed the charms the Algarve has to offer

Paul Gascoigne and Brigitte Nielsen were in the hotel next door (though not necessarily in the same room) and the harbour at Vilamoura was full of noise and people until dawn.

We spent many hours playing golf (badly) and the nights trying to stay out of trouble — and only just about succeeding. Even today, the area invites an impression of laddish behaviour — bars, foam parties, clubs and water parks.

And if that's your vision, you're either reading the wrong kind of brochures or looking at my old holiday snaps.

So, there we were a few years later, a merry band of travellers that included two girls, aged ten and 11, and three teenagers. We were a grand total of ten, which meant we needed a big villa.

What we found was sensational — so much so that we had to force ourselves to leave the premises.

Deep in the countryside of Boliqueime — home to the family of the Portuguese president — high above the bustling Algarve, we were 20 minutes from the coast and you could see the Atlantic ocean shimmering in the distance.

Described as a 'country house' in the brochure, Casa de Montanha felt more like a small hotel than a typical villa, with two pools, a games room with a pool and ping-pong table, four different levels and lush, beautifully manicured grounds.

Officially, there was accommodation for 16 — including a King and Queen's suite detached from the main property. Boliqueime is quiet, but welcoming.

Small businesses trade in fresh fruit and other local produce, while a handful of bars and restaurants do a good trade in the Brazilian cocktail Caipirinha and piri-piri chicken.

The locals were unfailingly friendly. One offered us herbs from her garden after the shops had run out. It's that kind of place.

The weather was perfect, with a daily refreshing breeze. We spent most mornings visiting the local fish market to stock up for the rest of the day.

But most of the time, we did very little except bask in Portugal's balmy climate and congratulate ourselves on discovering such a flawless villa holiday.

Getaway: Portugal's coastline is peppered with attractive stop-offs like Albufeira

'Can we come again next year?' asked one of the children, long before the end of our second week. Absolutely. In fact, we re-booked there and then, and plan to take more friends and family this summer to fill the villa to capacity.

Some places are just so good that you can't help sharing them.