The bodegas of Southern Andalucia are renowned for their brandy and sherry production and one of the best known names is that of Domecq. The Domecq family began producing sherry in Jerez de la Frontera in 1730 and amassed a fortune. The family castle was just outside the city and their townhouse was a huge building near Jerez cathedral and the largest of the Domecq's 16 bodegas. Today both these buildings are used for business entertaining and hosting grand events.

About 100 years ago, Pedro Domecq built a Baroque-style mansion in 340 acres on an undulating cork-tree-covered hillside near the small town of San Roque, 15km east of the Rock of Gibraltar. This rural retreat, also used to breed horses, was a summer residence until 1988, when the estate was sold to the Japanese leisure developer Asaki Kanko.

The company converted the mansion to a hotel, created an 18-hole championship golf course, built a group of 100 hotel suites in the grounds and added a large swimming-pool complex with waterside bar. There are riding stables, three restaurants and a tennis court. An indoor leisure centre is due to open next year. But during the early 1990s the property recession meant that any ideas of a marketing plan to sell expensive villa plots edging the golf course were put on hold. Now all has changed. A golf membership scheme for owners has been introduced. Preferential tee times have been set aside, there is a vast driving range and plans are in place for a golf academy. Seve Ballesteros, Europe's 1997 Ryder Cup captain, holds master classes.

There are 98 plots for sale in two phases. Of the 50 or so in phase 1, some two dozen are sold and 12 are completed homes. A four-bedroom show house, overlooking the third fairway, is open daily and has already been sold.

A similar home on a plot of some 2,000 sq m would cost about £650,000 to recreate and take a year to build. Prices for three-bedroom villas, which are set in a 1,600 sq m plot and include pool, landscaped garden and basic kitchen, are from about £375,000. All prices include golf membership with annual fees of about £2,000 on top. The latter entitles owners to use all the hotel facilities and there are discounts at the bar, restaurants and pro shop.

Planning consent has been granted for a second golf course and about 100 low-rise two-bedroom apartments, which will be built in traditional style in two-storey buildings either near the hotel or among the trees around the 15th and 16th fairways. Prices are expected to be from £170,000.

Naomi Greatbanks of the selling agent Knight Frank (020-7629 8171), says: Annual service and community fees will be about £1,800, which includes garden and pool maintenance. The estate is fenced, with one main access gate, and security is excellent with a 24-hour guard service. There is a small beach club a few minutes' drive away. The estate is 30 minutes' drive from Marbella and just over an hour from Malaga airport.

Adjacent to San Roque is Sotogrande, the 4,000-acre leisure estate that includes the world-famous Valderrama Golf Club, venue for the 1997 Ryder Cup and the American Express Championships next month. Tiger Woods, Colin Montgomerie, Darren Clarke and Lee Westwood will all be staying at the San Roque Hotel while competing at Valderrama.

Sotogrande (+34 956 790300; and David Vaughan 020-7736 1700) has three 18-hole championship courses, four polo fields, a tennis and racquets centre, two beach clubs, two hotels and a marina with boutiques, bars and restaurants. Sotogrande has a selection of marina berths for sale priced from about £15,000 and some three-bedroom apartments at Ribera del Delfin, due for completion in 2002, are for sale at about £175,000.

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