Читать книгу 101 Romantic Weekends in Europe - Sarah Woods - Страница 21
015 BORDEAUX
ОглавлениеCONTACTS Les Source de Caudalie Tel: 00800 4429 2424 (European free call number) www.sources-caudalie.com
Château Smith Haut Lafitte
Tel: +33 5 57 83 11 22
Fax: +33 5 57 83 11 21
Bordeaux Tourism
Tel: +33 5 56 00 66 00
Fax: +33 5 56 00 66 01
No other libation is as synonymous with amour as wine, the so-called Nectar of the Gods. Enjoying sultry Sauternes or sumptuous Sangiovese can help couples spark sensual chemistry, according to romancetips.com, while romanceclass.com swears by mellow mood-enhancer, Merlot. In France, wine spa Les Sources de Caudalie has taken wine to another level, preparing vintages in which to bathe the body and nourish the spirit. No part of the vine is wasted, from the leaves, skins and juice to the seeds, sediment and extracts. Given what a single glass can achieve, heaven knows what a top-totoe soaking with robust Bordeaux in France’s wine capital could lead to. With deep, luxurious tubs made for two, the mind can only boggle.
Apparently, the Romans doused themselves in wine in the name of beauty, so the concept of Les Sources de Caudalie, albeit wholly unique, isn’t new. At the 72-hectare, 18th-century Château Smith Haut Lafitte, modern winemaking techniques combine with age-old traditional methods using organic compost. Vines rich in nutrient-heavy polyphenols are packed with free radicals. Grape pulp, stalks and seeds are all powerful detoxifiers with anti-ageing properties around 10,000 times stronger than Vitamin E. Wine-lovers can revel in a dégustation extraordinaire thanks to a 100 per cent Grape Therapy vinotherapie package. Over 35 wine-inspired lotions, potions, scrubs and tonics include the sumptuous oils created by husband and wife team Mathilde and Bertrand Thomas, under the motto Salus per Vinum, (meaning ‘Healthy Living through Grapes’).
In France, forgoing the finer things in life is practically sacrilegious, even in a health spa; denial and deprivation are certainly alien concepts at Les Source de Caudalie, where rejuvenation takes many forms. Aside from the Bordeaux Barrel Baths, Merlot Wraps and Red Vine Detoxifying Teas, there’s an ultra-romantic, candle-lit, Michelinstar restaurant with a 13,000-bottle cellar (complete with wine-tasting sessions) to ensure every aspect of the the grape’s sophistication is truly relished.
Enjoy a full-bodied vin experience before relaxing in one of Les Sources de Caudalie’s beautiful bedrooms.
