Les Sources de Caudalie, Bordeaux
Best for a five-star detox-retox experience
Chef Nicolas lovingly works with produce available in the immediate vicinity
Bordeaux and its surrounding vineyards haven’t always been an obvious choice when booking a spa break. The local vintner’s preoccupation with creating impeccable wines has traditionally surpassed their desire to attract tourists beyond day-tripping tasters. But with the city of Bordeaux lately spruced up to shiny weekend break status, cemented by the opening of the landmark Cité du Vin (laciteduvin.com), a temple-like museum to wine, the region is attracting a broader base of bacchanalian visitors. A 20-minute drive from the city, surrounded by pleasingly manicured rows of pampered vines belonging to the 600-year-old Château Smith Haut Lafitte winery, Les Sources de Caudalie was an early adopter of all-embracing wine tourism. With a twostarred Michelin restaurant and chic spa, this is the country lodging of Francophile dreams. Rooms and suites are peppered with antiques exuding understated elegance that make you feel both at home and somewhere very, very special. Most rooms come with a balcony or terrace offering uninterrupted views across the vineyards – bar the honeymoon lodge, which looks out over the property’s central lake – plus a generous array of luxurious Caudalie beauty products, which are based on the concept of harnessing the power of the antioxidants found in grape seeds. Naturally, Caudalie products are used exclusively at the hotel’s Vinothérapie spa, centred around a natural hot spring. We tested out the facial (from £102), which included an in-depth consultation, relaxing treatment and product recommendations. The spa facilities are at your disposal after a treatment, which include a steam room and sauna, or you can step outside to take full advantage of the vineyard-view pool. Also available on site is a fitness centre and indoor pool, which you might want to visit after an indulgent night in the hands of chef Nicolas Masse. At La Grand’vigne chef Nicolas lovingly works with produce available in the immediate vicinity. The meal we experienced put one key ingredient at the heart of every unique dish as we journeyed through the Aquitaine region – from fresh mackerel and pigeon to artichoke. The wine is also put centre stage, considerately paired to each flavour on your plate. Five-course menus £116, or £223 with wine pairing. The estate’s second restaurant La Table du Lavoir and wine bar Rouge are great for lunch and bistro-style dining, complemented with the same fine wine options.
If all that eating leaves you needing to stretch your legs beyond the expansive property, borrow a complimentary vintage-framed bike for a ride through the surrounding forests, or head up to Château Smith Haut Lafitte for a guided tour and tasting of the best vintages Bordeaux has to offer. Roxanne Fisher
How to do it
Les Sources de Caudalie has doubles from £217 a night, and is a 20minute drive from Bordeaux, where there are direct flights to the UK (London Gatwick with British Airways and Easyjet), or take the Eurostar to Paris, which is a two-hour train ride from Bordeaux. sources-caudalie.com