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Wellness

AUTUMN MIND & BODY TREASURES

 Vineyard in autumn at Hotel Marqués de Riscal. Bilbao, Spain.

One of autumn’s most beautiful treasures is grape harvest. We love to visit vineyards as the vine leaves redden, heavy bunches of plump grapes are plucked and carted off for pressing, and new samplings of wine from past vintages are offered for the tasting.

As we gird ourselves for the coming winter, it’s a perfect time to treat our minds and bodies to some TLC. So, a favorite destination, where we can enjoy a perfect mix of autumn harvest, wine, and spa treatments, is a Caudalie Spa where we indulge in their unique vinotherapie treatments.

The first vinotherapie spa, Les Sources de Caudalie, was established in the middle of the of Château Smith Haut Lafitte Grand Cru vineyard, in Bordeaux, France. Now, you can explore the Caudalie collection of spas in 7 more magnificent locations, including Hotel Marqués de Riscal, in Bilbao, Spain; the Shangri-La, in Toronto, Canada; Hotel Les Ottomans, in Istanbul, Turkey; Les Étangs de Corot, in Paris; The Yeatman, in Porto, Portugal; L’And Vineyard, in Lisbon, Portugal, and L’Appartement Madison, in New York.

Vinotherapie at Les Sources de Caudalie Spa. Bordeaux, France.

My first visit to Les Sources de Caudalie was a birthday present, five years ago. At first blush, it was a hedonistic indulgence, dripping with luxury, steeped in fanciness and finery. But as my brain and muscles relaxed, as I yielded to the plies of stellar wines, intelligent creams, lotions and potions, as I leaned into the expert bodywork, I realized there was greater depth and reason. I became a believer.

Caudalie Vinotherapie Spa at Hotel Marqués de Riscal. Bilbao, Spain.

The Caudalie spas that overlook vineyards, give you something gorgeous to gaze upon as you learn to appreciate grapes in a whole new set of ways.

Vineyard at Les Sources de Caudalie. Bordeaux, France.

Grapes are infused into every aspect of life at Caudalie properties.

Caudalie is an oenological term for a unit of measure, gauging the duration of the wine's flavor on the palate. Each second the flavor remains is a caudalie. The finer a wine is, the more caudalies it has.

Barrel bath at Les Sources de Caudalie Vinotherapie Spa. Bordeaux, France.

All vinotherapie spa treatments and products are tied to some aspect of the grape.

Les Sources de Caudalie sits atop a hot spring located 540 meters beneath your feet, gushing water rich in trace elements and minerals.

Your spa journey might begin with a wine bath. A large wine barrel is filled with hot spring water. Once you are settled in, your attendant gently pours in a carafe of marc, the French answer to grappa, the fiery brandy made from grape seeds. Then she turns on the whirlpool jets and lets you bubble away in this giant cocktail, while you gaze out at the vineyard. Next comes the incredibly luxurious head massage, which further melts you into the bubbling marc.

Caudalie Crushed Cabernet Scrub treatment at Les Sources de Caudalie Spa. Bordeaux, France.

Once your skin cleaned and softened, it is ready for a Caudalie Crushed Cabernet Scrub. A pomace of crushed Cabernet grape seeds, mixed with honey, brown sugar, and essential oils is slathered all over your body and you are scrubbed.

Under jets of hot water, this relaxing massage- with two hands - will be done using grape-seed and essential oils.

Next, the seed scrub is washed away, leaving you smoother and softer than you will ever remember being. You can buy some of the Scrub to use at home, which is lovely -- but unless you have a personal scrubber at your side, with magic hands, you can’t get the full-on glory.

Once scrubbed, you are ready for a massage, using, grape-infused oils, of course.

Grape Seeds.

Caudalie has a whole luscious line of skincare and beauty products based on grapes and grape derivatives. And there’s brains behind the beauty. Professor Joseph Vercauteren , a polyphenols specialist at Bordeaux University, discovered that PCOs (procyanidolic oligomers) extracted from grape-seeds, are significantly more effective than vitamin E against free radicals.

He shared his findings with Mathilde and Bertrand Thomas, founders and owners of Caudalie Spa, in 1995 and, together, they went on to develop skincare serums and creams. This was the first time stabilized polyphenols were used and patented in cosmetics. In 1996, Caudalie signed a research agreement with the University of Bordeaux, and set up its own research team, which would enable it to develop two more patents: resveratrol and viniferine, both powerful anti-aging ingredients.

Resveratrol molecular structure

The grape innovations continue. Caudalie products also contain Viniferine, an extract from vine sap that brightens, lightens evens the complexion. New research studies have shown that Viniferine is 62 times more effective than Vitamin C.  A new clinical study showed that 96% of women using Caudalie’s Vinexpert Firming Serum, with resveratrol, saw firmer skin.

Even Caudalie’s packaging is beautiful. it is made from recycled materials which belies their luxurious look and feel. They partner with 1% for the Planet.

 Les Sources de Caudalie vinotherapie spa pool and seating area.

Reading Caudalie’s Spa menu, you’ll be tempted by the rituals and cures. You might like the 100% Grape Ritual, a half-day of pampering, including a  50-minute Vinosource Treatment, a Crushed Cabernet Scrub, and a Vinotherapie spa manicure. Or perhaps you would prefer a Fleur de Vigne wrap, a Pulpe Vitaminée facial treatment, or a Winemaker’s massage.

Caudalie's entire range of skincare and beauty treatment products is available for sale at its spa, as well as at select retailers, internationally.

Hammam at Hotel Les Ottomans. Istanbul, Turkey.

Read more about November Treasures all this week on BeautifulNow in November Travel Treasure: Patagonia. And check out more beautiful things happening now in BN Wellness, Impact, Nature/Science, Food, Arts/Design, and Travel, Daily Fix posts.

Barrel Bath at Caudalie Vinotherapie Spa at The Yeatman Hotel. Porto, Portugal.

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