Why we like it
- Set among the prestigious vineyards of Château Smith Haut Lafitte
- Revered wine cellars complement a Michelin-starred restaurant
- Home to the first Vinotherapy Spa in the world using wine-rich ingredients
- Stunning indoor pool – you can literally swim in a work of art
- A wealth of activities including wine tours, cooking classes, tasting lessons and excursions to local towns
About Les Sources de Caudalie
Despite being one of the leading destination spas in the world, packed full of body-appreciating treatments to soothe body and soul, Les Sources de Caudalie is all about indulgence. The food here is astonishingly good: local caviar, oysters piled with a fluffy cucumber mousse, tiny roulades of veal and whisper-thin meringues filled with a muddle of passionfruit. We’d recommend you don’t skimp on the cheese cart, either. To accompany the food you’ll find possibly the best selection of wines anywhere in France: it is located on the famous Château Smith Haut Lafitte estate after all. Gastronomes will love La Grand’Vigne, a two Michelin-star restaurant brimming with seasonal, local produce, and La Table du Lavoir, a brasserie serving bistro-style food with a sophisticated twist. ROUGE is a take on a traditional wine bar, serving fois gras, confits, the traditional canned food of the region and (our favourite) Iberian hams, and boasts a large terrace for enjoying sunny days and evenings. True wine lovers will rejoice at the French Paradox Bar, which opens on to a cellar where 1,200 precious bottles are stored. Here you’ll find a fabulous collection of old Armagnacs, Cognacs and whiskies.
No expense has been spared on the rooms, either. Located among the vineyards, the hotel is flooded with the stunning dappled light from the many trees, with all 40 rooms and 21 suites offering a taste of the good life with elegant spaces, antiques and collectible furniture. There are also six cottages for those looking for a little extra space. We recommend the L’Ile aux Oiseaux, a magnificent suite built on stilts above its own pontoon, redecorated by Haute Couture designer Rabih Kayrouz.
The pièce de résistance of Les Sources is surely the spa: a union of wood and stone, reminiscent of an old tobacco kin, designed to harmonise with the landscape of the vineyards and utilising the natural hot spring water drawn from 540m beneath the earth. Signature treatments include barrel soaks, grape wraps and firming massages, all following the theme of – you guessed it – vinotherapy. Once you’ve soothed mind, body and spirit, there are plenty of activities on site to keep you occupied, and the hotel is a mere 20 minute drive from central Bordeaux.