SANTÉ TO CAUDALIE SPA
An inhouse sommelier and treatments such as the Crushed Cabernet Scrub (pictured below) are points of distinction at Caudalie Spa in downtown New York City.
(Image courtesy of Caudalie Spa)
by Anne Dimon
Following a refreshing run thru Central Park earlier today, I’m indulging in a glass of Grand Cru Bordeaux, Chateau Smith Hoot Lafitte 2004, and listening to sommelier Cliff Rames’ tasting notes: “A dark, rich, full-bodied wine, with an earthy nose and nuances of blackberry, blackcurrent – typical of the red wines of the region. A good sense of oak with just a touch of sweetness.” Sipping a good wine as a sommelier explains the intricacies of the beverage is nothing new – but, fresh from my Cabernet Scrub I’m sitting in the French Paradox Lounge of the Caudalie Vinotherapy Spa, still in my spa robe. This is the only spa in the U.S. with its very own sommelier certified by the Court of Master Sommeliers in London England.
The name (pronounced ko-da-lee – accent on the first syllable) is a wine industry term referring to the length of time the flavour of a wine remains on the palette. The finer the wine, the more “caudalies” it will have.
Located on the 4th floor of The Plaza Hotel, Caudalie is a stylish spa. Handsome and modern with earthy tones and natural elements, the design incorporates original word carvings created to resemble vines. It’s a nod to nature in the middle of an urban forest.
A full menu of services range in price from $45 U.S. for a manicure, to $965 U.S. for the Di-Vine Love Ritual for Two. A wine tasting is included with a treatment and is usually offered to guests as they relax in the lounge. A menu of light foods, such as finger sandwiches, canapés and a cheese plate, is available, and Rames is on-hand to suggest suitable pairings. For instance, with the Tomato and Eggplant Tart, he might recommend an Italian Barbera at $10 a glass. Some day packages - such as the Intro to Wine Therapy Spa Ritual ($450 U.S. per person) - include lunch and a tasting of three-to-six wines. Other packages include mini wine seminars.
The “French Paradox” ties into the concept of the power of the grape. While French eat lots of rich foods, reports indicate they are not experiencing the same levels of heart attacks as North Americans. Scientific research links it to some of the anti-oxidant components in red wine. Grape seeds are said to have the highest concentration of anti-oxidants.
For my Crushed Cabernet Scrub (50 minutes, $145 U.S.) the therapist mixes whole grape seeds with grape seed oil, honey, brown sugar and lotion from the Caudalie line. The treatment also includes a wrap to allow the skin to absorb the nutrients, followed by a light body massage and lotion application. Another signature treatment you won’t find everywhere is the Red Wine Barrel Bath.
While some ingredients for the spa’s wine-inspired treatments are produced in Bordeaux, grape seeds come mostly from the vineyards in Long Island. “It’s our way of supporting local wineries,” says general manager Joyce Davis. “We also carry their wines.”
Discussing wines can make a spa experience a bit more social and soon I’m chatting with another guest – Mary Miles, a New York lawyer who tells me she recently visited the Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte is Bordeaux, the birthplace of the Caudalie spas (in France, Spain, Italy and New York) and the Caudalie line of products.
She says what was most impressive is that guests stay in a working vineyard and the spa uses products grown right outside the window. She calls it a “full-circle organic experience.”
The sommelier is on duty daily from Wednesday to Sunday. And, the signature snack in the Caudalie lounge? Fresh grapes, of course.
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