Les Sources de Caudalíe

The Hotel

Les Sources de Caudalíe opened in May 1999 as the personal project of Bertrand and Mathilde Thomas — Mathilde Thomas being the daughter of Florence and Daniel Cathiard, the husband-and-wife industrialists who acquired Château Smith Haut Lafitte (a Pessac-Léognan classed-growth) in 1990 and have run it as a working estate since. The architectural commission to restore an existing 18th-century farmhouse-and-mill complex on the southern edge of the vineyard was directed by Mathilde and Bertrand themselves: the property's brief was a working wine-spa-and-restaurant resort built on the principle that grape-marc and grape-seed extracts could be the basis of a serious skincare and wellness programme. The Caudalíe brand — now operating in 60+ countries with 11 spa locations worldwide — was founded simultaneously by Bertrand and Mathilde in 1995 and has its operational headquarters at this property; the resort spa is the original Vinothérapie programme.

The 61 rooms — including 14 named suites — are arranged across six restored 18th-century vineyard buildings on the property: La Grand'Maison (the principal manor), La Vigne (12 vineyard-facing rooms), Les Vendangeurs (12 small-cabin rooms in the original grape-pickers' cottages), Le Glycine (the wisteria-covered original farmhouse), Le Pin Franc (cabins on the lake) and the property's headline Cabanes dans les Bois — three tree-house suites at 35-50 sqm each, the most-photographed accommodation type in Bordeaux. The Suite Cabane Royale is the milestone unit. Bath products are Caudalíe's signature — the Vinothérapie programme.

The dining programme is layered. La Grand'Vigne in the original 18th-century farmhouse — opened with the resort and continuously a Bordeaux fine-dining destination — runs a contemporary French register and has held 1 Michelin star continuously since 2013. La Table du Lavoir is the casual all-day register on the lake. Rouge — opened 2016 — is the contemporary wine-bar-and-grill on the eastern flank of the property. The Bar Le French Paradox is the named cocktail-and-aperitivo programme. The Caudalíe Vinothérapie Spa runs eight treatment rooms over 1,500 square metres with the brand's signature Crushed Cabernet, Wine Barrel Bath, and Sauvignon Massage programmes; the indoor heated pool and outdoor pool complete the wellness layer. The vineyard programme is the property's signature in-house cultural experience: daily walking tours of Château Smith Haut Lafitte, private tastings in the working barrel cellar, and the option to participate in the September harvest as part of the multi-day stay programme.

The Martillac position is 20 kilometres south of central Bordeaux — a 25-minute drive — in the Pessac-Léognan AOC. The property runs daily complimentary shuttles to central Bordeaux for the dinner programme. Bordeaux-Mérignac Airport (BOD) is 30 minutes by car. For travellers wanting the wine-country resort booking with the Caudalíe spa programme as the principal proposition, this is unambiguous. InterContinental is the city-centre alternative; Caudalíe is the vineyard answer.

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