‘Spa Sommeliers’ base treatments on wine

A Spanish resort is to give wine lovers the chance to enjoy the ultimate day of relaxation, taking them through a tailored wine tasting before laying on a unique spa session based on their drinking preferences.

Abadia Retuerta LeDomaine, a five-star hotel and spa situated in the Ribera del Duero winegrowing region, will begin offering the vinous treatments this summer with the help of its “spa sommeliers” – trained wine experts that also specialise in recommending beauty treatments.

Sonal Uberoi, the spa’s director, told Allure that the treatment is a combination of traditional wine tasting and ancient Chinese medical theory, in which wines are assigned to different parts of the body and to different oils for treatment.

“When the client comes in there will be a selection of three wines they can choose from,” Uberoi told the beauty magazine.

“They’ll drink the wine and say how each one makes them feel and see what kind of taste they are picking up. And from there we will have three base oils – which we are still developing – that will match with the essences in the wine they chose that will be created to be used in their upcoming spa treatment.”

Uberoi said that El Santaurio – which also has its own winery – is still working on developing all of the specific essences and oils to be paired with the wine. For tee-totalers, the spa is developing a teas and juices treatment.