20 Oct 2014
Spa sommelier to tailor treatments at Spanish abbey hotel
BY Helen Andrews
Abadía Retuerta LeDomaine, a five-star retreat in Spain’s Duero wine region is transforming the estate’s former stable into a spa, complete with a ‘spa sommelier’ who will carry out blind tasting sessions for each guest before suggesting treatments based on individual preferences.
The entire estate, which used to be an abbey and winery, dates back to 1146. The hotel opened in 2012 after a complete restoration of the abbey, with 22 suites. The hotel is also planning to add eight new guestrooms which will be complete by Q2 2015. 500 acres of the 1,730-acre estate are given over to vineyards, with some of produce to be used for vinotherapy in the property’s spa.
Named El Santuario, the 10,000sq ft (929sq m) spa will open its doors in Q3 of 2015 and will feature four individual treatment rooms and a separate spa suite. There will be a Finnish sauna, steambath, experience shower, hydrotherapy pool and a heated indoor pool. Among the vineyards, there will be an outdoor pool.
Massages, body scrubs, body wraps, facials and grooming services will all be available at the spa, but the spa sommelier will help guests to choose what treatments to have. The blind tasting ritual comprises smelling a selection of oils and tasting several wines or other beverages. After analysing each guest’s palate and aroma preferences, the spa sommelier will recommend spa experiences.
Products in use at the spa include those by Natura Bissé, Anne Semonin and Eva J.
Marco Serra, the architect in charge of converting the abbey into the hotel it is today, also worked on the spa's conception. The Spanish spa uses solar panels and groundwater pumps to generate energy for heating and cooling, in a bid to become one of the most energy-efficient and sustainable spas in Spain. Geothermal storage systems will compensate for the seasonal fluctuations in energy demand. A dedicated water-treatment plant allows water to be recycled and used for irrigation. The high moisture level of the soil, due to its proximity to the Duero River, was initially a problem when constructing the spa, however a ‘shoe box’ structure was created and the spa was built inside it to ensure the facility stays dry.
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