TRAVEL
Surrey’s Premier Lifestyle Magazine
Laughably stunning spa
There is, for romantic weekends away, a holy trinity of sorts – exceptional food in a hotel that has a ‘secret gem’ appeal (ideally with incredible views), excellent wine and a spa with enough to do for both. Spain’s Abadia Retuerta LeDomaine is about as unique an offering as it’s possible to find and for those searching for the ultimate weekend of luxury, the search is over, writes Chantal Borciani.
Hotel Abadia Retuerta LeDomaine - Photo Copyright: Abadia Retuerta LeDomaine
Located in a restored Romanesque-Baroque abbey, amid acres of farmland and prime vineyards and opened in 2012, LeDomaine is 25 minutes drive from Valladolid, or less than two hours drive from Madrid. Fear not, a lux picnic bag is sent, complete with Serrano ham, to satiate on the journey across beautiful countryside. The pay off for being a little more secluded is that this historic hotel feels like a real retreat from the stresses of everyday life. Guests can dine under the vaulted ceiling in the hotel’s Michelin restaurant, arrange private dinners, a strings’ recital, a blessing or wedding in the restored chapel, or tour the ancient winery and vineyards.
LeDomaine was awarded the Europa Nostra Prize for its sympathetic restoration, and with good reason. Its ancient walls, baroque staircase, buttressed walkways and stone-paved courtyard are immaculately presented and ingrained with such history that visitors cannot help but feel swept away by the romance of it all.
Despite being steeped in history, this exclusive getaway still feels chic and contemporary. Wooden floors hail from Italy, the drinks lounge has Ralph Lauren furniture and bespoke lamps, a curated art collection is on show throughout the hotel and the long glass walkway or ‘crystal corridor’ has been painstakingly designed and built to link newly renovated stables to the rest of the abbey with as little disruption to the natural surroundings as possible. The hotel boasts just 30 bedrooms and suites, eight of them situated in the ancient abbey’s former stable with direct access to the 10,000 sq.ft spa and wellness centre.
Wine and dine
If the abbey is at the heart of the estate, the winery pulsates through its veins. Considered one of Europe’s most innovative wineries, the guided estate and vineyard tours and wine tasting courses come highly recommended. Covering around 700 hectares, the medieval estate dates back to 1146. There are bikes for guests to use to ride around the vineyards and explore: a total of 54 plots have been identified and grow single grape varieties based on soil composition – 70% Tempranillo, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Syrah, with the remaining 10% divided between Merlot, Petit Verdot and a clutch of white varieties. Fortunately, the best of the vineyard’s produce is served back at the hotel.
LeDomaine was awarded the Europa Nostra Prize for its sympathetic restoration, and with good reason. Its ancient walls, baroque staircase, buttressed walkways and stone-paved courtyard are immaculately presented and ingrained with such history that visitors cannot help but feel swept away by the romance of it all.
Despite being steeped in history, this exclusive getaway still feels chic and contemporary. Wooden floors hail from Italy, the drinks lounge has Ralph Lauren furniture and bespoke lamps, a curated art collection is on show throughout the hotel and the long glass walkway or ‘crystal corridor’ has been painstakingly designed and built to link newly renovated stables to the rest of the abbey with as little disruption to the natural surroundings as possible. The hotel boasts just 30 bedrooms and suites, eight of them situated in the ancient abbey’s former stable with direct access to the 10,000 sq.ft spa and wellness centre.
Wine and dine
If the abbey is at the heart of the estate, the winery pulsates through its veins. Considered one of Europe’s most innovative wineries, the guided estate and vineyard tours and wine tasting courses come highly recommended. Covering around 700 hectares, the medieval estate dates back to 1146. There are bikes for guests to use to ride around the vineyards and explore: a total of 54 plots have been identified and grow single grape varieties based on soil composition – 70% Tempranillo, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Syrah, with the remaining 10% divided between Merlot, Petit Verdot and a clutch of white varieties. Fortunately, the best of the vineyard’s produce is served back at the hotel.
LeDomaine's Cloister Garden - Photo Copyright: Abadia Retuerta LeDomaine
LeDomaine’s greatest gastronomic dining experience is under the vaulted ceiling of Refectorio, which has gained the hotel its first Michelin star. This small and intimate restaurant has around 12 tables and chef Pablo Montero offers seasonal menus complemented by the estate’s award winning vintages. The wine menu also includes wines created on the estate exclusively for the restaurant. A haven of haute cuisine, dishes are full of flair and innovation, from steamed aubergine with honey and ashes cream to salads finished with goat’s cheese snow. Guests can also dine at Vinoteca, a lovely choice for elegant tapas lunches and casual dinners, with indoor seating and outdoor tables in Jardin del Claustro.
Spa in the vineyards
LeDomaine’s deep-rooted wine heritage extends even to its state of the art spa and its vinotherapy concept, where a guest’s personalised treatment is based on a blind wine tasting. Le Grand Cru, for example, combines a soothing footbath, body exfoliation with grape seeds and essential oils, a nurturing anti-ageing body wrap and soothing massage. Unusual to be sipping wine before a treatment, true, but the ambience of the spa and luxurious treatments do work sublimely and therapists are excellent, most having been lured from five star hotels elsewhere.
Aside from cooling and calming therapy rooms, the subterranean spa also offers sauna, steam baths, hydrotherapy pools and a veritable banquet of spa treatments, from couples’ therapies to Cryo Time Freeze facials and blissful massages.
Spain’s best kept secret?
The concept of bringing the outside in is overdone and more often than not poorly executed, but thanks to the magnificent restoration process, LeDomaine is intrinsically a product of its setting. From every window, corridor, doorway and courtyard, guests can glimpse the changing colours, flowers and fauna of the vineyards. Even the Jacuzzi has a picture window overlooking the countryside. It’s a place that soothes the soul – with spa, setting and, erm, wine!
Despite its Michelin star restaurant, consummate spa facilities and the status of being the first hotel in Spain to offer a complete butler service, LeDomaine achieves five star service without the stuffiness. It’s hard to believe this dramatic boutique hotel was once a historic landmark left derelict and falling into disrepair. Guests can while away a morning in the sun with a newspaper (the hotel prints a personalised paper every morning, depending on the visitor’s country of residence) in the suntrap of the courtyard, relax by the open-air pool surrounded by vines, or cosy away in the Chapter House lounge.
The showstopper may always be the incredible twelfth century abbey, but the beauty of this place is also that it’s possible to relax, enjoy the spa, exquisite food and pedigree wine and get a taste of real Spain all in one stay.
Spa in the vineyards
LeDomaine’s deep-rooted wine heritage extends even to its state of the art spa and its vinotherapy concept, where a guest’s personalised treatment is based on a blind wine tasting. Le Grand Cru, for example, combines a soothing footbath, body exfoliation with grape seeds and essential oils, a nurturing anti-ageing body wrap and soothing massage. Unusual to be sipping wine before a treatment, true, but the ambience of the spa and luxurious treatments do work sublimely and therapists are excellent, most having been lured from five star hotels elsewhere.
Aside from cooling and calming therapy rooms, the subterranean spa also offers sauna, steam baths, hydrotherapy pools and a veritable banquet of spa treatments, from couples’ therapies to Cryo Time Freeze facials and blissful massages.
Spain’s best kept secret?
The concept of bringing the outside in is overdone and more often than not poorly executed, but thanks to the magnificent restoration process, LeDomaine is intrinsically a product of its setting. From every window, corridor, doorway and courtyard, guests can glimpse the changing colours, flowers and fauna of the vineyards. Even the Jacuzzi has a picture window overlooking the countryside. It’s a place that soothes the soul – with spa, setting and, erm, wine!
Despite its Michelin star restaurant, consummate spa facilities and the status of being the first hotel in Spain to offer a complete butler service, LeDomaine achieves five star service without the stuffiness. It’s hard to believe this dramatic boutique hotel was once a historic landmark left derelict and falling into disrepair. Guests can while away a morning in the sun with a newspaper (the hotel prints a personalised paper every morning, depending on the visitor’s country of residence) in the suntrap of the courtyard, relax by the open-air pool surrounded by vines, or cosy away in the Chapter House lounge.
The showstopper may always be the incredible twelfth century abbey, but the beauty of this place is also that it’s possible to relax, enjoy the spa, exquisite food and pedigree wine and get a taste of real Spain all in one stay.
The concept of bringing the outside in is overdone and more often than not poorly executed, but thanks to the magnificent restoration process, LeDomaine is intrinsically a product of its setting.