I Bathed in Wine at this Luxury Wine Spa in Porto, Portugal
When I heard that you could take a blissful wine bath at a luxury wine spa in Porto, I felt duty-bound to investigate. It’s a tough job.
This coastal city in northern Portugal was built on the production of port wine, so it seemed like the perfect ‘local’ activity to me.
Even the Mayo Clinic says red wine, in moderation, can be good for your health. It stands to reason that if wine is good in you, it would also be good on you.
That’s the concept behind vinothérapie (or vinotherapy) — spa treatments using products made from the grape and vine bits left over in the wine-making process.
There’s some science to support the idea. Read on to find out why grapes are good on you and whether my vinotherapy experience at a Porto wine spa passed the bliss test.
The Yeatman Hotel & Wine Spa in Porto
Image courtesy of the Yeatman Hotel
The Yeatman Hotel is a haven for wine lovers. As a place where you can get wine by the glass or by the bath, that may be an understatement.
And the wine comes with a view. The 5-star, Relais & Châteaux wine hotel is located on a hillside in Vila Nova de Gaia with a decanter-shaped pool and a spectacular view of Porto.
The Yeatmans own Taylor’s and other port labels and were among the first English families to produce the fortified wines for which Porto is known. The wine resort also partners with the top wine producers of Portugal to hold special wine dinners in the hotel’s two Michelin-starred restaurant.
As well, the producers designed unique wine-related themes for each of the hotel’s 83 rooms. One has a bed surrounded by a wine barrel. But the most decadent of them all is the Bacchus Suite (named after the Roman God of agriculture and wine), with a copper jacuzzi in front of one of two fireplaces and a rotating bed.
The Bacchus Suite. Image courtesy of the Yeatman Hotel.
The cellars at this wine hotel house 1200 different kinds of wines, 95% of them Portuguese. The hotel corridors display exhibits on the country’s wine history. Even the elevators have custom wine-related wallpaper.
And, of course, the wine theme extends to the hotel’s spa, one of the best spas in Portugal.
Yeatman Hotel lobby
What is vinotherapy?
Grapes in Champagne, France.
The idea of vinothérapie came to Mathilde and Bertrand Thomas when they met a pharmacology professor during the harvest on their family wine estate near Bordeaux, France. He suggested that they were “throwing away treasure” in the leftover compost from the wine making process – – basically the grape skins, seeds and stems.
This winery waste is rich with polyphenols, which are powerful anti-oxidants that help prevent wrinkles, he explained.
Mathilde seized upon the idea, and worked with scientists to create skin care products using the wine grape extracts from vineyards in Champagne and Bordeaux. For example, the pulp is good for exfoliation and grape oil helps to nourish the skin. For anti-aging products, they use resveratrol, a substance produced by grape vines which keeps the vines alive for up to 120 years, no matter what the climate throws at them.
Mathilde and Bertrand named their skin care company, Caudalie, a French word for the amount of time the flavour of wine lingers on the palate. They also developed the concept for the Caudalie spa.
The idea isn’t entirely new. Cleopatra is rumoured to have bathed in red wine, while Mary, Queen of Scots preferred white.
Well, if it’s good enough for them….
The wine spa experience
To get the full experience, I booked the Vinothérapie® Ritual at the Yeatman luxury spa.
It started with this ultra-relaxing whirlpool bath. Now, I have to come clean, so to speak.
The ‘barrel bath’ isn’t filled with 100% wine. The alcohol would dehydrate your skin. Rather, my vinotherapist, Rita, spiked the bath water with red wine grape extracts and essential oil of peach. These are supposed to improve blood and lymph circulation which builds your immunity and reduces inflammation and swelling.
Does it work? Honestly, I don’t know or even really care. It felt incredibly luxurious and ultra-relaxing to soak in the bubbly, warm water, while enjoying the vista before me.
I could barely keep myself from uttering Mae West’s famous line and say, “Rita, could you peel me a grape?” I didn’t. And I didn’t drink the bathwater either. In case you were wondering.
A vino-wrap & facial
Image courtesy of the Yeatman Hotel
Obviously, this is not me. It’s really hard to take photos when you’re in this position. This shows the Caudalie Crushed Cabernet Scrub made of grape skins, which exfoliate and smooth the skin.
The next step in my ritual was the honey and wine wrap. This treatment applies wine yeast and honey to moisturize the skin and boost the immune system. Then I was wrapped in a warm blanket to allow it to work its magic. Yeast is used in wine making to convert the sugars in the grapes to alcohol through fermentation. I have to admit that it didn’t smell very good, but afterwards, my skin was smooth like butter.
For a closing act, I received the Caudalie Grand Facial treatment. That included a deep cleansing, with applications of grape water, beauty elixir and a glycolic peel mask to refresh and revive my skin, which was dull after several weeks of traveling. I tell you, my skin looked fresh and plumped up like a grape after the rain!
Here are the products that were used during my facial, and the ones applied afterwards as part of a regular skin care routine. Of course, if you’re interested in trying it, you should choose products suited to your skin type.
Caudalie products used for my facial:
Caudalie skin care products applied after the facial:
Relaxing with a view
Spa guests at the Yeatman can also relax in the well-being rooms (also with a view), or use the indoor pool or gym. The wine spa suggests that you arrive at least 30 minutes before your appointment to get a head start on the relaxation.
I had no interest in the gym, but I loved my swim. I was very surprised to be the only one there. Rita advised that most hotel guests were out for the day. Also, the hotel seeks to provide a tranquil environment.
Did it pass the bliss test?
Image courtesy of the Yeatman Hotel
My only regret was that I was unable to linger longer, to take in the night views, perhaps with a tasting of some of the hotel’s specialty Portuguese wines. I had already tried the wine on me. Some wine in me would have been a perfect ending. If you go, I recommend you make a day of it.
Nonetheless, my Porto wine spa experience passed the bliss test brilliantly – perhaps the most luxurious spa day I have ever had. I emerged feeling both refreshed and mellow like a Merlot.
Now that calls for a toast!
Image courtesy of the Yeatman Hotel
More Information:
Spa Information: The Caudalie Vinotherapie Spa at the Yeatman
Where to stay in Porto: Check pricing and availability for the Yeatman Hotel
Tourism Information: Visit Porto, Visit Portugal
Suggested Reading: Lonely Planet Pocket Porto (Travel Guide)
The Yeatman Hotel provided a media discount for my spa package, but my opinions are always my own.
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This is probably one of the coolest things I have ever heard of! I LOVE wine, and a spa day dedicated to it sounds amazing!
Next time I’m in Porto I 100% want to go here!
Spa and wine – – who could ask for anything more? I hope you get a chance to enjoy it! Thanks Sam.
OH MY…… first of all, I love Caudalie products after discovering them and their vineyard connection. But, I had no idea there was anything like a wine bath/ spa. And in Porto… Ok, I am all over this one! Going to the top of the list!
I didn’t know either until I discovered this one in Porto. It was a fantastic experience – – you have to try it!! Thanks Alison.
YES YES YES! This is the sort of place I love to chill out in. I got into the habit now of exploring spas around the world (I did one in St Albans north of London, UK last night) and this one looks totally amazing. The view of the city from the pool looks excellent (I have been to Porto about 12 years ago and remember it being amazing and would love to do a return trip to go down memory lane). If I ever get back there, I am hitting this place up!
It is the best view of Porto! I hope you get a chance to go back. Thanks Danik.
I love it when spas work in local flavors to their signature treatments. Vino therapy sounds wonderful. When I was the spa lead at Ritz Carlton, Dove Mountain in Tucson I created a gemstone therapy protocol since Tucson is home to the world’s largest gem show. It’s been their signature treatment for the last five years.
I can assure you that the vinotherapy treatment was indeed wonderful. That Tuscon spa treatment sounds interesting too for the reason you mention – – a focus on local specialties. Thanks for reading!
A great tip. We are going to a conference in Porto next year and now I know how to relax after the stressful days. I can not wait for it!
Oh, it would be just perfect after a long day at a conference. Thanks Susanne!
The vinotherapy, vino-wrap, vino spa – all these sound very exciting to me. I am surely going to pamper myself at The Yeatman Hotel & Wine Spa when in Porto. This is surely going into my Portugal itinerary. A weekend spent here will be a forever memory.
Who doesn’t deserve a little pampering? You will love a visit to this wine spa in Porto. Thanks Shreya.
Damn! You had me all excited about taking a bath in wine and perhaps sipping and soaking. But no, your bath was only spiked with wine and peach oil … which actually also sounds yummy. Great, a bath that will have me feeling hungry and thirsty. It does sound divine though. Might have to consider this along with a whiskey exfoliation … what, no whiskey? Sigh.
LOL. I have no doubt that the hotel could find you some whiskey, for whatever you want to use it for! Thanks Michael.
A wine spa overlooking fabulous views? That’s living like a queen. 1200 different kinds of wines in one place sounds amazing too. I’d definitely love to visit this place someday.
It is definitely the royal treatment! I hope you get a chance to go. Thanks for reading Ketki!
This sounds like my kind of place! I’m glad you had an amazing time, and I’m sure the vinotherapy was an experience you won’t soon forget. The views of all the red rooftops of Porto from the Yeatman Hotel are beyond stunning, and I’m just loving that outdoor swimming pool!
Thanks Kevin! I agree, that decanter-shaped swimming pool at the Yeatman Hotel is one of a kind.
What an amazing and unique experience! From the setting to the service, this sounds like a piece of heaven on earth!
Thanks Sage. It really was a little oasis of calm and pampering!