Les Sources de Caudalie
FRANCE
PERSONALITIES
Wine lovers. Spa seekers. French countryside dreamers. Gourmands. Romantics.
MOMENTS
Evenings sipping Grand Cru beside the vines. Barrel baths in the vinotherapy spa. Farm-to-table dinners paired with wines from neighboring châteaux. Morning walks through Bordeaux vineyards as mist lifts from the vines.
BEST VISITING MONTHS
May through October is when Bordeaux comes alive—lush green vineyards, warm days, and harvest season in late summer. September and October bring the grape harvest, when the vineyards are most vibrant and tastings are at their most rewarding. Winter is quieter, with cozy fireside evenings and spa rituals offering a slower pace.
COST
WHY STAY
Les Sources de Caudalie is a sanctuary at the heart of the Bordeaux vineyards, where wine is a way of life. Built from reclaimed local materials, the hotel blends rustic elegance with modern comfort, creating spaces that feel both grounded and refined. At the heart of the stay is the world-renowned Vinothérapie Spa, where treatments harness the antioxidant power of grapes and vines—crushed seeds, skins, and extracts transformed into rituals of deep renewal. It’s a rare place where luxury, wellness, and terroir converge.
Each accommodation feels like a retreat of its own. Rooms and suites are spread across several unique houses, from the Chartreuse du Thil, a romantic 18th-century manor surrounded by forest, to lakeside cottages that float above the water. Interiors are eclectic and deeply French—antique furniture, toile fabrics, warm wood beams, and playful art—yet always in dialogue with the surrounding vineyards and gardens. The architecture feels timeless, with reclaimed stone, old timber, and soft plaster framing windows that open directly onto vines, lakes, or rolling countryside. Whether rustic or refined, every space reflects the estate’s philosophy: a stay that is elegant, authentic, and inseparable from place.
Beyond wellness and design, the experience is steeped in Bordeaux’s winemaking heritage. Guests can taste Grand Cru vintages from the family-owned Château Smith Haut Lafitte, which surrounds the estate, or indulge in Michelin-starred dining where every dish is a dialogue with the wine. Whether soaking in a barrel bath, dining in La Grand’Vigne, or simply walking through vineyards at dusk, Les Sources de Caudalie is designed for slowing down, savoring, and living fully in the rhythm of the vines.
WHY WANDER
Bordeaux is a landscape written in vines, and Les Sources de Caudalie places you at its very heart. Days are spent exploring neighboring wine estates, where cellar doors open to centuries of tradition and terroir shaped by gravel soils and Atlantic breezes. The region is a patchwork of châteaux, from grand estates to small family vineyards, each offering a different story in the glass. Wander through nearby villages, cycle quiet vineyard roads, or join a guided tasting to deepen your understanding of Bordeaux’s celebrated appellations.
Yet the wonder here extends beyond the wine. The Dordogne and Garonne rivers carve out valleys dotted with markets and medieval towns. A short drive brings you to Saint-Émilion, a UNESCO World Heritage site where cobbled streets wind through centuries of viticulture, or to Arcachon Bay for oysters by the sea. To wander in Bordeaux is to discover how deeply land, culture, and wine are intertwined.
INDULGE IN
Food and wine are the heartbeat of Les Sources de Caudalie. Begin with tastings at the estate’s own Château Smith Haut Lafitte, one of Bordeaux’s leading Grand Cru Classé vineyards, where the philosophy of biodynamic farming and centuries of winemaking expertise meet in the glass. Every pour here feels like a lesson in terroir—gravel soils, sun, and Atlantic winds expressed through rich reds and elegant whites. Guests can also join curated tastings and cellar visits, diving deeper into the traditions that make Bordeaux one of the world’s great wine regions.
Dining is equally tied to the land. At La Grand’Vigne, the two-Michelin-starred restaurant, dishes are crafted as landscapes on a plate, each ingredient drawn from the estate’s organic gardens or local producers, always paired with wines that elevate their story. For something more relaxed, La Table du Lavoir offers rustic, bistro-style meals in a charming 19th-century farmhouse, while Rouge is a wine bar stocked with bottles from around the world, best enjoyed alongside charcuterie and cheeses.
GETTING THERE
Les Sources de Caudalie is just 20 minutes from Bordeaux, easily reached by train from Paris or flights from across Europe. From the city, it’s a short drive into the rolling vineyards of Martillac.
WILD INITIATIVES
The property is committed to sustainability—sourcing reclaimed materials, championing local producers, and supporting organic vineyard practices at Château Smith Haut Lafitte. The spa itself is a model of regeneration, turning grape byproducts into powerful treatments, ensuring nothing goes to waste.
*Images property of Les Sources de Caudalie, Matteo Conti, XBejot