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Sleep among the vines at these luxurious European wine hotels

Château Lafaurie-Peyraguey
Château Lafaurie-Peyraguey sits among the vines in Alsace, France. Image supplied.

Located in some of Europe’s famous wine regions, these hotels are steeped in history with luxurious accommodations, gastronomic restaurants, and authentic wine experiences.

Indoor pool at Royal Champagne Hotel & Spa. Image supplied.
Indoor pool at Royal Champagne Hotel & Spa. Image supplied.

Royal Champagne Hotel & Spa
Champagne, France

This hotel in one of the world’s most recognisable wine regions oozes contemporary elegance. Unfolding over a hillside in the French village of Champillon, Royal Champagne Hotel & Spa overlooks the Marne Valley, the capital of Épernay, and the rolling vines that produce one of the world’s most popular pours. Two in-house restaurants include the Michelin-starred Le Royal, serving gastronomic tasting menus alongside an extensive range of champagnes, and the more relaxed Bellevue, offering brasserie-style fare in a luxurious setting. Explore this storied region with a tailored itinerary of private visits to esteemed Champagne houses, ride through the vines on an e-bike to visit the nearby village of Hautvillers, home of Dom Pérignon, and retreat to the hotel’s sprawling spa with two swimming pools, nine treatment rooms, a sauna, and Jacuzzis.

Six Senses Douro Valley
Douro Valley, Portugal

In Portugal’s UNESCO World Heritage-listed Douro Valley region, this resort by Six Senses is set within a 19th-century wine estate with views of the Douro River. Contemporary interiors in the 71 guest accommodations feature materials from the region such as Portuguese limestone. When not relaxing by the pool or in the expansive spa, guests can visit the Wine Library with a wine list of 700 references that focus on Portuguese wines. There are self-serving wine dispensers, daily wine and port tastings, and private tasting appointments. Oenophiles can also peruse a touchscreen reference library that is linked to The Douro Museum’s extensive resources—soak in all there is to know about this fascinating region as winemakers and oenology experts share their expertise on Portugal’s winemaking techniques.

Château Lafaurie-Peyraguey
Sauternes, Bordeaux, France

The greatest concentration of first-growth terroirs—or Premiers Grands Crus Classés—in Bordeaux is the setting of this boutique luxury hotel by the French fine crystal house, Lalique. A member of the Relais & Châteaux portfolio, the three-suite, 10-room Château Lafaurie-Peyraguey is home to an elegant, two-Michelin-starred restaurant, perfectly positioned among the vines, which are visible through its floor-to-ceiling windows. Four underground cellars house an impressive collection of vintages, some of which date as far back as 1895. Guests will find Lalique crystal design details used liberally throughout the hotel, which holds an intriguing history spanning more than 400 years, as well as colours and textures that allude to the wines of the region.

Castello di Casole, A Belmond Hotel
Castello di Casole, A Belmond Hotel, Tuscany. Image supplied.

Castello di Casole, A Belmond Hotel
Tuscany, Italy

Remotely set on 4,200 acres of rolling Tuscan countryside, Castello di Casole is Belmond’s Italian estate set within a 10th-century castle, bordering a centuries-old forest of oak trees. A careful restoration of the castle has retained its rustic heritage while ensuring contemporary comforts for guests, with reclaimed materials like timber beams, ceramic tiles, and terracotta. The 39 guest rooms feature Carrara marble flooring, warm wood, and antique mirrors. More than 25 acres of organic vineyards cultivating cabernet, Sangiovese, merlot, and petit verdot grapes can be found on the estate, which are used to create the hotel’s Sì di Sì private-label signature wines.

Château Troplong Mondot
Saint-Émilion, Bordeaux, France

This recently restored 18th-century château sits on a sprawling estate in the heart of Bordeaux wine country, just outside of the quaint mediaeval village of Saint-Émilion. A range of accommodation options are rustic yet refined, and onsite restaurant Les Belles Perdrix was recognised with a Michelin star in the 2022 Guide. Château Troplong Mondot has created authentic experiences that are designed for guests to make the most of the Premier Grand Cru Classé wine estate, including property tours in a resorted Land Rover, and a Dive to Harvest tour, which involves grape picking and learning about the fermentation process in the cellar.

Opening soon

COMO Le Montrachet
Burgundy, France

Set to open in the Northern Hemisphere Spring of 2023, COMO’s Le Montrachet will offer guests access to some of the Côte-d’Or region’s most famous Grand Cru vineyards. Acclaimed Italian architect-designer Paola Navone is leading the design of the property, which will be spread across four heritage buildings on the former site of the historic Hotel Le Montrachet. Elevated dining options will be complemented by local wine experiences and a COMO Shambhala Retreat, the first of its kind in France.

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