SANTé WINELANDS HOTEL & WELLNESS CENTRE WELLNESS IN THE CAPE WINELANDS

Santé Winelands Hotel & Wellness Centre opened at the end of 2003, and is South Africa's first destination spa that sets out to redefine the wellness experience in this country.

With its breathtaking position on a 160-hectare working wine estate in the picturesque Paarl Franschhoek Valley just 40 minutes from Cape Town and the international airport, it is dedicated exclusively to health, lifestyle and tourism.

The epitome of luxury and style, Santé Winelands Hotel & Wellness Centre features a five star deluxe hotel and conference centre, as well as the country's first Santé Wellness Centre.

In September (2006) Santé Winelands Hotel & Wellness Centre won the USA Spa Finder 2006 Readers' Choice Crystal Award as 'Favourite Spa of Africa'. Earlier this year it also won the Conde Nast Traveller (UK) 'Favourite Overseas Spa Retreat' award, and was rated amongst the Top Three Spas in the World, in the 2006 Conde Nast Traveller (UK) Readers Spa Awards. It was voted South Africa's Destination Spa 2005 in the prestigious Les Nouvelles Esthetiques awards (July 2005), and received a listing in the coveted London Telegraph's Insider's Guide to the Top 20 Spa's in the World (July 2005). Other accolades include being voted one of the '16 Best Spa's on Earth' by UK Elle magazine (May 2004) and Condé Nast Traveller Italy Hot List Top Spa Resort (October 2004). It was the only spa on the African continent to receive these prestigious accolades. The inclusion of Santé Winelands in the hardcover book 'World's Most Fabulous Spas' by Taschen publishers in the USA (2005) is regarded as another major international endorsement.

Sommelier Restaurant, gourmet signature restaurant at Santé Winelands, was one of only 21 top establishments from all over South Africa to receive an Award of Excellence in the prestigious 2005 Diners Club International Wine List of the Year Awards (September 2005).

Santé Wellness Centre is the only centre in South Africa, and significantly, was only the second in the world to offer Vinotherapy, a specialised treatment that offers grape seed therapy, in the midst of the vineyards.

Launched in 2001 by the French spa, Les Sources de Caudalie, this signature treatment utilises crushed grape seeds, grape seed oil and extract of red grape skins, which are applied in massage, hydrotherapy and body scrubs to protect against oxidative stress, leaving the skin smooth, moisturised and rejuvenated.

Apart from being the first facility in this country to offer Vinotherapy, the wellness centre offers the world's best in terms of treatments and modern trends. At 2700m², it is twice the size of its nearest South African competitor and features state of the art equipment imported from Germany. Treatments available at the Santé Wellness Centre include Hamam, Serail, Kneipp, Tepidarium/Laconium, a Vichy shower and waterbed therapy. The chakra balancing Rainbow Hydrotherapy Bath offers a unique experience of colour, sound and magnetic field therapy.

The heated indoor swimming pool features liquid sound, a reclining airbed, multi-height body jets, neck massage and counter current resistance swimming. Pilates, Aqua-gym, Tai Chi and Yoga classes are available in addition to a modern gym and a range of outdoor activities, including mountain biking, bass fishing, horse riding, jogging, hiking and walking trails amongst the vineyards and surrounding mountains. Golf is available at more than 5 top golf courses in the near vicinity, including Pearl Valley, the state-of-the-art Jack Nicklaus signature golf course.

Santé Winelands Wellness Centre is managed by Dr Geraldine Mitton, together with a team of experienced wellness specialists. The wellness centre offers a variety of lifestyle programmes, ranging from detoxification and rejuvenation to anti-ageing, weight-loss and Golf Fitness. It also specialises in 'Wellness for Business Executives', featuring stress management, executive health programmes and corporate team building. Cosmetic Facial Rejuvenation and consultations with the resident cosmetic surgeon are now available at the Wellness Centre too.

Santé Winelands Hotel & Wellness Centre offers a diverse range of world class accommodation options and gourmet cuisine. Guests can choose to stay in any one of the 59 luxuriously appointed guest rooms. These include:

• 10 Manor House rooms - located in the main hotel on the first floor, ten generous suites, each luxuriously decorated in rich earth tones and textures, 4 poster baths and Romeo and Juliet balconies overlook the Piazza, water features and the winelands scenery. All rooms are fitted with air conditioning, under floor heating, satellite TV, DVD, music channel, Internet and mini bar.
• 36 Spa Suites - these rooms are in clusters of four adjoining the hotel, creating a village feel, surrounded by water features, herb gardens, vineyards, olive groves and mountains. Special care in design of a separate bathroom and an even larger room with sandstone floors and walls in earth tones, complete with fireplaces and cosy window seats to watch the sun go down. All fitted with air conditioning, under floor heating, satellite TV, DVD, music channel, Internet and mini bar.
• 4 Fully equipped two- or four-bedroom (en-suite) Vineyard Villas are also available. The ultimate in luxury, each double storey villa overlooking the lake and boasting its own private swimming pool - the Villas are ideal for conference trips, business meetings, entertaining and special events. All fitted with air conditioning, satellite TV, DVD, music channel, fridges, dish washing machines and laundry facilities. The services of a butler and a chef, provided by the hotel are also an option.

The hotel provides every service one would expect at a luxury hotel, including a library, 24-hour room service, valet parking, concierge, same-day laundry and dry-cleaning services, DVD players in each room, chauffeur driven vehicles and guided tours.

Sandi Dekker, the Managing Director of the Santé Winelands Hotel & Wellness Centre says: "For guests who are seeking holistic wellbeing and want a sanctuary to relax and recuperate, or just a different place to work, meet or network, this property offers tranquillity, privacy and a distinctive, world class experience within the warm embrace of 'Boland' hospitality."