A Toast to My Body, Inside and OutsideBy Madelyn Miller, the TravelLadyHow can you indulge your body with wine? Let me count the ways.
It is less known that the external use of wine and wine products is extremely healthy. And vinotherapy is a lot more fun than psychotherapy. It is actually quite logical. The raw materials for good wines becomes an ingredient for natural, luxurious body treatments. Grape seeds and grape-seed extracts play the leading role in vinotherapy. The polyphenols contained within them fight against the free radicals, which are mildly responsible for skin aging. Polyphenols make the skin firmer and reduce fine wrinkles. After my vinotherapy treatment at Romantik Turm my skin felt soft and smooth. I was not completely sure if that was from the indulgent treatment or just seemed that way because of the wine I drink---but either way I loved every moment of it. Please Sign Me Up For Wine TherapyThe wine therapy (or vinotherapy) is based on the natural grape-seed extracts in different amounts and consistencies. Developed in France, it is now used as a treatment for beauty and to revitalize. The French are so smart about things like this. They know that if something tastes good, it must be good for you. They eat chocolates and never get fat. They use butter in all their cooking. And now they extol the virtues of pouring wine down your throat AND all over your body for medicinal purposes. Will my insurance cover it? Can I get a prescription for a few bottles of red wine? Let's Get SeriousFrench scientist Serge Renaud noticed that the polyphenol contained in grape seeds a great positive effect on our health. Here are just a few healthy benefits of polyphenol:
Maybe we should all drink a toast to Serge. Be sure to make that red wine. Let's Get Sensual
I think we should definitely drink a toast to Stefan. And after you taste his delicious food, you will toast him more than once. Perhaps you will want to add a toast to his mother, who taught him these things. And a toast to his father, who started the hotel. And then toast the other guests. There is a wonderful wine cellar that will make you want to continue toasting for your whole visit.
If you are smart enough to schedule your visit around a Friday night, you can enjoy an incredible cheese buffet in the wine cellar after dinner.
Romantik Hotel Turm BEST WAY TO GET AROUND IN ITALY GREAT GUIDEBOOKS GREAT EATS ITALY Italy: INSTRUCTIONS FOR USE* Fodor’s see it Italy THE COMPLETE IDOIT’S GUIDE to ITALIAN HISTORY AND CULTURE ITALY FODOR’S 04 ITALY Rick Steves Italy 2005 BERLITZ POCKET GUIDE ITALY SPEAK LIKE AN ITALIAN THE POCKET IDIOT’S GUIDE to Italian Rick Steve’s ITALIAN PHRASEBOOK AND DICTIONARY BERLITZ Surviving in Italian BERLITZ Shopping in Italian EAT LIKE AN ITALIAN BERLITZ Eating and Drinking in Italian How to Pronounce French, German and Italian Wine Names LANGENSCHEIDT’S POCKET MENU READER ITALY EUROPE’S TOP RESTAURANTS 2004 SHOP LIKE AN ITALIAN COOK LIKE AN ITALIAN THE BEST OF GOURMET MANGIAMO Let’s Eat! TASTE ITALIAN FOOD AT HOME LISTEN TO ITALIAN MUSIC |
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The most unique way in my wine drinking and spa indulging life has been a fabulous fusion treatment of wine and hot stone at the Turm Romantik Hotel. A sybaritic paradise in South Tyrol, Italy this sensual hotel offers a wine bath with romantic music and a good glass of red wine, followed by a grape-seed oil massage on a hot stone. And if this sounds good to you, just imagine doing this with a partner. (I am not sure if you share the same wine bath, but it might be fun)
Recent studies have shown the anti-oxidant benefits of wine. Doctors and dieticians now support scientifically the Greek idea that wine enjoyed with moderation is healthy. Wine has a positive effect on blood pressure and it reduces the risk of thrombosis, heart attack and cancer.
Even knowing the benefits of wine does not a great spa treatment make. It takes a mind like Stefan’s to pour the wine into a beautiful tub, add a candelabra, sensual music and choose the right wine to drink. It helps that Stefan designed the spa wing to his hotel, so the wine therapy room has red walls, a floor done with tiles that look like the installer was drunk, walls bordered, but not quite finished. (did the artists stop when he had a drink? Ponder this while you soak in red wine)
But some of Stefan’s sensual experiences are based on his childhood. When he went swimming, his mother always urged him to lay on the hot stones when he got out of the water. Hence, the stone slab where the massage is performed. Heated to a comfortable temperature to relax the body further, this enhances the benefits of the treatment.
