Les Sources de Caudalie

Beside a lake amidst lush vineyards on the Château Smith Haut Lafitte estate, 20km south of Bordeaux.

The rooms and suites are an attractive melange of stressed wood, antiques and warm colour palettes, decorated with old prints and photographs. Most have a terrace or balcony with views to the lake or vineyards. One of the suites, Ile aux Oiseaux, actually stands above the lake on stilts, ensuring ultra-privacy in a peaceful setting – but delightfully surprises with an eye-popping interior design.

When it comes to fine dining, you’ll be truly spoilt at Les Sources de Caudalie. La Grande Vigne restaurant is overseen by two Michelin-starred chef Nicolas Masse, tipped as a rising star in France’s gourmet circles. Using seasonal ingredients plucked straight from the hotel’s vegetable garden, Masse crafts exquisite dishes which are suitably complemented by the extensive wine list. For more casual dinners, Table de Lavoir offers bistro-style cuisine while the Rouge bar serves tapas alongside its wines. There’s also two swimming pools: one indoor with vaulted ceilings, and another outdoor pool which is perfectly placed for luxuriating in the sunshine.

You can’t miss wine tasting while in Bordeaux’s fabulous wine country, and in the autumn even get involved in the grape harvest. Try a cookery class, keep fit in the gym or hop on one of the hotel’s bikes to explore your idyllic surroundings.