Caudalie's outpost at The Plaza

Vinotherapy, the use of grapeseeds, stalks, and skins in skin-care products and spa treatments, is often misconstrued as pure spa indulgence. (Well, the body wraps involving slatherings of Gironde honey, Cabernet seeds, and brown sugar certainly qualify.)

But Caudalie, the Bordeaux-born beauty company that created the concept and the Caudalie Vinothérapie Spa at The Plaza, has a seriously scientific take on the grape.

Caudalie was the first company to suggest in 1993 that powerful antioxidants found in grapes, such as resveratrol, have anti-aging benefits. And if you’ve read the news lately, it’s an idea that’s transcended the spa world for the medical community, which seems almost passionate about researching the role resveratrol might play in longevity.

That’s why the up-coming launch of Premier Cru is a big anti-aging deal. The new $150 cream (available in November) contains all three antioxidants that Caudalie pioneered and patented for use in skin care—polyphenols, resveratrol, and viniferine—making it a powerhouse product.

Three of Caudalie's patented antioxidants are in its new Premier Cru

Dozens of studies have lead scientists to suspect that grape-derived molecules fight free radicals, the rogue cells produced by the body that may cause health concerns from heart disease and cancer to aging.

Of course, Caudalie is concerned with free radicals that attack collagen, the skin’s basic support structure, which cause wrinkles and sagging, and turn healthy skin cells into brownish blotches. Because the antioxidants in Premier Cru are chemically stabilized for potency and absorption, they offer far more benefits than, say, splashing your face with a fine wine. And who knows what medical studies will come to find about their general health benefits? How about a toast to that?

BONUS! Caudalie cocktail party tidbits to use at will:
-Polyphenols are taken from Cabernet Sauvignon grapeseeds and boost hyaluronic acid production and skin elasticity.
-Resveratrol is obtained from the skins of Cabernet Sauvignon grapes, and smooths and firms skin.
-Viniferine comes from Sauvignon Blanc stalks and sap and improves skin tone by slowing melanin production.

To book a Premier Cru facial  (110 minutes for $350) at The Plaza, or to pre-purchase Premier Cru ($150), call 212-265-3182. For a spa treatment menu and products, visit caudalie-usa.com.

Would you like to see a slide show of our trip to the Caudalie Spa in Bordeaux? Or have you visited? Tell us, here!