La Maison d'Estournel

Why shouldn’t every wine estate also be a luxury boutique hotel? They’ve got all the ingredients, and then some: gorgeous grounds, a mild climate, a habitual attention to wine and food, and, at least in the case of the Cos d’Estournel estate, a beautiful house that’s practically begging to be shared with overnight guests. This, of course, is where La Maison d’Estournel comes in.

It’s set in the Bordeaux wine region, about halfway between the city of Bordeaux and the sea, alongside the Gironde estuary. This is the real-deal wine country, with nothing but green as far as the eye can see. And the grand old 18th-century mansion that houses La Maison d’Estournel certainly looks the part. From the outside it’s an absolute period-piece classic, even as its interiors indulge in a little bit of idiosyncratic personality: first, with Indian antiques, courtesy of its original owner.

And the rooms bear a pronounced contemporary-luxe influence, thanks to designer Alex Michaelis, of Soho House fame. Visually they blend classic opulence with modern focus, and in terms of the comforts they’re state-of-the-art luxury-boutique rooms and suites — just fourteen of them, which ensures the Maison always feels like a maison.

The wine, quite naturally, is among the main attractions — tastings are available in the house’s stunning vaulted cellar, and many of Bordeaux’s finest wineries are set within a short drive. And a hotel like this isn’t complete without an extraordinary restaurant; this one features an open kitchen, allowing diners an unusual view of the chef at work.