Health Drink

Spas and resorts around the world are incorporating wine-based therapies in their wellness programs

- STEPHANIE VERMILLION

PINOT NOIR body wraps and soaks in winefilled tubs are among the innovative ways to enjoy the drink’s healing properties. Yet harnessing wine for health is hardly new. The ancient Romans used the liquid as an antiseptic to heal wounds, purify water and clean their mouths. In the 14th century, some used it to fend off the deadly black plague—although its efficacy proved lackluster.

One of the earliest records of using vinotherapy for skin care took root in France, says Kelly Lewis, cofounder of the new Willamette Wine Spa, which will open in Oregon this month. “They started realizing that vintners’ hands weren’t really aging,” she says. “Their hands looked remarkably young.”

After that, wellness researchers explored the benefits of wine on skin. “From that observation came the science behind vinotherapy,” she says. “Grapes and grape seeds are high in resveratrol and vitamin E.” That means participating in skincare-based vinotherapy can help fight inflammation and eliminate free radicals in the body. Some research even suggests drinking nonalcoholic wine could improve skin health.