Château St Pierre de Serjac, a wine estate in France’s Languedoc region, will reopen in February 2016, following a two-year, €25m (US$27.5m, £18m) renovation. The project is a collaboration between winemaker Laurent Bonfils and hoteliers Karl and Anita O’Hanlon, who also own the luxury property Chateau Les Carrasses in the area.
Restored in 1886 by Baron Cyprien deCrozals and designed by pre-eminent architect Louis-Michel Garros, the estate occupies 200 acres, with views of rolling vines, olive groves and woodland.
Hidden within the gardens is a light-filled Mediterranean Spa offering mostly organic treatments from French skincare brand Cinq Mondes. The team refers to it as a “guilt-free” spa, where chilled estate rosé sits alongside the traditional herbal tea and detox juices, and treatments come with a square of dark chocolate at the end.
“We want the spa at St Pierre to be a celebratory, generous experience,” said Karl O’Hanlon. “Calm, relaxing and sensuous for sure, but not austere or critical. So we’ve tried to ensure that a little Mediterranean Joie de Vivre is present – the spa is full of sunlight, and if a guest wants to enjoy a glass of rosé in the jacuzzi after a treatment, then that’s what they’ll do. But this isn’t an excuse for delivering anything other than an effective spa experience, which is why we chose Cinq Mondes as our partner. We think they are the best products out there – they work, but they also have a lightness and purity about them that was exactly what we were looking for.”
Beyond the four treatment rooms – one of which is a double – is an alpine-style indoor pool, housed in a solarium-like structure whose sliding doors peel back to allow sunlight to flood the space. The area also features a hot tub, aromatherapy hammam, sauna and relaxation area.
Outside, the spa’s large terrace and aromatic gardens are dotted with huge cocoon-like double loungers, with fleecy blankets and hot water bottles provided in winter.
The Château itself has been converted into an intimate hotel with eight bedrooms, a bar and restaurant. Beyond, scattered around the extensive grounds, the original outbuildings have been converted into 36 stylish and fully-equipped self-catering properties.
The estate also features a heated infinity pool, clay tennis court, kids club, boules court, running trails and cycle equipment.
“The best French wines are a blend of grape varieties – with each bringing its unique contribution to the wine,” said O’Hanlon. “At St Pierre, we’ve blended the authenticity of a working wine estate with the facilities of a luxury hotel, offering both hotel rooms and larger properties, with the relaxed-yet-attentive service of a private-members club. We think the result is more than the sum of its parts – a destination that demands no compromise from our guests.”
The Château – once the seat of the deCrozals dynasty – features interiors by Karl O’Hanlon and longtime design partner Michelle Crouzet, a former model and antiques dealer at Paris’ famous ‘Marche aux Puces.’
The feel is quintessentially French – Empire style rubs shoulders with Louis XVI, while Art Nouveau, Art Deco and mid-century touches lend a slightly louche, almost decadent feel. Vintage chandeliers, velvet curtains and rich colours create a glamorous yet laid-back feeling.
The drawing room features a bar with 19th century fireplace, and the restaurant has the feel of a bygone Paris salon. At the heart of the estate is the state-of-the-art winery, which also includes a tasting room and a full programme of wine-related activities for guests.
The self-catering properties include 17 with private swimming pools, and range from two to four bedrooms. The interior design takes its cue from both the aristocratic and the agricultural heritage of the estate, marrying traditional character, natural materials and a contemporary use of space and light.
