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TM
A Toast to My Body, Inside and Outside
By Madelyn Miller, the TravelLady
How can you indulge your body with wine? Let me count the
ways.
The most unique way in my wine drinking and spa indulging
life has been a fabulous fusion treatment of wine and hot stone at the Turm
Romantik Hotel. A sybaritic paradise in South Tyrol, Italy this sensual hotel
offers a wine bath with romantic music and a good glass of red wine, followed by
a grape-seed oil massage on a hot stone. And if this sounds good to you, just
imagine doing this with a partner. (I am not sure if you share the same wine
bath, but it might be fun)
Recent studies have shown the anti-oxidant benefits of
wine. Doctors and dieticians now support scientifically the Greek idea that wine
enjoyed with moderation is healthy. Wine has a positive effect on blood pressure
and it reduces the risk of thrombosis, heart attack and cancer.
It is less known that the external use of wine and wine
products is extremely healthy. And vinotherapy is a lot more fun than
psychotherapy.
It is actually quite logical. The raw materials for good
wines becomes an ingredient for natural, luxurious body treatments. Grape seeds
and grape-seed extracts play the leading role in vinotherapy. The polyphenols
contained within them fight against the free radicals, which are mildly
responsible for skin aging. Polyphenols make the skin firmer and reduce fine
wrinkles.
After my vinotherapy treatment at Romantik Turm my skin
felt soft and smooth. I was not completely sure if that was from the indulgent
treatment or just seemed that way because of the wine I drink---but either way I
loved every moment of it.
Please Sign Me Up For Wine Therapy
The wine therapy (or vinotherapy) is based on the natural
grape-seed extracts in different amounts and consistencies. Developed in France,
it is now used as a treatment for beauty and to revitalize. The French are so
smart about things like this. They know that if something tastes good, it must
be good for you. They eat chocolates and never get fat. They use butter in all
their cooking. And now they extol the virtues of pouring wine down your throat
AND all over your body for medicinal purposes. Will my insurance cover it? Can I
get a prescription for a few bottles of red wine?
Let's Get Serious
French scientist Serge Renaud noticed that the polyphenol
contained in grape seeds a great positive effect on our health. Here are just a
few healthy benefits of polyphenol:
-
improves cholesterol level
-
improves circulation
-
prevents cancer
-
skin damages are reduced and the skin ageing process is
slowed down
-
prevents premature call ageing
-
activates the metabolism
-
strengthens the immune system
-
supports brain and nerve function
Maybe we should all drink a toast to Serge. Be sure to make
that red wine.
Let's Get Sensual
Even knowing the benefits of wine does not a great spa
treatment make. It takes a mind like Stefan’s to pour the wine into a beautiful
tub, add a candelabra, sensual music and choose the right wine to drink. It
helps that Stefan designed the spa wing to his hotel, so the wine therapy room
has red walls, a floor done with tiles that look like the installer was drunk,
walls bordered, but not quite finished. (did the artists stop when he had a
drink? Ponder this while you soak in red wine)
But some of Stefan’s sensual experiences are based on his
childhood. When he went swimming, his mother always urged him to lay on the hot
stones when he got out of the water. Hence, the stone slab where the massage is
performed. Heated to a comfortable temperature to relax the body further, this
enhances the benefits of the treatment.
I think we should definitely drink a toast to Stefan. And
after you taste his delicious food, you will toast him more than once. Perhaps
you will want to add a toast to his mother, who taught him these things. And a
toast to his father, who started the hotel.
And then toast the other guests.
There is a wonderful wine cellar that will make you want to
continue toasting for your whole visit.

If you are smart enough to schedule your visit around a
Friday night, you can enjoy an incredible cheese buffet in the wine cellar after
dinner.


Romantik Hotel Turm
Kichplatz - P.zza della Chiesa 9
I - 39050 Völs a. Schlern/Fiè allo Sciliar
Tel: 0039 0471 725014
Fax: 0039 0471 725474
info@hotelturm.it
turm@romantikhotels.com
www.hotelturm.it
BEST WAY TO GET AROUND IN ITALY
RailEurope offers a Trenitalia Pass network which covers 16,000 km (10,000
miles) running daily through beautiful landscapes to connect big cities and
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and quick and easy to navigate. I got to Turm directory from Venice in about
three hours, it took just a little longer to get from Turm to Milan.
GREAT GUIDEBOOKS
GREAT SLEEPS ITALY
By Sandra Gustafson
Florence. Rome. Venice
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GREAT EATS ITALY
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Italy: INSTRUCTIONS FOR USE*
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Fodor’s see it Italy
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THE COMPLETE IDOIT’S GUIDE to ITALIAN HISTORY AND
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BERLITZ POCKET GUIDE ITALY
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SPEAK LIKE AN ITALIAN
THE COMPLETE IDIOT’S GUIDE TO LEARNING ITALIAN
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THE POCKET IDIOT’S GUIDE to Italian
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Rick Steve’s ITALIAN PHRASEBOOK AND DICTIONARY
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How to Pronounce French, German and Italian Wine Names
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LANGENSCHEIDT’S POCKET MENU READER ITALY
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EUROPE’S TOP RESTAURANTS 2004
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SHOP LIKE AN ITALIAN
Suzy Gershon’s Born to Shop Italy
The Ultimate Guide for People Who Love to Shop
www.frommers.com
COOK LIKE AN ITALIAN
Order your own set of The Best of Ciao Italia..in Umbria and The Best of Cias
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THE BEST OF GOURMET
Featuring the Flavors of Rome
From the editors of Gourmet Magazine.
Random House
www.randomhouse.com
MANGIAMO Let’s Eat!
A collection of family recipes by Sylvia Sebastiani
Sebastiani Vineyards
TASTE ITALIAN FOOD AT HOME
Try Sacla’s Classic Basil Pesto Sauce on your pasta at home. Robust bail
leaves, fresh Grana Padano and Pecorino Romano cheese, ripened pine nuts, biting
garlic and pure olive oil.
LISTEN TO ITALIAN MUSIC
Italian Café Music
Putumayo World Music
www.putumayo.com
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