Abadía Retuerta LeDomaine is an extraordinary 5-star hotel set on a sprawling 700-hectare wine estate along the Duero River, just outside Valladolid in Castilla y León. Once a medieval monastery founded in 1146, the abbey has been meticulously restored and transformed into one of Spain’s most luxurious and unique hotels. Staying here is like stepping back in time – you wander through cloistered courtyards and arched hallways where monks prayed, yet now enjoy all the comforts of a modern sanctuary. The hotel’s 30 rooms (including 3 suites) occupy the former monks’ quarters and sacristies, each redesigned in elegant neutral tones and plush fabrics that complement original architectural elements. Think stone walls and vaulted ceilings paired with sumptuous beds, high-tech amenities, and marble bathrooms. Large windows offer views of a “sea of vineyards” surrounding the property or the tranquil Romanesque abbey church. LeDomaine’s atmosphere is serene and refined – appropriate for a site that has witnessed over 8 centuries of history. What truly sets Abadía Retuerta LeDomaine apart is its fusion of heritage, wine, wellness, and sustainability. The estate encompasses organic vineyards that produce award-winning wines, and a state-of-the-art winery where guests can tour and taste the estate’s acclaimed “pago” wines (single-vineyard wines that express this unique terroir). In fact, wine is at the heart of LeDomaine’s story: the abbey’s monks were vintners here long ago, and the current owners revived that tradition in 1988, earning international accolades for their wines. Stays often include complimentary wine tastings, and the dedicated Wine Butler service ensures guests have personal guidance through the estate’s varietals – from robust Tempranillo reds to refined Sauvignon Blancs. Strolling through the vineyards at sunset or picnicking among the vines are memorable experiences the hotel readily arranges. Notably, the winery is built with sustainability in mind – perfectly integrated into the landscape and using gravity flow to reduce energy use. The entire estate has been recognized for its ecological practices and recently achieved its own Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) for its wines, underlining a commitment to preserving local wine heritage. LeDomaine’s culinary program is equally stellar and conscious. The on-site Refectorio restaurant, set in the abbey’s original dining hall beneath a magnificent vaulted ceiling, has earned a Michelin Star and a Michelin Green Star for its sustainable gastronomy. Under Chef Marc Segarra, Refectorio offers a farm-to-table tasting menu that celebrates the seasons and local ingredients – many sourced from the estate’s own organic farm and newly expanded biodynamic vegetable garden. This 2,400 m² garden supplies an abundance of fruits, vegetables, and herbs year-round, significantly reducing food miles and ensuring peak freshness. Diners might savor dishes like slow-roasted lechazo (suckling lamb) from nearby pastures or wild mushrooms foraged on the property, paired expertly with Abadía Retuerta wines. The Green Star distinction highlights Refectorio’s sustainability ethos – from using produce grown on-site to highlighting local cheeses and olive oils, and even bottling still water from the estate’s own well to avoid single-use bottles. More casual dining is available at Vinoteca, a wine-bar bistro serving tapas and regional favorites, and at Calicata Terroir Bar, an alfresco spot among the vineyards. Across these venues, the focus remains on elevating local cuisine while minimizing environmental impact – a balance that has earned the estate prestigious awards (e.g., Premio Gourmet for sustainability in 2022). Wellness is another pillar of the LeDomaine experience. The Santuario Wellness & Spa is housed in the abbey’s former stables, a tranquil space where stone and candlelight create a sacred ambiance. It offers an array of treatments, including signature vinotherapy rituals that utilize extracts from the estate’s grapes. The spa prides itself on personalized “spa sommeliers” who tailor treatments to each guest – much like a wine sommelier would curate a wine flight. There’s an indoor pool, sauna, steam room, and even complementary yoga and meditation sessions held in a sunlit meditation room, inviting guests to rejuvenate body and soul. The commitment to wellness extends outdoors as well: the estate has scenic trails for jogging or biking (LeDomaine provides complimentary bicycles), and activities like horseback riding through the vineyards or gentle canoe trips on the Duero can be arranged. All of this is done with an eye on sustainability and respecting the land – the estate is a haven for local flora and fauna, and they maintain large portions as natural habitat, encouraging biodiversity. It’s no surprise Green Globe has recertified Abadía Retuerta for its outstanding environmental and social stewardship. As the CEO Enrique Valero states, “Sustainability is a fundamental pillar... We are custodians of two legacies: our natural heritage... and our cultural and historic heritage. Our mission is to pass on these legacies to future generations in even better conditions.”. This philosophy permeates everything at LeDomaine – from the solar panels discreetly placed to generate clean energy, to the careful restoration techniques that preserved the abbey’s stones for centuries more. The level of service at LeDomaine matches its setting. Guests enjoy amenities like 24-hour butler service for every room, chauffeured transfers (often in electric vehicles) to and from airports, and a range of curated experiences – think truffle hunting in season, archeological walks to Roman ruins on the estate, or star-gazing nights with an astronomer under the clear Ribera skies. Despite the grandeur, the vibe remains intimate and unpretentious; staff members are authentically passionate about the abbey and the wine, and their pride shows in every interaction. Many guests describe a stay here as “magical”, where you can almost sense the monks’ spirits mingling with the modern luxury. Indeed, sipping an estate Cabernet Sauvignon in the cloister at dusk, listening to Gregorian chant softly playing, one feels a profound connection to history and nature. In summary, Abadía Retuerta LeDomaine offers an unparalleled journey – sleeping in a medieval abbey, savoring world-class wines and cuisine, indulging in holistic wellness – all while advancing sustainability and honoring heritage. It has justly been showered with awards, from World’s Best Vineyards rankings to Leading Hotels of the World sustainability accolades. But the true testament is the guest experience: time seems to slow down here (“We are timeless – fusing past and present, for the future”, as their mantra goes), allowing you to fully live in the moment. Whether you are a wine lover, a history enthusiast, or simply seeking peace and pampering in a breathtaking setting, Abadía Retuerta LeDomaine delivers an unforgettable stay that nurtures the Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness you’d expect from a destination of this caliber.