My recent visit to South Lodge, the luxury hotel and spa in Horsham, Sussex, revealed something truly groundbreaking in wine tourism – a destination where vines nurture both wine and wellness.
Arriving at South Lodge’s lakeside Lodges – The Reeds, eight luxury sustainable retreats – I was immediately immersed in the estate’s harvest celebration. The occasion marked the first grape harvest from vineyards planted three years ago in partnership with Ridgeview English Sparkling Wine, but more significantly, it launched an exciting collaboration: the UK’s first circular vinotherapy treatments using ingredients from the estate’s own vines.
My 24-hour experience began in the vineyard with Ridgeview sparkling wine in hand, picking grapes straight from the harvest. The panel conversation, “From Soil to Spa,” brought together voices from South Lodge, Ridgeview, and Pelegrims – the pioneering English skincare brand – revealing the innovative thinking behind this partnership. What would traditionally be vineyard waste – grape skins, seeds, stems, and vine leaves from spring pruning – has been transformed by Pelegrims into spa-grade skincare rich in antioxidants and rejuvenating properties.
The spa experience itself was revelatory. I became one of the first to try the new Pelegrims Young Vines Wrap treatment, a deeply restorative ritual using antioxidant-rich vine leaves blended with botanicals and finished with nourishing body oils. It brought the vineyard’s vitality directly into the treatment room in a way that felt both luxurious and purposeful. Free time in the spa offered the opportunity to try wild swimming – an invigorating complement to the wellness experience.
The day was complete with the harvest feast in the wine cellar, where Botanica’s seasonal menu – from South Lodge’s zero-waste, dairy-free restaurant—was paired to Ridgeview wines. The evening embodied the property’s commitment to sustainability and British innovation.
“This partnership truly captures what South Lodge stands for. Celebrating the best of British innovation, sustainability and luxury,” said David Connell, General Manager at South Lodge. “To see our first harvest come to fruition, and to extend that story through Pelegrims’ beautiful treatments in our spa, is something really special. It’s a full-circle moment that connects our guests to the land in a completely new way.”
What makes this partnership exceptional is its circular approach. Three new treatments launched 1 November – Fresh Leaf Fusion Face & Body Treatment, Vine Leaf & Herbal Infusion Poultice Massage, and Grapevine Face and Body Glow – each connecting guests tangibly to the land. While the estate’s English Sparkling Wine won’t be ready until 2028, the vineyard is already enriching the guest experience in unexpected, beautiful ways.
This is luxury reimagined: where nothing is wasted and every element tells the story of place.
www.exclusive.co.uk/south-lodge
