Red wine bathing is latest detoxing trend – despite involving gallons of plonk

I’m relaxing in a hot bath sipping a glass of delicious Italian wine.

It’s a fruity red, with a rather full body, and unusually thick legs… and that’s just what’s in the tub.

Because I am immersed in a bath filled with Merlot and Sangiovese, enjoying the latest health craze – vinotherapy. And it’s absolutely corking.

Drinking wine while dunked in the stuff will, it’s said, make you look younger and feel fresher – although some scientists sniff at the claims.

Ancient Thracian women – from an area of Europe now split between Bulgaria, Greece and Turkey – used to swear by the benefits of bathing in wine, “the elixir of youth”, until Cleopatra made ass’s milk the trendy way to wallow.

But when scientists began hailing the benefits of quaffing reds (they’re full of health-boosting antioxidants like flavinoids, resveratrol and tannins) it was only a matter of time before someone decided to revive the practice.

A posh spa in Bordeaux pioneered wine therapy and it became a hit in Italy and the US.

But now the UK’s first wine spa has opened at Ella Di Rocco in Fulham, South West London.

So this old soak – a long time fan of hot baths and vino rosso – decided to try a plonk plonk.

Now, I’ve had all sorts of gimmicky treatments before – a bird poo facial, a bull sperm hair treatment and a foot massage from a 12 stone man balancing on my back.

So I didn’t really have grape expectations of a rejuvenating wine therapy.

I’ve seen my dehydrated skin after a night downing Malbec or Pinot Noir – surely it would dry me out?

Could it really turn my rounded 1964 vintage into Beaujolais Nouveau?

Sonia Brilli, who runs the salon with mother Anna, certainly thinks so, and the wine therapy is proving extremely popular.

“It will leave you feeling slimmer, illuminated and de-stressed, with your skin feeling revitalised,” she says.

“The wine’s antioxidant benefits are delivered straight to your skin, working to combat premature ageing and encouraging a fresh, more vibrant appearance.

“The polyphenol in grapes stimulates circulation and detoxifies the skin, leaving your skin hydrated and rejuvenated.

"And for city dwellers, it also clears away the skin toxins caused by smog and other environmental factors.”

At the salon, my therapist Paola led me downstairs to the wine cellar… or rather a cosy, Tuscan-inspired hammam with two stone baths and massage beds (it’s very popular with couples).

I stripped off, donned my robe and the treatment kicked off with a detoxifying foot bath with rose petals, Himalayan salts, fresh mint and lemons. And, more importantly, a nice glass of red.

Next comes an invigorating body scrub using a “purifying” mix of cornflour and red vine leaves.

“This will get rid of dead skin cells and make you ready for the bath,” explained Paola as she prised the wine glass from my hand and got scrubbing.

“The wine will plump your skin and its AHAs (alpha hydroxy acids) have anti-inflammatory properties.”

And, she assured me it wouldn’t dye my skin red or leave me smelling like barmaid’s apron.

As I took a quick shower, she began running the bath.

A concentrate of virgin grape juice and grape seed extract was mixed into the hot water before Paola uncorked bottles of Sangiovese, Merlot and Ciliegiolo wine, poured them in and sprinkled on rose petals.

By the way, the stone baths are specially designed – so don’t try this at home, it will ruin your grouting.

And then I sank into the steamy, claret-red depths and inhaled the gorgeous aroma… like mulled wine at Christmas.

It felt amazing – silky soft and wickedly indulgent.

And I was just about to duck down and have a little swig when I spotted the sign on the wall saying: “Please resist tasting the water whilst you bath. Only drink the wine that is served in our glasses.”

On cue, Paola handed me one. Two glasses is the limit – they don’t want clients rolling out the door, obviously.

I marinated myself in the fragrant bath water for 20 minutes and started to feel a little bit tipsy… but that was more a combination of the heat and the wine I’d drunk.

You can’t actually get inebriated by imbibing wine through the pores of your skin.

But – TMI ALERT – medics say a small amount of alcohol could get absorbed across sensitive mucous membranes… ie one’s privates.

I can’t say I noticed, but hey, bottoms up!

I did leave feeling well oiled though, because my treatment concluded with a full body massage, using grape seed extract and grape seed oil.

And the whole experience was absolute bliss.

I felt fortified, refreshed and my skin was glowing. I also slept well for the first time in weeks.

But did it knock years off me? Who cares?

Great wines improve with age, don’t they? And now I know I can drink it AND bathe in it, maturing gracefully feels just vine.

• Prices start at £90 for a scrub and wine tub. Massages and wraps are extra. Head here for more info.

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