Encantado, An Auberge Resort

The Encantado resort near Santa Fe has landed a Five Diamond rating from AAA, the first property in New Mexico to do so.

The travel organization added a total of 16 properties to the list, for a total of 113 hotels and 52 restaurants. The overall number of Five Diamond award winners grew to 165 establishments for 2010, compared to 162 in 2009. Some properties were dropped from the top list from last year, said Heather Hunter, spokeswoman for AAA. No restaurants were added to the list this year and seven were removed (six closed their doors).

Properties that earn this top rating from AAA make up just .28 percent of all the Diamond-rated lodgings and restaurants in the U.S., Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean.

Encantado, an Auberge resort, opened in 2008. It joins the ranks of other Five Diamond properties such as The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs, the American Club in Kohler, Wis., The Plaza Hotel in New York and several Ritz-Carlton properties.

AAA's inspectors evaluate and rate more than 58,000 lodgings and restaurant and assign a rating of one to five diamonds. A complete list of Five Diamond properties is available online.

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Hillside Retreat Marries Soft-Spoken Luxury With The Majesty Of The Southwest

SANTA FE, N.M. (August 7, 2008) - Santa Fe, New Mexico, can now consider the luxury resort operator Auberge Resorts (www.aubergeresorts.com) among those who have followed the light to this enchanting region. Encantado (www.encantadoresort.com), Auberge Resorts' newest property and sister to famed Auberge du Soleil and Esperanza Resort, opens today as the first-ever full-service luxury resort to grace this cultural mecca. The property features 65 casitas, a world-class spa, signature restaurant and bar located on 57 acres of stunning Tesuque, N.M., landscape, just outside of Santa Fe, on the site formerly occupied by Rancho Encantado.

"Encantado represents our vision of the perfect Santa Fe experience: sweeping mountain views, peaceful wide-open spaces and a gracious retreat with the tastes and textures of the region woven throughout," said Mark Harmon, Principal & CEO of Auberge Resorts. "We have relished this opportunity to bring our style of soft-spoken luxury, fine cuisine and exceptional spa experiences to New Mexico."

Encantado's 65 casitas display a fresh, updated interpretation of traditional Santa Fe design. Stucco exteriors in soft, earthy tones with rich chocolate wood trim lead into contemporary adobe-style casitas with oversized windows, squarecut wood beams, polished cement flooring, stone detailing and kiva-style fireplaces, all of which spill into indulgent bathrooms with deep soaking tubs and heated floors. Private terraces with plush furniture set the stage for admiring
magnificent vistas.

Showcasing an essential Auberge hallmark, Encantado incorporates a rich collection of contemporary artwork with regional undertones. Furthering the cultural experience on the property, Encantado features an outpost of Santa Fe's renowned LewAllen Gallery, an expansive outdoor sculpture garden and art and photography programs for inspired guests.

True to Auberge Resorts' legacy, fine cuisine and wine are central to the character and experience of Encantado. The resort's fine-dining restaurant, Terra, features modern rustic cuisine utilizing ingredients from an onsite kitchen garden created by award-winning Executive Chef Charles Dale. Additionally, with a pedigree honed by years on the opening management teams at Thomas Keller's Per Se and Ad Hoc and at Guy Savoy in Paris, Food & Beverage Director Michel Darmon brings the highest of culinary standards to this new property. Chef Dale's
"farm to table" philosophy will be showcased in seasonal and ingredient-driven dishes such as Ravioli Verde with Local Pistachio Pesto in a Tomato Broth and Wild Alaskan Salmon Bruschetta-Style with Tomato Jam, Arugula and Capers. Guests will enjoy a sophisticated wine program and separate bar menu of shared comfort food at The Bar at Encantado and may opt to dine in the dining room, at the communal fire pits or on the west-facing terraces to capture sweeping sunset views. James Beard Award-winning design and concept firm AvroKO, whose work includes New York restaurants Public and the seasonally varying Park Avenue, has
created a warm contemporary space for the 60-seat dining room and adjacent 40-seat bar.

The Spa at Encantado features an innovative selection of spa and wellness services that honor healing traditions indigenous to the region while paying tribute to Santa Fe's contemporary appreciation of health and well-being. The 10,000-square-foot spa with 15 treatment rooms and suites incorporates the outdoors with pools, fountains, courtyards, and outdoor garden soaking tubs and showers. Spa services range from massage and bodywork to Ayurvedic rituals, men's and couple's treatments. The spa also features a results-oriented skincare program utilizing the Naturopathica line of botanical-based products and is the first to offer custom facials in partnership with The ULTRA, a sophisticated aesthetic system that uses micro-currents to soften lines, lift skin and stimulate circulation.

Encantado 57 acres border the 1.6 million-acre Santa Fe National Forest, offering ample opportunities for hiking, biking and horseback riding nearby.


Central to the resort experience are the dramatic pool, 1,200-square-foot Fitness Center and 800-square-foot movement studio for yoga, Pilates and meditation. For guests wishing to explore the many attractions of Santa Fe, Encantado offers complimentary Mercedes-Benz car service and easy access to the city's famed art galleries and restaurants with its centrally located Concierge Lounge offering VIP services in the heart of Santa Fe.

Introductory rates begin at $425. For more information, call 877-262-4666 or visit www.encantadoresort.com.

About Auberge Resorts
Encantado is the newest property from Auberge Resorts, a collection of
exceptional hotels, resorts and private clubs, each with a unique personality that
assures a memorable guest experience. Among the distinctive properties are
Auberge du Soleil, Napa Valley; Esperanza, Cabo San Lucas; Calistoga Ranch,
Napa Valley; The Inn at Palmetto Bluff, Bluffton, S.C. and Rancho Valencia Resort
and Spa, Rancho Santa Fe, Calif., with several others in development. While
Auberge Resorts nurtures the individuality of each establishment, all are
characterized by a set of communal elements: intimate, understated elegance;
captivating locations that inspire exceptional cuisine and spa experiences; and
gracious yet unobtrusive service. For more information about Auberge Resorts,
please visit www.aubergeresorts.com.
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