Coffee tasting
“One thing Hacienda AltaGracia has perfected is the farm-to-table experience. This holds true for the daily cuisine and your midday pick-me-up—coffee,” says Melissa. For this experience, the group met at the “mercado” on property and sampled coffee prepared in four different brewing styles. “Your instructor goes through each process with diligence, explaining the origins of each method and the myriad of factors that go into creating the perfect cup of coffee,” she says.
The Art of Cacao
Looking for something sweet? “The cacao tasting was set up outside on a beautiful table with different types of chocolates—100% dark, 80% dark, and 70%,” explains Erica. “The pastry chef leading the tasting had cacao pods and cut some open to show us what they look like, how they get the beans, dry them, grind them and make them into chocolate. The chef’s enthusiasm and storytelling made the tasting especially personalized and interesting.” To round out the experience, guests are also invited to taste various pastries and drinks made with cacao.
THE WELL at Hacienda AltaGracia
Auberge partnered with NYC-based wellness brand, The Well, to create a unique and inspiring experience. “It’s the best of both worlds,” says Tammy An, F1S’s Director of Marketing and Partnerships. “You have the incredible location and atmosphere of AltaGracia with the expertise and treatment offerings that have made The Well such a stand-out—and the result is truly innovative and restorative.”
While there, in addition to a personally tailored massage treatment, Tammy took a class with visiting master, Lia Bartha, a celebrity trainer and founder of the workout B The Method. “It was an intimate, 8-person outdoor class set against a background of greenery and nature sounds—so amazing,” she says. Expect unique offerings like that, as well as everything from aerial yoga to forest bathing.
