Welcome to CITYpeek Patti's FOOD & WINE/Spirits Blog. Come journey along with our CITYPEEK CEO, Patti Neumann, as she nibbles, sips and shares her taste buds as she travels round the world.  

CHILE, South America

I am off to Chile today, 1st stop, Santiago Airport from there, being picked up by car service and taken to Chile's Colchagua Valley, just south of Santiago to a most fabulous retreat for wine lovers and the lovers of grand luxury worldwide. Residences of Lapostolle, a Relais & Chateuax property.

With extraordinary views of the Apalta vineyards and the surrounding mountains, the Residences of Lapostolle is home to Clos Apalta/ Casa Lapostolle winery founded and owned  by Alexandra Marnier Lapostolle, Louis-Alexandre’s great-granddaughter and her husband, Cyril de Bournet (both seen below with Michale Maraziti) and Don José Rabat Gorchs. Today, Lapostolle is 100% owned by the Marnier-Lapostolle group.

On an aside, I had the great pleasure to meet Ms. Alexandra during her recent visit to Baltimore, MD, home of ONE-EYED MIKE's, the bar that sells more Grand Marnier than ANY other single unit venue in the WORLD!  Ms Alexandra and her husband Baltimore, Maryland were in town for the International launch unveiling what is to become one of the world's most exclusive spirit products of ALL time, QUINTESSENCE.  This new Grand Marnier product, is double distilled in French oak is loaded with special grapes from Cognac, where Master Distiller, Patrick Raguenaud's family has rooted itself since 17th Century, It is both exclusive and expensive. Read the whole article Here.

But, let me not stray, the Casa Apalta is a revolutionary winery solely dedicated to the production of Lapostolle's world-class icon wine, Clos Apalta,  the flagship wine of Casa Lapostolle  which is owned by the makers of the orange and brandy flavored Grand Marnier. The winery founded by the Marnier Lapostolle family from France and the Rabat family from Chile in 1994.

Clos Apalta  winery is 100% gravity-fed spanning six levels, four of which are buried into the granite of the Apalta hillside to provide a natural cool temperature environment for cellaring and aging. This rare vertical design allows the wine to flow naturally downward during every stage of the production, avoiding the need to pump, which can adversely affect the subtle flavors of the wine.

Much more to follow on my adventure as I travel far away from home, my beloved dogs and friends. Lapostolle winery is located in the town of Cunaco, right next to Santa Cruz. It is the original winery, where Lapostolle was founded in 1994 and today it is where Casa and Cuvée Alexandre wines are produced.

Off I go via DELTA.

Please share comments and questions and be in touch.

Cheers.