About Clos Apalta & Domaines Bournet-Lapostolle

Lapostolle was founded in 1994 by Alexandra Marnier Lapostolle and Cyril de Bournet after discovering the exceptional potential of Chile’s Apalta Valley, including old ungrafted vines and a landscape they believed could produce world-class wines. The estate has since been shaped by a vision that combines French winemaking heritage with the identity of Chilean terroir, and the winery today continues under the leadership of Charles de Bournet with Technical Director and Winemaker Andrea León.

That discovery came after months of research and was rooted in a rare sense of place: a valley of remarkable light, natural shelter, and century-old vines that immediately suggested the possibility of something exceptional. Alexandra Marnier Lapostolle saw in Apalta not only beauty, but harmony. A landscape where wine could be made with precision while remaining deeply expressive of its origin.

The story of the Domaine, however, stretches back much further. The Bournet-Lapostolle family has been dedicated to high-end wines and spirits since 1827, when Jean-Baptiste Lapostolle founded a fruit liqueur distillery in France, followed generations later by the creation of Grand Marnier and a long family tradition of craftsmanship, patience, and refinement.

At Clos Apalta, that legacy is transformed into a living philosophy. The vineyards are farmed organically, with a focus on preserving the purity of the fruit, the vitality of the soil, and the balance of the surrounding ecosystem. Since 2009, the estate has been certified organic, and its 60 hectares in Apalta are managed with close attention to biodiversity, composting, and the health of the living landscape.

The vineyard itself is one of the estate’s greatest assets. Laid out amphitheatrically on southeast-facing slopes, Clos Apalta benefits from a distinct microclimate, granite-rich soils, and old vines that have naturally adapted over time to the site’s conditions. These elements combine to give the wines their depth, structure, and aromatic complexity, with Carménère, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Petit Verdot forming the heart of the estate’s expression.

Clos Apalta cellar is one of the most distinctive elements of the Domaine, both for its architecture and for the way it embodies the estate’s philosophy. Built as a seven-level underground cellar integrated into the hillside, it was designed to work in complete harmony with the landscape, allowing the wine to move by gravity from one stage of production to the next. This thoughtful design reduces intervention and preserves the identity of each parcel, while reflecting the same precision and respect for terroir that define the vineyards themselves.

Today, Domaines Bournet-Lapostolle continues to pursue wines of elegance, complexity, and aging potential, guided by a family vision that remains both forward-looking and deeply rooted in memory. The result is a domaine where heritage is not preserved as a relic of the past, but renewed through each harvest, each parcel, and each generation.

The Clos Apalta Résidence Experience

The Clos Apalta Résidence offers an intimate stay at the heart of the family’s private vineyard estate, where guests are surrounded by vines and immersed in the natural beauty of a unique amphitheater landscape. With just 10 rooms, wide-open views, and a gourmet restaurant rooted in local seasonal cuisine, it is a warm and contemplative retreat that reflects the estate’s blend of Chilean character and French elegance.