KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 29): In Chile’s picturesque Apalta Valley, a legacy of winemaking excellence began to flourish in 1994, when Alexandra Marnier Lapostolle and her husband Cyril de Bournet, both of French origin, were captivated by the alluring beauty of the South American region. Their migration from France to Chile marked a pivotal moment in the family’s history. Their son Charles de Bournet Marnier Lapostolle currently leads the family business — Domaines Bournet-Lapostolle, a highly respected and pioneering wine and spirits company. 

Having taken the reins of the company in 2013, Charles describes his 10-year journey as paved with a lot of changes, being “part of preparing for the Lapostolle of tomorrow”. During his recent visit to Kuala Lumpur, he said: “Long-term thinking is very important in any family business. We think in respect of generations, not five-year plans. That is key and it changes the decisions you make every day. I’m lucky to have my parents, grandfather, uncles and key decision-makers around me and to feel their passion.”

The World’s 50 Best Bars list was unveiled recently in Singapore, amid much fanfare, marking its first foray outside of Europe in its 14-year history. The industry’s foremost mixologists all gathered at Pasir Panjang Power Station, in anticipation of the announcement. Barcelona bar Sips claimed victory this year and coming in second place was New York’s Double Chicken Please, followed by Mexico. 

“We have once again seen the number of cocktail cities represented here increase, and hope this list continues to ignite the spark of wanderlust for cocktail lovers around the world,” said director of content William Drew. This year, there were 11 new entries across Bangkok, Berlin, Dubai, London, Melbourne, New Orleans, Paris, Rome, Seoul, Singapore and Stockholm.

Hong Kong-founded travel portal Klook marks its ninth anniversary by introducing new programmes and technologies, and is looking bullish in bouncing back, post-pandemic. As a venture that targets millennials and Gen Z — 70% of its consumers are aged between 25 and 35 — Klook completely understands the immense power of social media and technology, and is diligently exploring new and exciting ways to harness these platforms, all while remaining dedicated to igniting wanderlust and elevating travel experiences.

Read all about these and more in the Oct 30, 2023 issue of Options, out with The Edge Malaysia weekly.

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