In October 11, 1990, as the Lebanese civil war entered its final phase, Charles Ghostine received a phone call that would change his life. However, the Former National Liberal Party politician, who had anticipated returning to practicing law, did not expect much to come of the invitation to meet the Chateau Ksara board members. In fact the meeting was seen as an inconvenience more than anything. “At the time, I lived in Beit Merri. I had to drive down to Beirut, park some distance away and then negotiate the various checkpoints on foot to get to Ksara’s offices on Avenue Charles Malek,” recalls Ghostine. “During the meeting, Albert Sara suggested I take over running the company. The last managing director was Jean-Pierre Sara, who had left the company 1987. Since then, Chateau Ksara had drifted.” Ghostine knew nothing about wine, but had earned a reputation as a wartime leader and
