Dr Laura Catena | |
|---|---|
 Laura Catena at Bodega Catena Zapata | |
| Born | 1967 (age 55–56) |
| Education | Harvard University Stanford University |
| Occupation(s) | Managing Director of Bodega Catena Zapata. Author of "Vino Argentino", "Gold in the vineyards" and "Malbec Mon amour". Physician at University of California San Francisco, Owner of Luca Winery |
| Website | LucaWines.com or Twitter or Instagram |
Laura Catena (born 1967) is a fourth generation Argentine vintner, physician and author.
Laura Catena was born in Mendoza, Argentina in 1967. She graduated magna cum laude in Biology from Harvard University in 1988 and has a Medical Doctor degree from Stanford University. She is currently managing director of Bodega Catena Zapata [1] and her own Luca Winery in Mendoza, Argentina, as well as a practicing Pediatric Medicine physician at University of California San Francisco Medical Center in California. [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10]
Catena has been called the “face” of Argentine wine [11] [12] [13] for her active role in promoting the Mendoza wine region and Argentine Malbec. [14] [15] [16]
She has been named one of the "Top 25 Wine Innovators" [17] and she has been an invited speaker at Must Summit, Master of Wine Symposium and the American Society of Wine Educators, [18] Decanter Wine Encounter, [19] [20] [21] the Smithsonian Institution and the Vancouver Playhouse among others. She has also been a guest blogger for eRobertParker.com and The Huffington Post [5] [22] and has been interviewed by Winelibrary.com, [23] The Leonard Lopate show [11] [24] [25] and The Drinks Business [26] and NPR Radio, Here and Now. [27]
In 2010, Laura Catena released her book, Vino Argentino, An Insider's Guide to the Wines and Wine Country of Argentina, published by Chronicle Books, which has been reviewed extensively by press in the USA and Internationally. [28] [29] [30] [31] [32] In 2011, she released the Spanish/English and Portuguese/English editions with Argentine publisher Catapulta Editores. Her second book was Oro en los viñedos / Gold in the vineyards, a wonderful compilation of the world´s most celebrated vineyards, a Spanish/English edition published by Catapulta Editores in 2017. [11] [12]
The International Wine & Spirit Competition (IWSC) was established in 1969 as the first competition to promote and award the world’s best wines, spirits and liqueurs. Laura Catena served as President for its 46th year (2014), acting as an ambassador for IWSC and for fine wine globally. [33] [34]
Laura Catena was named one of the “100 Most Influential Latinas” by Latino Leaders in their digital and print May–June 2021 editions [35] and was chosen as "Woman of the Year" by The Drinks Business Awards 2022. [36]
In 2023, it was announced that Laura Catena will become WSET's new Honorary President. [37]
Malbec is a purple grape variety used in making red wine. The grapes tend to have an inky dark color and robust tannins, and are known as one of the six grapes allowed in the blend of red Bordeaux wine. In France, plantations of Malbec are now found primarily in Cahors in South West France, though the grape is grown worldwide. It is increasingly celebrated as an Argentine varietal.
Chile has a long history in the production of wine, with roots dating back to the 16th century when the Spanish conquistadors introduced Vitis vinifera vines to the region. In the mid-19th century, French wine varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Carmenère, and Franc were introduced. During the early 1980s, the Chilean wine industry underwent a renaissance with the introduction of stainless steel fermentation tanks and the use of oak barrels for aging. This led to a rapid growth in exports as quality wine production increased. The number of wineries in Chile rose from 12 in 1995 to over 70 in 2005.
Mendoza, officially the City of Mendoza is the capital of the province of Mendoza in Argentina. It is located in the northern-central part of the province, in a region of foothills and high plains, on the eastern side of the Andes. As of the 2010 census [INDEC], Mendoza had a population of 115,041 with a metropolitan population of 1,055,679, making Greater Mendoza the fourth largest census metropolitan area in the country.
New World wines are those wines produced outside the traditional winegrowing areas of Europe and the Middle East, in particular from Argentina, Australia, Canada, Chile, Mexico, New Zealand, South Africa and the United States. The phrase connotes a distinction between these "New World" wines and those wines produced in "Old World" countries with a long-established history of wine production, essentially in Europe, most notably: France, Italy, Germany, Spain and Portugal.
Argentina is the fifth largest producer of wine in the world. Argentine wine, as with some aspects of Argentine cuisine, has its roots in Spain. During the Spanish colonization of the Americas, vine cuttings were brought to Santiago del Estero in 1557, and the cultivation of the grape and wine production stretched first to neighboring regions, and then to other parts of the country.
The International Wine & Spirit Competition is an annual wine and spirit competition founded in 1969 by the German/British oenologist Anton Massel. Each year the competition receives entries from over 90 countries worldwide. The awards given by the competition are considered as high honors in the industry. The event occurs annually in November, in London. Only products which pay the entry fee of £140 per category are judged, and three/four bottles of each product must be supplied.
The Argentina Wine Route is an enotourism belt in Argentina that covers approximately 2,000 km (1,243 mi) and traverses several provinces and wine producing regions of varying altitudes and geographical features. Argentina has an estimated 2,000 wineries, many of which now offer vineyard and winery tours, as well as hospitality accommodations for the country's growing number of wine related tourists. Argentina is the largest producer of wine in South America, and the 5th largest producer of wine in the world.
Mendoza Province is Argentina's most important wine region, accounting for nearly two-thirds of the country's entire wine production. Located in the eastern foothills of the Andes, in the shadow of Aconcagua, vineyards are planted at some of the highest altitudes in the world, with the average site located 600–1,100 metres (2,000–3,600 ft) above sea level. The principal wine producing areas fall into two main departments-Maipú and Luján, which includes Argentina's first delineated appellation established in 1993 in Luján de Cuyo. The pink-skinned grapes of Criolla Grande and Cereza account for more than a quarter of all plantings but Malbec is the region's most important planting, followed closely by Cabernet Sauvignon, Tempranillo and Chardonnay. Mendoza is considered the heart of the winemaking industry in Argentina with the vast majority of large wineries located in the provincial capital of Mendoza.
Trapiche is a winery in Mendoza, Argentina. It was founded in 1883 and consists of over 1000 hectares between several Mendoza vineyards. It is a two-time winner of the International Wine and Spirit Competition Argentine Wine Producer of the Year award, and is the largest producer of wine in Argentina. Trapiche is owned by Grupo Peñaflor, one of the first ten wine producers in the world.
Bodega Catena Zapata is a family-owned winery located in Mendoza, in the sub appellation of Agrelo, Argentina. The winery structure is distinguished by its pyramid-like design based on Mayan architecture.
Malbec World Day is an annual observance celebrated on April 17, to commemorate the day on which President Domingo Faustino Sarmiento of Argentina officially made it his mission to transform Argentina's wine industry. On April 17, 1853, Sarmiento tasked Michel Aimé Pouget, a French soil expert, to bring new vines to Argentina. Among the varietals Pouget brought was Malbec. Pouget continued experimenting with the adaptation of French varietals to Argentina's diverse terroirs. A decade later, the Great French Wine Blight affected the Rhône region. The name "Malbec World Day" translates from the Spanish "Día Mundial del Malbec," meaning "Malbec throughout the world". The name stuck and continues to confuse English speakers to this day, as most refer to it "World Malbec Day" or "Malbec Mondo" for those who like the alliteration. In the meantime, Malbec flourished in Argentina, creating wines widely superior to those of its country of origin. Many decades later, in 1956, France faced another obstacle when a freeze wiped out the majority of Malbec vineyards.
Chakana Winery was founded on, in Agrelo, Lujan de Cuyo, Mendoza, Argentinaby Juan Pelizzatti. Chakana is a family-owned winery located 960 meters above sea level in the Andes Mountains' foothills.
The Bespoke Collection is a wine producer and lifestyle brand based in Yountville, California in the United States. The company comprises two wine labels: Blackbird Vineyards and Recuerdo Wines, and a wine, art and design gallery called Ma(i)sonry Napa Valley. Bespoke Collection also has an additional art gallery in St. Helena, California called I. Wolk Gallery.
Dominio del Plata is a medium-sized winery located in the Lujan de Cuyo region of Mendoza Argentina. It was founded in 1999 by enologist and entrepreneur Susana Balbo.
Lagarde or Bodega Lagarde is a family-owned winery located in the Luján de Cuyo Department located in the west of the Mendoza Province, Argentina and was founded in 1897. Lagarde consists of five Mendoza vineyards and is currently owned and managed by the Pescarmona family. The winery is currently run by the third generation Pescarmonas: Sofia Pescarmona and Lucila Pescarmona, with Juan Roby Stordeur as the winemaker since 2002.
Jose "Pepe" Galante is an Argentine winemaker in the Uco Valley, Mendoza. He is considered by many to be the father of modern wine making in Argentina.
The Adrianna vineyard, planted at almost 5,000’ elevation in the Andes foothills, lies on the westernmost border of Tupungato Alto, Mendoza, Argentina, in a small district called Gualtallary. It belongs to the Bodega Catena Zapata. Being the highest vineyard in Mendoza, it benefits from the cooling effect of the Andes Mountains and intense sunlight resulting from extreme high altitude. The increased sunlight intensity due to altitude translates into thicker grape skins, because the grapevine attempts to protect its seeds from the sun. Grape skins are rich in tannins and polyphenols, the flavour-giving compounds in wine, explaining why the Adrianna Vineyard's high-altitude wines are so concentrated and capable of ageing. Also, because of the cool mountain climate, the wines from Adrianna have a certain type of minerality in the aromatics and palate that is not found in wines from other parts of Mendoza. The soils of Catena Zapata´s Adrianna Vineyard are composed of limestone and large pebbles that make them particularly well drained; the yields are naturally low and berries are small and concentrated Adrianna is possibly the world’s most studied vineyard. The Adrianna Vineyard is well known for its single parcel Chardonnay wines White Bones and White Stones. and its Malbec, which have been highly reviewed by world wine publications
Terrazas de los Andes is a winery located in Luján de Cuyo in the province of Mendoza, Argentina.
Monte Xanic is Mexico's first boutique winery. Located in the Valle de Guadalupe, it was founded by five partners with the aim of making the best wine possible in the country. Despite economic and cultural challenges, the winery started a revolution in Mexican wine making. It has been credited with establishing the current status of the Valle de Guadalupe for wine, both in Mexico and abroad.