This is the weekly column
Laura Catena interview Part Five 1-17-2024
Dr. Laura Catena, managing director of Bodega Catena Zapata, is considered the face of Argentine wine and a major spokesperson for wine in general.
After graduating magna cum laude from Harvard and earning a medical degree from Stanford, she practiced medicine in San Francisco for 25 years while also helping run the family winery, Bodega Catena Zapata. Laura now is in charge of the winery. Here is another excerpt from my interview with Dr. Catena.
Dr. Laura Catena, the face of Argentine wine
• What is Catena’s position on lighter glass bottles?
We have reduced our overall bottle weight by 30% over the last 10 years and we are in the process of reducing by 15-25% our remaining bottles. We are working with the local manufacturers to reduce weight. We are lucky in Argentina to have an efficient and well functioning glass-production industry with several manufacturers, which means that 100% of our glass is locally sourced.
• What decision gave you the most satisfaction/pride operating Catena?
We recently received the #1 World’s Best Vineyard in the world award from World’s Best Vineyards. I was completely surprised. It is an award given to a winery for a combination of extraordinary wines and original/top level hospitality. I took the scarf (given to me at the award ceremony) and the trophy around the winery and to the vineyards and took photos with all the staff at Catena. I am also going on a tour to visit customers and take the photo with them, because they are part of our success. It made me very happy to be able to celebrate with all the people who work so hard every day and should be recognized for their efforts. It was also very satisfying when we got our first 100 point rating for Adrianna Vineyard River Stones Malbec. It was a milestone in my father’s vision to make Argentine wines that could stand with the best of the world. I’ve written three books about wine and each time I had a lot of doubt about it because of how time consuming it is to write a book (especially when I had my two jobs, wine and medicine, and a young family). But I learned so much while writing each book, and each book became a powerful tool to tell the stories behind Argentine wine, especially the last book Malbec Mon Amour, which was a bestseller in Argentina and got a wonderful review from the New York Times.
Last round
What do you get if you cross a lion with a watchdog? A terrified postman. Wine time.
Email: wine@cwadv.com
Newsletter: gusclemens.substack.com
Website: gusclemensonwine.com
Facebook: facebook.com/GusClemensOnWine/posts/
Twitter (X): @gusclemens
Since you subscribe to my newsletter, it follows you enjoy wine and humor and are an adventurous, inquisitive person. Each morning, The Sample sends you one article from a random blog or newsletter that matches your interests. When you find one you like, you can subscribe to the writer with one click. Give it a try Link to The Sample
This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit
gusclemens.substack.com/subscribe
