Laura Catena
«Since Laura Catena took over and put her name on the label, the estate series seems to have taken on a bigger, brasher expression. The Catena Zapata wines can stand proudly among the best in the world.»
Dave McIntyre, The Washington Post
Managing Director and Catena Institute of Wine Founder and Board
Dr. Laura Catena is a Harvard and Stanford trained biologist and physician, author, fourth generation vintner, and founder of the Catena Institute of Wine. Dr. Catena was a practicing Emergency Physician in California for 27 years while also working for her family winery, and starting her own wine projects, Luca, La Posta and Domaine Nico, in Mendoza, Argentina. She is currently managing director of Bodega Catena Zapata.
She has authored three books: Vino Argentino, an insider’s guide to the wines and wine country of Argentina; Gold in the Vineyards, an illustrated storytelling of the world’s most celebrated vineyards; and Malbec Mon Amour, co-written with winemaker Alejandro Vigil, which explores the story of Argentina’s iconic grape through art, history, and science.
She has received numerous distinctions, including the 2022 Woman of the Year Award, presented by The Drinks Business magazine, the Meininger “Outstanding Achievement Award”, and was named Old Vine Hero by the Old Vine Conference in 2023, for her work in preserving Argentina’s ungrafted, massale, genetically diverse old vines. She recently led her family winery, Catena Zapata to be voted #1 World’s Best Vineyard 2023, #1 Most Admired Wine Brand by Drinks International in 2025. In the same year, the Catena Institute of Wine received the V d’or in Sustainability from Vinexposium. She has been a speaker in key industry events such as: Old Vine Conference, Sustainability in Drinks, ASEV National Conference, and the WSWA Convention, among others.
Laura is on the Executive Leadership Board of the UC Davis Department of Viticulture and Enology and WSET Honorary President 2023-2026.