Latest news with #CatenaZapata
Irish Examiner
16-07-2025
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Red Letter returns to winning ways in Killarney
Red Letter got back to winning ways in Wednesday night's feature in Killarney - the listed Irish Stallion Farms EBF Cairn Rouge Stakes - and while the conditions required attrition, it left jockey Colin Keane and trainer Shane Lyons excited about what is yet to come from the Juddmonte filly. Not beaten far in the Newmarket Guineas, and touched off in a listed race on her last race before coming here, she faced soft conditions this time but neither they nor the slow pace and, for that matter, the wide draw, was enough to deny the classy sort this return to the winner's enclosure. Fiery Lucy proved a tough nut to crack but Keane was at his most persuasive in the straight and got his mount up late to shade the verdict. 'She's done it the hard way, being drawn wide and caught wide, and it was a good performance,' said Lyons. 'They've pulled a long way clear of the third horse, and it's a hardened listed horse that finished second. 'Colin was delighted the way she handled the ground. She'll get further, and he said, 'when she fills into her frame, she'll be some horse next year'. She's got the job done there. 'Colin said they didn't go quick enough for her. She's got championship cruising speed, and she'll need that for future races. It's a good thing to hear. He said if we got beaten, it would have been because they didn't go quickly enough. 'For future plans, we'll speak to connections, as we always do, but we're pretty excited about it after that.' Conor Cusack is making a splash in the early stages of his career and the 10lb claimer, whose first winner came last Saturday in Limerick, put a second on the board when giving Catena Zapata a fine ride in the Killarney Plaza Hotel & Spa Optional Claiming Race. Trained, as was his previous winner, Stepdance, by Henry de Bromhead, with whom the young rider is based, Catena Zapata missed the kick but quickly latched on to the back of the pack and, with a confident and brave ride, Cusack exploited a gap next to the rails before pushing his mount clear to a smooth success. Said the winning rider: 'He missed the break the last couple of times, and I was, if not half expecting it, thinking it could happen, but the blinkers definitely helped, and I got him back up to the pack quickly enough. I got a dream run around after that, and he went away and won well. 'Hopefully things keep going the way they're going, and I must say a massive thanks to Henry as he's trusted me with two nice horses.' Donnacha O'Brien likes to bring a useful sort to Killarney and in A Boy Named Susie, who made a winning debut in the Irish EBF Median Sires Series Race, he has another high-class prospect. While the debutant was keen in the hands of Gavin Ryan, he showed a great attitude when matters got serious. Putting his head down and pinning back his ears, he strode clear in great style to win by three lengths. 'We thought he was good,' admitted the winning trainer, for whom he was a third winner in three days at this meeting. 'He did a really, really good bit of work at the Curragh a few weeks ago. 'This it was probably a tough ask as he was giving weight to a previous winner, and it's a tough track first time out, as well, but he's obviously just smart. This race has thrown up Iridessa, Luxembourg, and Lambourn last year, and a few Group 2 winners as well, and I think he could be a proper horse.' The winner is owned by Donnacha's sister, Ana, who had a horrific fall here in July 2017, one which brought her riding days to an end. 'It's great for Ana,' O'Brien added. 'It's a better experience for her than the last time she was down here.' Iron Fist and Hellorhighwater dominated the betting for the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden and the race lived up to market expectation, with the former, trained by Jessica Harrington and ridden by Shane Foley, leading early and using his experience and class to fend off the persistent challenge of Hellorhighwater by three parts of a length, the pair 12 clear of the remainder. Another to gain a richly deserved first success was the Chris Timmons-trained Still She Blooms, who made all the running and found plenty to win the Rose Hotel Handicap under a well-judged ride by Robbie Colgan. Denis Hogan's team is on good form and Tassarolo, who was a winner over hurdles in June at Clonmel, put a first Flat win on his card when getting up late to take the Start Your Free Month Trial At Handicap under a strong ride by Joey Sheridan. John Murphy put a seal on the meeting's Flat action when Love Sonnet took the finale, the Muckross Irish Gin Handicap. A winner at the May meeting here, the 6lb penalty vastly underestimated the filly as she coasted clear inside the final quarter of a mile and won, pulling up, by 11 lengths. The win provided Colin Keane with his second of the night, and fourth of the meeting.
Time Out
04-07-2025
- Health
- Time Out
Laura Catena, the scientific heart of Argentine wine
If wine was the first medicine, Laura Catena was destined to unite those worlds. Graduated in Biology from Harvard University and Medicine from Stanford, she practiced emergency medicine for nearly 30 years in San Francisco, USA. At the same time, she founded the Catena Institute of Wine and currently leads the iconic family winery Catena Zapata, recently named Best Vineyard in the World and Most Admired Wine Brand. Science, tradition, and wine coexist in her daily life. Laura is undoubtedly one of the main reasons behind the global positioning of Argentine wine, without neglecting her more human side: the after-meal conversation with a glass in hand, the enjoyment of a shared barbecue, and the defense of moderate wine drinking as part of culture. In this conversation, she shares her vision of a world where terroir, research, and well-channeled passions are the true legacy. You managed to unite science, medicine, and wine… It was all predetermined, wasn't it? Wine was the first medicine in the world. For six thousand years it has been used to cure all ailments. And today, scientific study is a fundamental part of any decision. I studied medicine because I wanted to help people and I love being a doctor—I will never stop being one. In any job, you can exercise the muscle of empathy. "Wine was the first medicine in the world" Her scientific way of thinking is reflected in every corner of the winery. When she joined the team in 1995, she created the Catena Institute of Wine, a research center aiming to produce wines capable of competing with the best in the world, making decisions based on data and analysis for the study and preservation of wine. 'The scientific aspect is very important in how we preserve Argentine vineyards when there is less water, fewer people willing to work in agriculture… Hopefully, we won't stop working with the land, and vineyard work won't become fully robotic, but technologies should be added so humans don't have to do exhausting work under unpleasant physical conditions.' "Hopefully, we won't stop working with the land, and vineyard work won't become fully robotic" 'For me, wine is joy, it is pleasure. Nowadays, there is much talk that alcohol is bad, but there are scientific foundations indicating that wine in moderation has benefits such as possible reductions in the risk of heart disease, dementia, and cancer. We must defend the tradition of sharing it at the table and afterward, something that barely exists in other parts of the world,' she states, and indeed, her defense of drinking wine as part of a healthy lifestyle is featured on her portal In Defense Of Wine. 'My perspective on wine and health has evolved along with scientific research,' she adds. The legacy of Malbec and the pride of terroir The story of Catena Zapata is also the story of Malbec in Argentina. Nicola Catena, Laura's great-grandfather, planted the first vines in 1902. His son Domingo believed in the potential of the grape variety, and Nicolás continued the legacy shared with his daughter Laura. He was a pioneer in exporting fine wines and planting in high-altitude zones. 'My father planted vines over 1,500 meters high, in the Uco Valley. The poor soil, the cold climate with plenty of sun, and just enough water make that area a paradise for Malbec. It has good acidity, soft tannins, and elegance. It's a perfect wine, both young and aged. In my opinion, in Mendoza we make the perfect wine.' Founded in 1902, Bodega Catena Zapata is recognized for its pioneering role in reviving the Malbec variety. The family has dedicated their lives, passion, and spirit to transforming a high-altitude desert oasis into one of the most beautiful and unique wine regions in the world. Dr. Catena's obsession is to learn more and more about high-altitude viticulture, soil microbiome, and the aging potential of wines. She brought her scientific vision and passion for rescuing old vineyards to the winery, the same passion that led her to found Luca Wines in 1999, her own winery, with the goal of saving old vines that were about to be uprooted to make way for new plantations and to exploit the potential of small, old family vineyards in the Uco Valley. 'For me, uprooting a vineyard is sacrilege—it has heart and history. Old vines produce less, yes, but they have subtlety, elegance… The flavor is richer. I created Luca to stop that massive uprooting,' shares the doctor who was named Hero of Old Vines in 2023 for her work preserving Argentina's old vines, un-grafted, mass-cultivated, and genetically diverse. 'It was a great honor,' she acknowledges. 'Today we produce everything organically. I believe the future of wine is consuming less but better quality. Sustainability means leaving the world the same or better than we received it, and that requires investment, study, science.' "The future of wine is consuming less but better quality" Laura speaks of a future where wine is produced not only with respect for the land but also as a way to preserve local culture against global homogenization. 'Each wine region has a strong culture. We must celebrate and communicate it. If we manage to make someone in Japan experience an Argentine moment with a glass of Malbec, that is an achievement for humanity. Wine allows us to be creative, that's why I love it.' Listening to Laura Catena speak makes it clear that wine is an absolute protagonist in her life and that she lives by the Wine First concept—the same concept upon which the winery restaurant Angélica Cocina Maestra is based, which just received its first red Michelin star and a green star for sustainable practices. Also of interest: Where Mendoza's Michelin-Starred Chefs Eat 'The condition for opening the restaurant at Catena Zapata was clear: wine had to be the main dish. We choose the wines on the menu, and the chefs pair the dishes with them. Wine first, always; it's beautiful to see how the concept is accepted and what it generates in diners,' comments Laura. In addition to being a winemaker and doctor, Laura is the author of three books: Argentine Wine, which takes readers through the history of the beverage produced in our country; Gold in the Vineyards, which captures and illustrates the magic of the world's most famous wineries (in fact, it is on display during the winery's guided tour); and her latest, Malbec mon amour, created with Alejandro Vigil and, in her own words, 'sharing that process was very fun.' 'I wanted someone to write down my ideas but ended up doing it myself because I'm passionate about ideas and no one could put them on paper exactly as I thought and felt. Passion drives me, and humans live for their passions.' Laura Catena inherited not only a passion for wine but a mission: to take Argentine wine to the world, defend tradition, protect old vines, and apply science at every step of the process. She did it with humility, work, and conviction. 'I worked hard to be where I am today, and it was a constant challenge to prove I was not there just because of my last name. I love wine; it seems like the most beautiful profession to me. It's a luxury to produce something that connects with the land, history, and people.'
Forbes
12-04-2025
- Climate
- Forbes
From France To Argentina: How Malbec Found Its True Home
Malbec is a story of survival. Long before it became Argentina's signature grape, malbec was a mainstay of French winemaking. In the 19th century it was widely planted in Bordeaux, even outpacing cabernet sauvignon in areas like the Médoc. Today, however, its reputation is tied more closely to the Andes than the Gironde. But malbec's survival was never guaranteed. Its path from European favorite to Argentine flagship was shaped by chance, disaster and the selective forces of climate and soil. The shift began with the phylloxera epidemic, a blight that devastated European vineyards in the late 1800s. By then, malbec had already arrived in Argentina, introduced in 1852 by French agronomist Michel Aimé Pouget. Its timing turned out to be critical. 'Yes, it's true that when malbec came to Argentina it was pre-phylloxera, 1852, and at that time malbec was more widely planted in the Medoc than cabernet sauvignon, for example,' says Dr. Laura Catena, managing director and a fourth-generation winemaker at Catena Zapata, via Zoom. 'Then after phylloxera, there's different theories about why malbec didn't get replanted widely in France.' Those theories vary. Some believe the grape was too sensitive to weather variation. Others claim it was hard to graft. But Catena argues the real reason may have been practical: 'Merlot ripened several weeks before malbec, and the producers wanted to have an early grape and a later grape because it's a lot easier in the winery.' France's loss became Argentina's opportunity. 'Malbec kind of almost disappears, and during all that time malbec is widely planted in Argentina and it just adapts well,' Catena says. The grape's resilience was notable. 'It has deep root systems. We have very poor soils. We have a very dry climate. Malbec actually can do well in many parts of Argentina, even in warmer climates, cooler climates.' Argentina produces approximately 75% of the world's malbec, with the majority cultivated in Mendoza. The grape remains the most widely planted red variety in the country, accounting for 38.6% of the 224,707 hectares (555,263 acres) under vine. In 2023 alone, Argentina harvested more than 323,000 metric tons of malbec, reinforcing its dominance both domestically and internationally. Malbec thrived in Argentina not only because of favorable growing conditions, but also because of how it was propagated. Unlike European producers who moved toward clonal selection—using genetically identical cuttings to plant vineyards—Argentine growers continued using traditional massal selection, preserving a broader range of genetic material. 'We never sort of caught on to the clonal revolution,' Catena says. 'Partly it's because of Argentina's economic and political isolation. Partly because it was really expensive to buy these clones and partly because we didn't need to graft.' The result is that 90% of Argentine vineyards are both genetically diverse and ungrafted. 'I think that they're more resilient because when you have a climate phenomenon, some grapes are at one phase, some are at another and so you're gonna be less affected,' she says. Spring frosts in 2023 damaged vineyards across Mendoza, contributing to Argentina's lowest wine production in more than 60 years. Argentina's wine industry faced a significant setback in 2023, with production dropping to a six-decade low of 8.8 million hectoliters—a 23% decline from the previous year—due to spring frosts and hailstorms. Early forecasts from Catena Zapata for the 2024 vintage indicate a recovery, with the harvest expected to be at least 25% larger than 2023. Cooler conditions have delayed picking by 10 to 14 days, encouraging slower ripening and improved balance. Despite the volatility, exports remain strong. The United Kingdom and the United States continue to be the leading international markets, accounting for 26% and 20% of Argentina's still wine exports, respectively. The implications go beyond Argentina. 'I think this is something that needs to be done in Europe, in North America,' Catena says. 'There are still some remaining vineyards that have genetic diversity and if we don't, we will have lost it.' Genetic diversity, she argues, may be one of the most important tools viticulture has against a changing climate. 'There are some genes that once you lose them, you've lost those genes that might have some kind of secret for the future.' That diversity also affects the wine in the glass. 'One has a little more acid, the other one has a little more sugar. One has more of one aroma, one of another,' Catena says. 'It makes sense that that wine made with that kind of diversity would be more interesting.' The label itself is a work of art, narrating Malbec's epic journey through four symbolic women. Malbec's history, as told through the label of a specific bottle, illustrates its survival. The Catena Zapata malbec argentino features four symbolic women: Eleanor of Aquitaine, the Immigrant, Phylloxera and the Renaissance of malbec. 'It was my sister [Adrianna Catena] who came up with the idea of telling the story through these four women,' Catena says. 'She was inspired by an art form, the Allegories of the Continents where you'd have, you know, each continent portrayed by a woman.' The visual narrative highlights how malbec once commanded attention in France, nearly vanished after phylloxera, then reemerged in a new hemisphere. 'It's the grape with the most interesting history in the world of varieties because it's almost gone extinct so many times,' Catena says. The grape's reemergence in Argentina was slow. 'When we started exporting malbec in the early 1990s, people had never heard of malbec. Maybe they had studied it. They hadn't tasted it,' Catena says. 'I had buyers tell me, 'Hey, this is delicious,' but I can't sell it because nobody knows what it is.' Malbec thrives in Argentina's high-altitude vineyards, where varied climates and soils shape its character and complexity. Recognition came gradually, driven by the wine itself. 'To me, the reason why malbec actually did well was mostly because it tastes good. You know, it won people's palates and hearts through the palate,' she says. Catena believes the future of malbec lies in better understanding its aging potential and range. 'I think that the next chapter is for people to understand how beautifully a well-made malbec from specific terroirs can age,' she says. 'I think ageability is a really important thing for malbec in the future.'
