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EP 929 Laura Catena from Bodega Catena Zapata


Gary Vaynerchuk sits down with Laura Catena, from the famous Bodega Catena Zapata in Argentina. They try a Chardonnay and Malbec from Catena and some tasty treats.

Wines tasted in this episode:

2008 Catena Alta ChardonnayArgentine Chardonnay
2008 Catena MalbecArgentine Malbec

Links mentioned in todays episode.


Latest Comment:

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luca bercelli

95/100
Phenomenal guest (one of the best) and phenomenal show. Absolutely loved it.

Tags: Argentina, chardonnay, malbec, red, review, Video, white, wine, wines

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  • Anonymous

    XOXOXOX

  • She is a darling

  • She is a darling

  • Anonymous

    QOTD: Buy me a plane ticket and I’m there. Seriously, I think that Argentina and Chile are getting a lot of press right now as destination travel places for people who are into wine. I’ve seen contests advertised in Food and Wine magazine, in Cooking Light magazine, and various food blogs, and it may be one of those things where once the economy rebounds, Mendoza will be the next French Riviera (as you can tell, I don’t travel much).

    Fantastic guest, great show!!!

  • Anonymous

    Top 5!

  • BrianAF

    Great episode Gary V!

  • Jasonbcarey

    Look at what happened to Australia, Spain, Merlot.. Americans are fickle watch out..Argentina..

  • LurkerKing

    Argentinian women are sexy.

  • Jasonbcarey

    But Gary.. about the coolness.. what do you mean by room temprature… do you mean cellar temp or 80 degrees.? That is such a variation.. I think most white is served too cool and most red too cool.. but no wine should be served at 70 degrees..

  • Hendrik

    There was a while there I felt like was watching the BBC’s Hardtalk. Glad it became more congenial as it went along. I have never been a Malbec fan. Just never my cup of vino for some reason. The show itself was very enjoyable, I loved it. I think Argentina would be a great place to visit but haven’t so far. When I think of anything south of the Rio Grande I think crime. Just today, it was Brazil again in the news. I have to admit I checked the State Dept travel recently and saw no problem. I like the Argentinian attitude toward Gay people. It could be a future destination.

  • Anonymous

    top 10?

  • Anonymous

    QOTD 1 — pure Malbec? >$11
    QOTD — the problem is not the wine, but the country’s rep that we grew up on

  • AlexKeyWest

    Please don’t step on the guest, especially when they are as spectacular as this one

  • Dr. J. L. Sifuentes

    What a tremendous show…..simply awesome and informative. QOTD: Show a few pictures of the beautiful countryside and people will come. Thanks Gary and Laura, you guys are the best. DrSiffy.

  • passion4wine

    You did not tell Josh Greene he was sexy.. oh yea, its a wine show

  • Anonymous

    I love strong, confident women. Viva Laura. Liked the show VERY much!

    QOTD: Make me 40 again and I’m there in a heartbeat. Seriously, I think that the Argentinian Tourist Bureau has to up it’s game. Argentina sounds like it has a ton of tourist appeal from the Pampas to Buenos Aires to Patagonia to the wine regions and I’m sure a ton of things that I’m leaving out. I’ve always heard that Buenos Aires is the closest thing to Europe this side of the Atlantic. But I never see tourism ads on TV for Argentina and I don’t know why.

  • passion4wine

    10-15 bucks for Malbec, I have only drank mediocre Malbec to this point- not by choice.
    I agree with Jason- after Australia, Chile ..& Argentina I am leery of purchasing and gravitate elsewhere…

    Promotion and Marketing.. all the things you mentioned- great food/wine, scenery.. and value with US dollar above all..

  • jrouss

    Malbec = $10, personally have had more bad then good. And overall tastes like cheap merlot.

    travel packages with wine tastings at different wineries and restaurants, mixed in with some beach time

  • Anonymous

    btw Gary, what happened to the comment section yesterday?

  • Anonymous

    Wow what a great guest,she is smart and adorable. Argentina sounds awesome I gotta get there one day.

    Thanks for a another super show.

  • Anonymous

    Gary QOTD: $9-$20 usually and then a huge jump to the Achaval-Ferrer Malbec Finca Bella Vista level.

  • QOTD 1: $16
    QOTD 2: Advertise more heavily in our cooler months. People look for places to become snowbirds, no matter the age, so have a pre-harvest festival in, say, January. It could become a gourmand’s dream for an organic movement toward affordable quality and expose the assets of Argentina without having to commercialize it.

  • Kwangmail

    Gary – let her finish. Some friends and I may be going to Mendoza next year for wine and golf and I want to hear more about the area. I will get a couple of bottles and try the Catena Malbec. My wife and I love the chocolate Alfajores.

    QOTD: Wine festival and more golf courses…plus advertising as a tourist destination / tourist packages

  • Alfajores FTW! Los Amo! son lo mejor de lo mejor!! if you’re ever around these parts, the best alfajores outside Argentina are from Tatakua, just marvelous; as for the milk caramel ( dulce de leche ), havanna brand is kind of posh but a more down to earth is Veronica, they make an increbidly lush dulce de leche.

    QOTD: what Gary Vee said sounds just about right: more publicity.

    Brilliantly good episode! Felicidades Laura Catena!

  • Anonymous

    QOTD 1: $10-$12

    QOTD 2: I think that you should include a “Visit Argentina” promo on your wine bottles. It could be a small 3 page brochure that’s attached to the back of the bottle. It would have your normal label on the back then a tab on it that says “Pull Here” and it would unfold into a brochure. Because malbec is SOOOO popular right now in the USA, you are presented with a golden opportunity to double capitalize on it. I would especially find a way to do something like that on your $50-$100+ dollar bottles, because the people that are drinking those wines will be more willing to spend $1000 on airfare.

    You could also make a “Visit Malbec Country” sticker that gets applied to your bottles with a web address on it that would promote tourism in Argentina. On the website I would have a VERY obvious button that states the cost effectiveness of traveling to Argentina over other places. Plus include coupons that can be downloaded and brought in if they visit. Maybe even printing the address on the underside of screwtops or on the sides of corks would work as well.

    For both of these ideas I would get as many vineyards to participate as possible, especially reputable ones. I think pushing “Visit Malbec Country” is better than “Visit Argentina” because of the current trend of malbec. And any way you can do something like this on your more expensive bottles the better.

  • Anonymous

    I’ve had both the regular catana, and alta malbecs and was pleased with both. Actually, both are on the short list of malbecs that I like.

  • DFWvino

    QOTD 1: $15-$20

    QOTD 2: Actually going down to Argentina (including a multi-night stay in Medoza) at the end of the month. Obviously the wine is a huge draw, but part of the reason to go is to get some of that mountain/outdoor lifestyle, which I am not so sure they are really pushing as hard as they could. Either way, great guest, and I am even more excited for the trip.

  • Dzaninovich

    Wow, I’m smitten, Laura is wonderful! She exudes an inner beauty and class without arrogance that comes about rarely. Malbec I feel is a wine that overdelivers on the lowend but is more of a quaffer and is not something I search out anymore. I purchased a case of the 06 Achaval Ferrer Quimera after your interview with the owner and it really hasn’t done anything for me. At this point what I want to buy are wines with honest crackling bright fruit with no obvious oak flavours, how about more Cru Beaujolais and Loire Valley wines along with values from Burgundy. MUCHAS GRACIAS for a lovely interview.

  • Were you not given a NY Jets beret already? From a NYer ( living in France) journalist? Did anyone read Will Lyons about Malbec today in the WSJ? It goes with this episode. BTW it is a donut/turban/saturn peach. GREAT SHOW GARY! An outstanding week!

    http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703859204575526023705274764.html

    QOTD: Do not have to do too much, I wanna come down to Argentina when I save the dough.

    On the side: Gary, I threw you into my blog about Grower’s champagne here, is it wrong to provide the link? http://maverickpalate.wordpress.com/

  • Outstanding show! What a passionate woman about her heritage! This is what your show is all about!! Passion and loving what you do, and it shows thru her. Have had many more good Malbecs than bad. My favorite is Bodegas Nieto Senetiner Malbec Reserva 2008 in fact it was in my glass as I watched.

    QOTD sidebar: $12

    QOTD: keep doing what your doing you are a great ambassador for Argentina and I think GV had a great idea! Although I checked airfare and it would take me 15 hrs + 2 stops to go. I think I’ll have to travel Argentina through wine right now!

  • Ed R

    Gary any chance you can get your hands on some of those sparkling wines from Argentina and air a tasting? Did you and Laura discuss your tasting of the other Catena Chardonnay from last month? How about Vaynerweek in Mendoza to increase tourism.

  • Anonymous

    QOTD 1: $10-$15, most wine sellers only carry malbecs in this price range around where I live as though there isn’t good malbec in the world. Its a shame,…..
    QOTD 2: Marketing, marketing, marketing! Most people I know of where I live would never in their life think of traveling to Argentina. It takes marketing to change that. The distance is a problem and cost to get there is another disadvantage. But Gary’s suggestion is a very good idea. If there was a grand marketed festival in argentina that paired local chefs and winemakers in welcoming a mass of tourists, I think the word would get out more for people to go to Mendoza.

    I went last Christmas to Mar del Plata and Buenos Aires, and plan on soon taking a trip to Mendoza, Chile, and Patagonia areas.

  • passion4wine

    How come you did not rate the wines Gary? The only info I have on it is to drink it on Thursday..

  • LurkerKing

    Josh Greene is indeed very popular among female lurkers.

  • WOW! Laura out gary-ed Gary. Bustin out the new media diss and plugging her efforts. She had you wrapped around her finger Gary, WOW!!! Huge props!

    Kinda funny just had a flight of Achaval Ferrer earlier this evening. Their single vineyard efforts are not to be missed.

    QOTD 1: $12-$18

    I think you were looking for Donut peaches.

    QOTD 2: From your website I would give some info on how “easy” it is to get to your winery from the airport. Tell where to stay and where to eat. Add more photos to the website to “whet” the palette.

  • Anonymous

    Nice ep! 3 cheers to doctors who love wine.

    QOTD1: $10

    QOTD2: Argentina is tough b/c it’s a long as flight from the US and even farther from Europe. It also has been an unstable place from time to time. As recently as about 5-7 years ago if I remember right. I knew a Argentinian Pediatrican at my medical school who stopped going back home during that time. The long flight would be tough to change unless the Argentinian gov’t wanted to resurrect and subsidize Concord flights. To be honest, I’m not sure about the political situation recently, but it sounds like it has improved. Marketing would be key, as would an investment to ensure tourist safety. Btw, I do realize that a lot of Argentina’s problems are the result of the US’s irrational fear of socialist ideology. I think that talking up the value of staying in Argentina is crucial to tourism. People love value. In addition, talking up the culture and natural beauty of the country is key.

  • Gary & Laura that was such a fun episode!! I’m posting it to my Wine2Three page! (p.s. Gary, would love you to LIKE my page http://www.facebook.com/Wine2Three – would be HONOURED to have you there!) Gary, I have to admit, I know you’re the king of wine videos but I’m new to wine and you sometimes lose me with your techno-wine talk and incredibly specific tasting notes! (I’ve been told that the more I learn about wine the more your shows will speak to me!), but this interesting chat between you and Laura was fantastic! Thank you! Looking forward to you interviewing other important figures in the wine world, esp. women! 🙂 Laura Catena was so gentle, lovely, intelligent & funny; I will forever remember this episode when I see Catena Malbecs in the wine store!

  • Anonymous

    wow! Argentina should be paying you for these ideas, they are really good!

  • Great episode Gary. Laura’s a very cool. Haven’t seen one in a while but saw this one through. I got to visit Argentina one day. 🙂

  • Anonymous

    Thanks! They were just a couple of ideas that popped into my head after she asked the question. Argentina is welcome to pay me for more marketing concepts haha, it wouldn’t be too hard to come up with more.

  • Adonis

    I will be in Mendoza in January….I can’t wait!!!!

  • a wonderful guest! and gary, i hope that you are a man of your word and you wear your beret to the jets game!

    QOTD:
    1. $10-15
    2. i think as south american vineyards and wines become more popular, people will be less intimidated and more inclined to visit Argentina. i hope to come down one day soon!

  • Jrr64

    This was a really classic show. I enjoyed the interaction between Laura and you. I have too admit that some of the Malbec I have lately did not live up to the hype. I will seek out the Catena Malbec and give it a try.

    QOTD: 1. 10 to 13bones 2. If Laura keeps talking like that It would generate more interest.
    It did me ,will I go don’t know but at least I’m thinking about it.

  • 12-15 dollars. Gary flat peaches are doughnut peaches.
    QOTD; I don’t know the answer, but I would like to visit.
    Great show.

  • That hat actually looked good on you.
    You should wear it when you’re walking around NYC.
    Enjoyed the ep – favorite moment was when she thought you were comparing the wine
    to a Mekong Delta chard.
    Charlie don’t surf!

  • Zino

    Coincidentally, I had Catena Zapata Nicolas 2006 last night. It was certainly up there with the best New World wines I’ve tried. Amazingly approachable being so young, yet promises improvement with age. Tannins were beautifully soft and integrated. V. well balanced, my only reservation is that it was it a little too viscous.
    QOTD: I would love to visit wineries in Argentina,especially during the British winter when it’s your summer – that could an angle for drawing in European visitors. I have a young family, so it would have to be child-friendly, so having facilities for children would make it more attractive to many that are in this situation.

  • Rimarfish

    Great show Gary!!! I was very excited to see Laura on the show!!!! As an argentinian, this was one of my favorite shows. Kudos! Great show again and I love how the hat looked on you!

  • Anonymous

    “Values from Burgundy”…do they exist (they do, but they’re few & far between)? Your ’06 Quimera is still a baby; give it time to integrate the oak & fruit and blossom a little – another couple years and it will be a different wine. What have you got to lose, since it “hasn’t done anything for you?” And finally, you’re right- the “gang of four” in Beaujolais are unreal for the money (93+ points for ’09 Morgon from Marcel Lapierre, for around $22-25…you got that wine, Gary?)

  • Anonymous

    I don’t purchase/drink $10 Malbec – I have yet to taste any worth buying. Go into the $20 range (and of course, even higher) and the quality really jumps (especially if you defer your gratification and let them “settle down” for 3-5 years and start to unfold. You heard (over Gary’s constant interrupting) Laura talk about vintages from 1994 (!) that are still youthful and alive. And Catena Zapata is a true “first growth” of Argentina, so the Malbec being reviewed in this episode (or another recent vintage; 05, 06, & 07 were also strong) would be the no-brainer place to start. I guarantee it won’t taste like a $10 Merlot (ugh!).

  • Allan

    This should go on the Favorite Episodes list, right on top. Loved this show & loved this guest. Classy lady. Great story. I mean what can you say?

    Nice hat by the way.

    Qotd1: Keep the authentic, please.
    Qotd2: ?

    Weekend’s coming up, Cheers.!

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