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 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. Catena has been called the “face” of
Argentine wine for her active role in promoting the
Mendoza wine region and Argentine
Malbec. She has been named one of the "Top 25 Wine Innovators" and she has been an invited speaker at Must Summit,
Master of Wine Symposium and the American Society of Wine Educators, Decanter Wine Encounter, the
Smithsonian Institution and the Vancouver Playhouse among others. She has also been a guest blogger for eRobertParker.com and
The Huffington Post and has been interviewed by Winelibrary.com, The Leonard Lopate show and The Drinks Business and
NPR Radio, Here and Now. 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. 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. Laura Catena was named one of the “100 Most Influential Latinas” by Latino Leaders in their digital and print May–June 2021 editions and was chosen as "Woman of the Year" by The Drinks Business Awards 2022. In 2023, it was announced that Laura Catena will become
WSET's new Honorary President. ==Bibliography==