On the evening of Feb. 19, the Claremont McKenna College (CMC) Athenaeum offered the usual: fine dining, great conversations and wine.
Instead of the Athenaeum’s (Ath) usual affordable wine selections, however, the menu featured a Malbec, Chardonnay and blend of Malbec and Cabernet from the renowned Bodega Catena Zapata.
In 2023, Bodega Catena Zapata was awarded the top spot on the list of finest vineyards by the World’s Best Vineyards. The Ath’s choices of uncharacteristically exquisite wines were inspired by featured speaker Dr. Laura Catena, a medical doctor and wine expert. Bodega Catena Zapata is Catena’s family winery in Argentina, so, naturally her family’s wines were served to the enthused attendees.
The talk coincided with the last day of CMC’s annual Family Weekend, resulting in a guest list that featured numerous parents of CMC students. Families mingled in the Ath’s Eggert Dining Room, giving students the chance to connect with their peers’ parents. Since the average age of Ath attendees surpassed 21, a higher-than-usual number of participants were able to enjoy the alcoholic perks of the event.
Catena’s path to the top of the wine industry wasn’t quite traditional.
Catena received her medical degree from Stanford University and subsequently worked as a pediatric physician. She never imagined that her career would lead her back into the family business.
“I thought that I’d spend my life drinking the family’s wines, but not making them,” Catena said.
It wasn’t until Catena’s father began asking her to curate selections of wines for family events that she started to develop a deeper knowledge and appreciation. Recognizing her father’s aspiration to elevate the visibility and accessibility of Argentine wines, Catena became determined to assist him. As the years passed, she became more and more immersed in the wine industry.
Catena continued to practice medicine before deciding to hone in on wine.
“I did wine and medicine for 25 years because I also love being a doctor,” Catena said. “But now I’m doing only wine. I’m still the doctor to all my friends and family.”
Catena’s medical background ended up proving especially valuable to her work at the Catena Institute of Wine, a research institute that she founded with the goal of elevating the quality of Argentine wine. The institute’s studies range from observing how high altitude conditions — a characteristic of Argentine wineries — affect grape quality to understanding why Phylloxera — a grape wine pest — has not yet wreaked havoc at the Catena family vineyards.
But Catena discussed more than just taste profiles; she also broke down different facets of the wine industry, including its impact on climate change. High-altitude regions are more resistant to the planet’s warming, she explained, which is affecting grape quality around the world.
Catena also delineated the correlation between worker well-being and economic success in her business model.
To Catena, the attitude of those who are working in the winery is of utmost importance. When workers are excited about the work that they’re doing, they tend to be more productive — which improves output.
Moreover, the creation of a winery can bring economic prosperity to a region through opening more jobs and boosting tourism.
A good friend of Catena and a government professor at CMC, Minxin Pei has been a fan of Catena Family wines for over two decades.
“I began to practically buy every wine they made,” Pei said. “[Dr. Catena is] so vivacious, so endearing, so knowledgeable, as we can see from tonight’s talk. She just has the room.”
Catena was not just here for the talk, however. A CMC parent herself, Catena was on campus to spend time with her son, Dante McDermott CM ’24. Earlier, the two had enjoyed brunch at Collins Dining Hall and went on a wine-tasting excursion.
McDermott was overjoyed to hear his mom speak at the Ath and introduce her to his friends on campus.
“[I am] happy to hear my mom share her love for Argentina and wine and for healthy drinking habits with my classmates,” McDermott said.
McDermott was particularly excited to see the inclusion of Luca Beso de Dante, a wine blend featuring Malbec and Cabernet fruit, among the selections being served. Malbec is a grape “of highest renown in Medieval Europe” and a focal point of the Catena Institute’s research.
“It was awesome to see the Luca Beso de Dante being served because that wine is named after me and my older brother — which is a huge honor for both of us,” McDermott said.
Catena’s talk concluded with an emphasis on responsible drinking. She cautioned against dangerous behaviors such as drinking copious amounts of wine in a single sitting.
Catena emphasized the following advice which she received from her father.
“For every glass of wine, one glass of water,” Catena said.
Bodega Catena Zapata wines are available for purchase at Claremont’s local wine shop, Packing House Wines.
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