Luca
Luca is Laura Catena's passion project to rescue old vines and produce wines that express the history and soul of Mendoza's century-old vineyards. She believes that “old vines are family” and strives to highlight the vignerons behind the wines and preserve the genetic diversity of Mendoza's historic vines. Luca purchases fruit from small growers, allowing these families to continue farming for another generation.
She replants her vineyards using massale selections from Mendoza's 100-year-old vineyards. The historic G-Lot parcels of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay in Gualtallary were planted over 30 years ago and are at the edge of where grapes can ripen in Mendoza, at nearly 5,000 feet elevation.
Laura Catena is a 4th generation vintner, mother of three, author, ER doctor, and one of the wine industry's most prominent voices. In 2023, she was given the first "Old Vine Hero" award by The Old Vine Conference. Luis Reginato works beside Laura as Luca's winemaker and the Vineyard Director for Catena Zapata Family Vineyards. Luca has had 10 wines recognized as Top 100 Wine of the Year.
Luca is named after Laura's first son, who was born the same year the brand was founded.
Around the Winery
Luca is Laura Catena's passion project to rescue old vines and produce wines that express the history and soul of Mendoza's century-old vineyards, believing that “old vines are family”.
Laura Catena, Owner
Born in Mendoza, Argentina to a pioneering winemaking family, Laura is relentlessly determined in all that she accomplishes. She has helped her father, Nicolas Catena, build the country’s prominence and influence in the New World wine scene. In addition to Luca and La Posta wines, Laura runs Catena Winery and the Catena Wine Institute while living in San Francisco where she is a mother of three, an ER doctor, and an author.
Luis Reginato, Winemaker
Luis Reginato possesses unique qualities as both a highly regarded viticulturist and a passionate winemaker. Luis is a pioneer winemaker whose family has had strong roots in the Uco Valley since the 1950's. Since he was a child, Luis walked the vineyards with his father and brother Pepe, listening and learning how to treat the people of his country and how to get the vineyards to deliver the highest quality possible.
Check out a recent podcast episode featuring Laura Catena
The Argentine Wine Revolution with Laura Catena | In Search of Flavor with Liz Caskey
Today in episode #21, the passionate, energetic Laura Catena, president of Catena Zapata winery, Luca Wines, and the Catena Institute of Wine in Argentina, joins us for a fun, fast-paced interview. She pulls back the curtain on her family's winemaking story and how they helped put Malbec on the world stage along with her own journey into the business which has seamlessly blended her love of research, terroir, and people.
Warning: may induce the desire to travel to Mendoza, Argentina immediately!!