Nicolás Catena Zapata: 2012 Distinguished Service Award

FIRST ARGENTINE WINNER

Wine Spectator presents its Distinguished Service Award to individuals who have made significant and long-lasting contributions to the wine industry. All have displayed a passion for excellence, an appetite for innovation and a commitment to sharing the fruits of their success with those less fortunate.

Previous winners include: Francis Ford Coppola, Piero Antinori, Baron Eric de Rothschild, Robert Mondavi, Ernest and Julio Gallo, Wolfgang Puck, Emeril Lagasse and Julia Child.

NICOLÁS CATENA ZAPATA'S SPEECH AT WINE SPECTATOR AWARD CEREMONY

"I feel this is not only a personal distinction, but a recognition for the region where I was born and make wine.
...In the time of my father and grandfather wines were made according to the old Italian and Spanish traditions.
...climbing the heights of the Andes, searching for lower temperatures, risking late or early frost — this became an obsession.
...After planting vineyards in many different areas of Mendoza, it became clear that each altitude and latitude define a unique terroir — a singular combination of temperature and sunlight intensity that produce different wines. It seems to me this is what distinguishes my region from other wine regions in the world.
...Tonight, I accept this distinction so graciously awarded by Wine Spectator in the name of my wife, my children and all the hard working and courageous people that have worked in my vineyards through this period of change and challenge.

Thank you very much.”

ACCOLADES ON NICOLÁS CATENA ZAPATA´S AWARD

"Nicolás Catena Zapata is a man of vision, of high intellect, always curious about others and about how the world is developing. He has been instrumental in changing the Argentinian wine scene more than anybody else, pushing it towards high quality and intelligent marketing.”
Baron Eric de Rothschild, Domaines Barons de Rothschild.

"Nicolás Catena Zapata is a figure in Argentina of the stature of Robert Mondavi in Napa and Angelo Gaja in Piedmont. He inspired an entire region to strive for a higher level of quality by his successful exploration of high altitude vineyards and rigorous clonal selection.”
Larry Stone, Master Sommelier and trustee, James Beard Foundation.

"My grandmother instilled in my father a dedication to excellence, study and service. Angélica Zapata, headmaster of the local school, spent her afternoons teaching students who needed extra help and her weekends sewing clothes and preparing food for the needy. My father has taught us, his children, and all the staff that work at Catena Zapata that no challenge is too big, and that we must work tirelessly towards the higher goal of promoting our region.”
Laura Catena, Managing Director, Bodega Catena Zapata.

"He has given so much, the Doctor (Catena), to our community... regular milk donations for the schoolchildren, land and housing projects, school repairs, adult training schools in carpentry, electricity and mechanics, and so much more... like numerous academic scholarships to employees and their children ... he has known how to share his success with those that need it the most.”
Juan Alberto Ampuero, Vineyard Manager "Finca La Libertad," 54 years working for the Catena family.

NICOLÁS CATENA ZAPATA
Career Highlights

1939 – Born at home in the small village of La Libertad in Mendoza, Argentina; third generation of Catena, founded by Nicola Catena, his grandfather, in 1902.

1963, 1971 – Studies: Doctor in Economics from Universidad Nacional de Cuyo; Masters in Economics from Columbia University.

1976 – Founding Member - CEMA University (Centro de Estudios Macroeconómicos de Argentina), Buenos Aires, Argentina.

1982 - 1984 – Visiting Scholar, UC Berkeley.

1982 – Begins project to make Argentine wines that can stand with the best of the world.

1992 to present – Brings French plant selections of Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay and studies their adaptation to high-altitude Mendoza.

1992 – Releases first Catena wines to USA.

1994 – Begins planting of Adrianna Vineyard Gualtallary, at 1500 meters, – highest Malbec vineyard in Mendoza – defying perception that Malbec can not ripen there.

1995 – 1992 Catena Cabernet Sauvignon (91pts), first Argentine wine to obtain over 90 points in Wine Spectator.

1999 – Nicolás Catena Zapata 1997 Cabernet Sauvignon–Malbec released through historic comparative tastings with some of the best wines of the world.

1990's to present – 6 wines in top 100 of Wine Spectator; more than 120 wines rated over 90 points by Wine Spectator.

2000 – First vintage of Caro Wine, made in partnership with Baron Eric de Rotschild, Château Lafite Rothschild.

2009 – Decanter Man of the Year Award.

2011 – Lifetime Achievement Award, Der Feinschmecker - Germany's leading food and wine magazine .

2012 – Distinguished Service Award - Wine Spectator.

Bodega Catena Zapata Calle Cobos s/n, Agrelo, Mendoza Argentina www.catenazapata.com -info@catenazapata.com