Decanter has chosen Nicolás Catena Man of the Year 2009, crediting him with changing the direction of Argentina's wine industry.
In the April issue of Decanter, the pioneering winemaker and force behind Argentina's Catena Wines tells Anthony Rose how he was considered 'mad' when in the early 1990s he decided to plant in the Uco Valley, at 1,440 meters. Since then, he has become a leader for experimenting with clones and microclimates, the better to exploit this 'New World El Dorado' in the Andean foothills.
'He has been instrumental in changing the Argentinian wine scene more than anybody else, pushing it towards high quality and intelligent marketing,' said Baron Eric de Rothschild.
While a PhD student of economics and mathematics at Columbia University, Catena drank Blue Nun, Soave Bolla and Undurraga, but was exposed to Chateaux Latour, Lafite and Margaux by the Argentine consul in New York, who periodically invited him to lunch. He spent his late 20s and 30s moving between academe and the family wine business, but it was the latter that ultimately called to him.
'Nicolas Catena has such a zest for life and love of wine – but also great wisdom,' said Francis Ford Coppola.
'It's a pleasure to offer my admiration and congratulations to him.'
Catena's confidence and entrepreneurial spirit were borne of an immigrant work ethic instilled in the family by his grandfather Nicola, who emigrated from Italy and settled in Mendoza at the end of the 19th century.
'Then, there was virtually no knowledge or understanding of viticulture,' said
Catena, 'but my grandfather chose Malbec because even at that time it was considered the best, most reliable variety.'
A visit to Robert Mondavi in the early 1980s and an introduction to Jacques Lurton (to whom he sent a wedding gift of 1,000 pounds of Argentine beef) eventually convinced him that his own fortunes - as well as those of Argentina - lay in planting on higher, cooler ground.
'In Argentina, the physical composition of soils is not relevant because humidity is controlled through irrigation,' says Catena.
'The relevant terroir factors affecting aroma and flavour are temperature, which
depends on the latitude, and sunlight intensity, which depends on altitude.'
The past three Decanter Men of Year award were Christian Moueix in 2008, Anthony Barton in 2007 and Marcel Guigal in 2006.
Decanter Men (and Women) of the Year 1984-2006
2008 Christian Moueix - Pomerol
2007 Anthony Barton - Bordeaux
2006 Marcel Guigal - Rhône
2005 Ernst Loosen - Mosel
2004 Brian Croser - Adelaide Hills
2003 Jean-Michel Cazes - Bordeaux
2002 Miguel Torres - Penedès
2001 Jean-Claude Rouzaud - Champagne
2000 Paul Draper - California
1999 Jancis Robinson MW - London
1998 Angelo Gaja - Piedmont
1997 Len Evans, OBE AO -Australia
1996 Georg Riedel - Austria
1995 Hugh Johnson - London
1994 May-Eliane de Lencquesaing - Bordeaux
1993 Michael Broadbent - London
1992 André Tchelistcheff - California
1991 José Ignacio Domecq - Jerez
1990 Prof Emile Peynaud - Bordeaux
1989 Robert Mondavi - California
1988 Max Schubert - Australia
1987 Alexis Lichine - Bordeaux
1986 Marchese Piero Antinori - Florence
1985 Laura and Corinne Mentzelopoulos - Bordeaux
1984 Serge Hochar - Lebanon
Read the full feature in Decanter magazine, April 2009 issue, on sale Wednesday 4 March, or subscribe now
Have your say... To post your comment on this story, email us at news@decanter.com, making sure the relevant headline is in the subject field
Register on decanter.com absolutely free for news alerts delivered direct to your email inbox, and our fortnightly newsletter with advance notice of what’s coming up in Decanter magazine, offers, competitions and more.
PLUS registration is a one-stop shop for the Decanter magazine Archive and Decanter Fine Wine Tracker.
Maggie Rosen