Winemaking & viticulture researchers sharing wine science. Our method: science to preserve nature & culture. Founded in 1995 by Dr. @LauraCatena
Mendoza, Argentina
Joined May 2025
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We congratulate our colleague Silvina van Houten on successfully defending her master’s thesis on natural genetic variation in fruit set among Malbec grapevine clones. This work has already contributed to two scientific publications exploring Malbec and its potential adaptation to climate change.
Dr. Mariano Masiokas from @ianigla shared with us an insighfull session about El Niño and the potential scenarios associated with a particularly strong event, often referred to as a “Super El Niño.”
It was an opportunity for our technical to learn and ask questions to help us anticipate and plan for what could be a challenging season.
@LuisReginato1 @LauraCatena @alevigilmalbec
Budbreak brings Malbec diversity into focus. van Houten et al. (2020) found >16 days of variation from flowering to veraison among 21 Malbec clones. Catena Cuttings preserves diverse Malbec plant material for continued study.
— Fernando Buscema, Director
This week, the @WSETglobal Educators Trip visited Adrianna Vineyard in Gualtallary. Guillermina Van Houten, @royurvieta and @LuisReginato1 shared our work on terroir, soils, climate and altitude, followed by a tasting of Catena wines. Thank you for visiting! — Roy Urvieta
Catena Institute of Wine retweeted
𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐜𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝟓 𝐎𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔❕️ There is now less than two weeks to register for the 𝟒𝟕𝐭𝐡 𝐎𝐈𝐕 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐕𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐖𝐢𝐧𝐞
12-16 October 2026, Yinchuan, Ningxia, China.
ciwcte.nxputaocenter.com/win…
A lot’s happened at the Catena Institute of Wine over three decades.
Our new website brings it all together: our philosophy, 40+ peer-reviewed papers, research at Adrianna Vineyard, preservation initiatives, and our current research projects.
Come explore, and stay in touch with us at catenainstitute.com
Why does Argentina mark Winemaker’s Day on September 7? It commemorates Quinta Normal, the first school that trained early wine professionals. At the Catena Institute, we carry that legacy forward through science, research and winemaking. This week, we celebrate our team.
Science helps us document—and preserve—viticultural heritage.
In 1997, @UCDavis researchers used DNA markers to show that Cabernet Sauvignon is the progeny of Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc.
- @ferbuscema
Catena Institute of Wine retweeted
At @CatenaScience experiments like this are not about replacing nature with technology.
They are about understanding how climate conditions influence grape and wine quality, so we can better preserve nature, culture, and terroir in a changing climate.
How much shade is enough? We are comparing 17% and 50% shade nets with unnetted vines.
A preview of Miguel's work is featured in @SevenFiftyDaily. Check out the link: goo.su/gHgga
@LauraCatena @LuisReginato1 @alevigilmalbec
Jenifer Cugat, viticulture specialist.
How much shade is enough? We are comparing 17% and 50% shade nets with unnetted vines.
A preview of Miguel's work is featured in @SevenFiftyDaily. Check out the link: goo.su/gHgga
@LauraCatena @LuisReginato1 @alevigilmalbec
Jenifer Cugat, viticulture specialist.
On International Pinot Noir Day 🍇, we’re sharing a recent scientific paper published in Food Chemistry: X, developed in collaboration with @univbourgeurope.
Across 13 wine regions and 3 consecutive vintages, including Burgundy and the Uco Valley, we studied how Pinot Noir and Chardonnay respond across different climates, elevations, and levels of water availability.
This international study provides new insights into how these varieties respond across different environments, giving us valuable information to better understand and prepare for the challenges of a changing climate. - Roy Urvieta
@LauraCatena @alevigilmalbec @ferbuscema @royurvieta
#PinotNoirDay
Open-access scientific paper:
sciencedirect.com/science/ar…
Catena Institute of Wine retweeted
Las variedades criollas no son una nota al pie en la historia del vino argentino.
Son un reservorio vivo de diversidad genética, cultural y territorial.
Preservarlas no es nostalgia: es una forma de mantener abiertas opciones para el futuro de la viticultura.
¡Gran trabajo!
Did you know nearly 30% of Argentina’s vineyards are planted with #Criolla varieties? La Marchigiana explores old vines of Criolla varieties to preserve genetic diversity. This week in Buenos Aires, we shared our work at #ArgentinaReloaded. —Oriana Zamora, winemaker
Did you know nearly 30% of Argentina’s vineyards are planted with #Criolla varieties? La Marchigiana explores old vines of Criolla varieties to preserve genetic diversity. This week in Buenos Aires, we shared our work at #ArgentinaReloaded. —Oriana Zamora, winemaker
Today we honor our Viticulture team—experts in soil science, water management, and vineyard characterization. They run field trials, track vine water status, map soils, and conduct microvinifications—helping place Argentine viticulture at the forefront of global wine science.
1/2 Long-term science grows through trust, continuity, and genuine human bonds. At @ucdavis, we reconnected with the department’s three most recent chairs—Andy Waterhouse, Dave Block, and Ben Montpetit—around a shared purpose: using science to preserve nature and culture.
2/2 This year marks a first: four active joint projects. We also met Brianna Lopez, the latest recipient of the CIW–UC Davis internship—a new generation joining a relationship sustained across generations.
— @ferbuscema
