Though Lionel Messi hasn’t played soccer, or football, in his home country of Argentina for some time, today he is clearly the hero of the football-loving nation. He is being celebrated for his dynamic two-goal scoring finally in Sunday’s World Cup finale. And if you missed it, you missed quite the show! (We highly recommend a YouTube visit to catch the highlights).

As we love Argentina’s wines as much as we loved watching the 35-year-old dynamo win his first World Cup, we raise our glass of Argentine wine to the star, toasting with Catena Alta’s stunning Historic Rows Chardonnay. From high-elevation, Catena family vineyards, including Adrianna, at almost 5,000 feet elevation, and Domingo, at 3,700 feet elevation, both ideally suited for producing high-quality Chardonnay fruit. Rich and warming while bringing structure, intensity, and power (much like Messi), the wine is 100% barrel fermented and aged in partially new French oak with aggressive battonage or stirring of the lees. With well-rounded wine layers of golden citrus, ripe apple, pear, creamy honey, fresh cream, hazelnut, and toasted allspice. A delicious, inviting wine, perfect with your holiday dinner of roasted turkey, a feast of the seven fishes, or even a crown roast of pork.

#Cheers and bravo to Messi!