The guide to the best wineries in Argentina, including all the top wineries to visit in Mendoza, Salta, Rio Negro, Chubut, Patagonia and Buenos Aires.
In our ultimate guide to the wineries in Argentina you will find all the information you need to know related to wineries, wine tourism, winery restaurants and wine hotels in Argentina’s wine regions, including Mendoza, Salta and Patagonia.
Casarena winery is one of the most-recognised single vineyard producers in Luján de Cuyo, with a focus on distinctive terroirs in the traditional cradle of Malbec. Another feather to their bow is their beautiful Casa Naoki guest house in the middle of their Naoki vineyard – a highlight of luxury wine tourism in Mendoza.
Within the Casarena range, you’ll find some precise and focused Malbec wines but also some of the region’s top Cabernet Sauvignon. Other highlights are the Cabernet Franc and Brut Nature bubbles. The Dartley family, who own Casarena, also have another line of wines made from Luján de Cuyo – their playful Mythic range, which often focuses on blends.
Casarena has made it their mission to put not only the quality wines of Luján on the map, but also enamour visitors with the region’s charms through their fine dining restaurant and luxurious wine lodge, Casa Naoki.
The winery is in the heart of Perdriel within the Jamilla vineyard, in a handsomely restored bodega constructed in 1937. Specialising in single vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Malbec, among other varieties, the polished wines all come from their four Luján estates which are named after the grandchildren of the family — Naoki, Lauren, Owen and Jamilla.
In the Naoki vineyard in Agrelo you’ll find Casa Naoki, the Dartley family’s sumptuous guest house which can be exclusively hired for a memorable stay with a stunning Andean view and infinity pool that appears to drop off into the vineyard.
One of the best known wineries in Argentina, Catena Zapata is a family-owned winery in Agrelo in Luján de Cuyo but with vineyards throughout Mendoza. The striking winery structure of a pyramid-like design is based on Mayan architecture, and is a landmark visible from many vineyards around the appellation.
The original family winery was founded in 1902 by Italian immigrant Nicola Catena and was passed to his son Domingo. Domingo’s son, Nicolás Catena Zapata, was one of the first to introduce certain European and US winemaking techniques to Argentina and was instrumental in putting high-altitude Malbec from Mendoza on the map. Currently, Laura Catena, his daughter and the fourth generation of the family, runs the winery. She also established the Catena Institute of Wine, which focuses on the study of terroir, sustainability and other research findings that will help further elevate Mendoza as a world-class wine region.
Third generation vintner Nicolás Catena Zapata has been revolutionary not only in his family’s wine business but also in the Argentine wine industry. He was literally born in the family vineyard in Rivadavia in eastern Mendoza in 1939. “My mother never made it to the hospital,” he says. “I was born between the vines in our family home!”
He started by doing his childhood chores in the vineyard, but was also an aspiring academic and economist and in his 20s he went to study a PhD in Business Economics at Columbia University in New York. He returned home and took the reins of the family winery but in the early 1980s Nicolás got an opportunity to become a visiting scholar of economics at the University of California at Berkeley. It was here that he was inspired by the quality wine revolution happening in Napa, and Nicolás returned to Mendoza with a vision for making high-quality wines which were worthy of export.
He began planting in higher locations, looking for cooler temperatures, and planted the Adrianna vineyard – at over 1,400 metres elevation. As well as leading a high-altitude revolution in Mendoza, he also brought in new technology and expertise from the US and Europe which radically changed winemaking at the time.
His contributions to changing the wine industry have earned him the distinguished accolades of Decanter Man of the Year (Decanter Magazine, 2009), Life Time Achievement Award (Der Feinschmecker, 2011), Distinguished Service Award (Wine Spectator, 2012) and Wine Personality Award of the last decade (10° Argentina Wine Awards, 2016).
Dr. Laura Catena is a fourth generation vintner, physician and author. She was born in Mendoza and spent her childhood with her grandfather Domingo at the family’s winery in the small village of La Libertad. Laura graduated magna cum laude from Harvard University in 1988 and has a Medical Doctor degree from Stanford University. In 1995 Laura joined her father Nicolás Catena Zapata at the family winery and founded the Catena Institute of Wine with the vision of making Argentine wines that could stand with the best of the world.
She is currently managing director of Bodega Catena Zapata and works closely with Winemaking Director Alejandro Vigil and Vineyard Manager Luis Reginato to make the vineyard selections and blends for the family’s wines. Laura is also founder of her own Luca Winery in Mendoza, Argentina, as well as a practicing part-time physician of Emergency Medicine in San Francisco. Laura splits her time between Mendoza, Argentina and San Francisco, California.
Laura’s life obsession is to learn more about high altitude viticulture, the vineyard soil microbiome and wine ageability.
Today, the wines of Catena Zapata are sourced from six historic estate vineyards: Angélica, La Pirámide, Nicasia, Domingo, Adrianna and Angélica Sur. Each of the Catena Zapata family vineyards is divided into parcels according to their soil composition. These parcels are farmed individually, with an eye on encouraging their most authentic fruit expression.
Catena introduced one of the first Sustainability Codes to Argentina’s wine industry and farm all their vineyards sustainably and organically in most cases, focusing on lower yields and greater biodiversity in the vineyard.
First planted in 1992 in Gualtallary in the Uco Valley, the Adrianna Vineyard is at an average of 1,450 m.a.s.l. and the soils are alluvial with gravels and a limestone topsoil. The main varieties planted here are Malbec, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Viognier and Cabernet Franc.
Planted in 1992 in Villa Bastías in the Uco Valley, the Domingo Vineyard is at an average of 1,120 m.a.s.l.. The soil composition is dense surface gravel with loam and limestone in the subsoil. Here the main varieties are Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Cabernet Franc.
Planted in 1996 in La Consulta in the Uco Valley, the Nicasia Vineyard is at an average of 1,095 m.a.s.l. with shallow, loamy soil and some gravel on the surface. The main varieties are Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Chardonnay and Syrah.
In El Cepillo in Eugenio Bustos in the Uco Valley, the Angélica Sur Vineyard was planted in 2005 and is at an average of 1,090 m.a.s.l. The soil is loamy alluvial with dense surface gravel, and the main varieties are Malbec, Petit Verdot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc.
In Agrelo in Luján de Cuyo, La Pirámide Vineyard is one of the flagship vineyards of the family – planted in 1983 and surrounding the winery. The vineyard is at an average of 950 m.a.s.l. and has alluvial loam soil. Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot are the main varieties.
Angélica Vineyard is the oldest vineyard of the family, with vines planted circa 1930 in Lunlunta in Maipú. The soils are light gravel, clay and loam, and sit at an average 920 m.a.s.l. Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon are the varieties planted.
Catena Zapata has a diverse portfolio of wines. Here are the main lines for the export market:
The icon wines of the winery include first and foremost Nicolás Catena Zapata, a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec which has been one of Argentina’s most prized red wines since its first release in 1997. Malbec Argentino is another iconic wine of the winery which represents the family’s search for the optimum Malbec expression. Nicasia Vineyard is a Malbec specifically from the Nicasia vineyard, which was always Nicolás Catena’s father Domingo’s prefered Malbec location.
The other modern icons of the winery are the Adrianna Vineyard wines, which includes the incredible duo of Chardonnay wines – White Bones and White Stones – as well as three elegant and distinctive Malbec wines – River Stones, Fortuna Terrae and Mundus Bacillus – which each represent select lots in the vineyard.
Catena Alta is another super premium line which includes Malbec, Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon, followed by the Catena line with the same varieties. Catena Appellation is an interesting line because it focuses on certain varieties for their suitability to certain appellations, and the latest addition to the portfolio is DV Catena Tinto Histórico which blends four vineyards and blends Malbec with Bonarda and Petit Verdot.
Catena Zapata also produces a range of other white and red wines, sparkling wines, and also natural wines in different lines.
Alejandro Vigil is one of Argentina’s most respected winemakers. Born in Mendoza, he studied Masters in winemaking and irrigation management and worked at INTA doing soil analysis for several years. In 2002, he started at Catena Zapata as Head of Research & Development and the following year started making the top wines of the winery, becoming Winemaking Director in 2007.
In 2013, Alejandro was named Decanter Magazine’s Power List and under his
direction as Head Winemaker Catena Zapata has received six 100-point ratings from world’s most renowned wine critics including Robert Parker and James Suckling.
“Winemaking is a way of life that revolves around the contact with nature and a true love for the work,” says Alejandro. “To produce ‘wines of place,’ one needs to breathe the same air as the vine, suffer the cold and the heat, and feel a sense of belonging to that place.”
As one of the most sought-after winery visits in Mendoza, you’ll need to book ahead to visit Catena Zapata. There are three different tastings available, each led by specialised guides:
Catena Pyramid Visit: The visit starts with a welcome drink at La Pirámide followed by a walking tour through the barrel room and vineyards. A tasting of Catena Alta Chardonnay, D.V. Catena Vineyard Designated La Pirámide Cabernet Sauvignon and D.V. Catena Vineyard Designated Nicasia Malbec then follows. The experience lasts 1.5 hours approximately.
Renaissance of Malbec Visit: This tour is based on the history of Malbec. It starts with a visit to La Pirámide vineyard and an explanation about the Catena Institute of Wine, a guided barrel tasting and a tasting of Catena Alta Malbec, D.V. Catena Vineyard Designated Adrianna Malbec, Malbec Argentino and Nicolás Catena Zapata, served with a charcuterie board. The experience lasts 2 hours approximately.
Adrianna Vineyard Grand Cru Visit: This tour is focused on the single vineyard wines of the family’s prized Adrianna Vineyard, with a guided barrel tasting and four of the Parcel wines from Adrianna as well as Nicolás Catena Zapata, paired with tapas of regional products. The wines included in the tasting are Catena Zapata Adrianna Vineyard White Bones, Catena Zapata Adrianna Vineyard White Stones, Catena Zapata Adrianna Vineyard Fortuna Terrae, Catena Zapata Adrianna Vineyard River Stones and Nicolás Catena Zapata. The experience lasts 2.5 hours approximately.
After any of the tours and tastings you can visit the wine shop, which offers an unrivalled opportunity to buy library vintages of some of the wines.
Susana Balbo Wines, formerly Dominio del Plata, is the winery of Argentina’s first female winemaker, and one of the leaders of the industry today, Susana Balbo and her family. Known as the Queen of Torrontés, Balbo certainly pioneered the modern and fresh style of Argentina’s native white variety we know and love today, but she and her talented team of winemakers and viticulturists also make some of Argentina’s most exciting red wines – notably from Luján de Cuyo, where the winery and its restaurants are based, and the Uco Valley.
Susana Balbo Wines is the family winery of esteemed winemaker Susana Balbo and was established in 1999 under its former name, Dominio del Plata. Located in Luján de Cuyo, in the renowned red wine region of Agrelo, the winery is now run by Susana, her two children José and Ana, and her General Manager and one of Argentina’s top viticulturalists, Edy del Popolo.
One of the highest wineries in the world, Colome sits in the Upper Calchaquí valleys further into the foothills than Cafayate and ranging from 2,300 to 3,111 meters above sea level. Founded some 180 years ago, Colome is one of the oldest-running wineries in Argentina.
Colome may be historical, but the Hess family have since built a state-of-the-art modern winery with production headed up by French winemaker Thibaut Delmotte. They also bought Amalaya, in the (slightly more accessible!) village of Cafayate. Today Colomé and Amalaya are managed by the second-generation, Larissa and Christophe.
As expected from the region, their Torrontes is top-notch but you should also seek out some their reds to get a flavour of Malbec at altitude. Colome’s vineyards are managed with biodynamic and organic principals, although due to the tricky ants (whose nests are treated with pesticides) they are not certified.