Catena Zapata winery certainly stands out. A pyramid designed to represent a Mayan temple rises between the vines, signalling the resting place of one of Argentina’s most prized and best-known wineries. Now run by fourth-generation vigneron Laura Catena who inherited her father Nicolás Catena’s innovative spirit and vision, the flagship winery is based in Luján, but wines are increasingly coming from the Uco Valley. 

In fact, the Catena family are well known for putting super-premium Malbec from Gualtallary on the map, but equally as exciting from that same Adrianna vineyard is their glorious ‘White Bones’ and ‘White Stones’ Chardonnay duo. Cabernet Sauvignon has also always been a signature Catena variety, especially blended with Malbec in the celebrated ‘Nicolás Catena Zapata’. Although that’s not all, under the hand of Alejandro Vigil and his team innovation continues to flow from this iconic winery with new ventures in sweet wines, sparkling wine and even natural wine.

About Catena Zapata winery

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.

About Nicolás Catena Zapata

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).

About Laura Catena

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.

About the Catena Zapata vineyards

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.

Adrianna 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.

Domingo Vineyard

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.

Nicasia Vineyard

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.

Angélica Sur Vineyard

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.

La Pirámide Vineyard

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

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.

About Catena Zapata wines

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.

About the winemaker Alejandro Vigil

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.”

Visiting Catena Zapata winery

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.

Video on Catena Zapata family and winery

Interview with Laura Catena on Malbec and high altitude viticulture