Catena Zapata
Catena Zapata is a family-owned winery that has brought the Argentine Malbec variety worldwide fame. Based in Mendoza, the winery manages six historic vineyards of its own, located in the Luján de Cuyo and Uco Valley regions, including the “Adrianna” on the high-altitude slopes of Gualtallary, known as the “Grand Cru of South America.” Four generations have passed since its founding, but to this day the winery remains under the management of the Catena family and continues to focus primarily on Malbec grown in high-altitude vineyards.
From Nicola to Laura, four generations in Mendoza
The story begins in 1898, when Nicola Catena left Italy and set off for Argentina. In 1902, he planted Malbec grapes for the first time in Mendoza. At that time, in Bordeaux, Malbec was still viewed primarily as a blending grape, but Nicola intuitively sensed that at the foot of the Andes, this variety could realize its potential in a different way.
His son, Domingo, inherited the winery and transformed it into one of Mendoza’s largest wine estates. It was Domingo’s son, Nicolás Catena Zapata, who restructured the family business and, ultimately, transformed the entire Argentine wine industry.
After spending the early 1980s in California, Nicolás returned to his homeland, convinced that Mendoza could produce wines on par with the world’s best, and steered the winery toward growing high-quality grapes in high-altitude vineyards. Since then, he has been named “Man of the Year” by *Decanter* magazine and has received numerous other awards, including the “Distinguished Service Award” from *Wine Spectator* magazine.
Currently, his daughter Laura Catena serves as the winery’s managing director. She represents the fourth generation of the family, holds a medical degree, and founded the Catena Institute of Wine in 1995. Today, this institute serves as a research division that plays a central role in the winery’s operations.
Six estates, from Agrelo to Gualtallary
Catena Zapata sources grapes from its six historic vineyards, located in different parts of Mendoza: Angélica, La Pirámide, Nicasia, Domingo, Adrianna, and Angélica Sur. The main winery, whose building, styled after a Mayan pyramid, catches the eye of visitors, is located in Agrelo, in the Luján de Cuyo wine region. Of special interest is the "Adrianna" vineyard, located in Gualtallary, on the high-altitude plots of the Uco Valley at an elevation of about 1,500 meters. Many professional wine reviewers and experts refer to this place as the “Grand Cru of South America”; wines produced here include “Mundus Bacillus Terrae Malbec,” as well as the Chardonnays “White Bones” and “White Stones.” Each of the other estates also plays an important role. The “Angélica” estate in Maipú is home to this winery’s oldest Malbec vines, “La Pirámide” is situated as if to encircle the winery in Agrelo, and “Nicasia” is located in La Consulta in the Uco Valley. Thanks to this combination of factors, the winemaking team can really incorporate the different terroirs in their blends.
What altitude does to Malbec
All of Catena Zapata's operations are centered around a single concept, “extremely high-altitude regions with a desert climate.” Mendoza is a high-altitude, arid region characterized by intense solar radiation, cold nights, and extremely low precipitation. Meltwater from the Andes is used to irrigate the vineyards.
The "Adrianna" vineyard is a prime example of this. In this area, located at an altitude of nearly 1,500 meters, the days are clear, and temperatures drop sharply at night, which slows the ripening of the grapes and helps preserve their acidity. This is precisely why this vineyard produces the Malbec “Mundus Bacillus Terrae,” renowned for its freshness and refinement, as well as a Chardonnay whose flavor is completely different from that of white wines grown in warmer climates.
The soil varies depending on the plot. Even within the "Adrianna" plot, there are areas dominated by limestone and calcium carbonate deposits (the “White Bones” and “White Stones” sections), as well as areas mixed with alluvial gravel soils. The Catena Institute has been conducting this research for many years and publishes peer-reviewed articles on the chemical characteristics of the terroir, the soil microbiome, and sunlight conditions in high-altitude regions in scientific journals, including *Scientific Reports*, part of the *Nature* journal network.
Science in the cellar
Currently, Alejandro Vigil oversees wine production at Catena Zapata, while Laura Catena oversees the entire project. Their approach differs from others in that it is grounded in scientific research. Founded in 1995, the Catena Institute of Wine collaborates with the University of Bordeaux, the University of Burgundy, the University of California, Davis, and the Argentine research center CONICET, addressing issues such as the selection of Massale varieties, old vines, ungrafted vines, and low-sulfite winemaking.
In practice, this means meticulous work with each individual vineyard block. Since “Adrianna” is grown and produced on small plots, the team can clearly bring out the individual character of the grapes grown on a single row. Blended wines, such as “Nicolás Catena Zapata” (a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec named after Nicolás Catena Zapata), are created by blending grapes from different estates.
In addition, the wine portfolio has expanded over the years. In addition to the flagship red wine, the winery now produces a full-bodied Chardonnay from “Adrianna” grapes, and under Vigil’s leadership, the team is also experimenting with the production of sparkling, sweet, and even natural wines.
The range of wines
Catena Zapata's product range is quite diverse: from the widely available Malbec to those few single-vineyard wines that fall into the highest price category even in Argentina. Although Malbec is the main variety, Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay also play an important role, and white wines such as “Adrianna,” “White Bones,” and “White Stones,” attract no less interest than the reds.
Catena Zapata offers from this line-up two top-tier wines:
- “Nicolás Catena Zapata”: a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec, named after the man who transformed the winery and the Argentine wine industry.
- “Adrianna Vineyard Mundus Bacillus Terrae”: This is a Malbec from a specific plot of the “Adrianna” vineyard, named after the soil bacteria discovered on that plot.
These two wines are at the top of the range among those produced by Catena Zapata. The remaining wines in the lineup (the Catena, Catena Alta, and DV Catena series, as well as other wines from specific plots of the “Adrianna” vineyard) rank immediately below or are on par with them.
Frequently asked questions
Who owns Catena Zapata?
The Catena family. It has been family-owned since Nicola Catena founded it in 1898, and is now run by the fourth generation under Laura Catena, with her father Nicolás Catena Zapata still involved.
Where is the winery based?
In Agrelo, in the Luján de Cuyo sub-appellation of Mendoza, Argentina. The building itself is designed to look like a Mayan pyramid and is a landmark in the region.
What is Adrianna Vineyard?
A high-altitude vineyard in Gualtallary, in the Uco Valley, at close to 1,500 metres. It's the source of Catena Zapata's most sought-after wines, including Mundus Bacillus Terrae, White Bones and White Stones, and has been called the Grand Cru of South America.
Who makes the wines?
Alejandro Vigil is the head winemaker, working alongside Laura Catena. Research direction comes from the Catena Institute of Wine, which Laura founded in 1995.
