Bodega Catena Zapata is the Mendoza winery that led Argentina's move from bulk wine to world-class Malbec. Four generations on, its wines range from the classic Catena Malbec to the high-altitude single-parcel bottlings of the Adrianna Vineyard.
Catena Zapata: four generations of Mendoza Malbec
The story starts with Nicola Catena, an Italian immigrant who planted his first Malbec vineyard in Mendoza in 1902. His son Domingo grew the family business, but it was his grandson, Nicolás Catena Zapata, an economist by training, who changed its direction in the 1980s. Inspired by what he had seen in California, he decided to make Argentine wine that could stand beside the best of Bordeaux and Burgundy, and he started by looking for cooler vineyard sites.
That search led up the slopes of the Andes. Today the family's vineyards range from Agrelo in Luján de Cuyo to the Uco Valley, and the winery itself, a pyramid inspired by Mayan architecture, opened in Agrelo in 2001. Nicolás's daughter Laura Catena now leads the estate alongside him.
Adrianna Vineyard: Catena Zapata's high-altitude grand cru
In 1992 Catena planted the Adrianna Vineyard high in Gualtallary in the Uco Valley, a site that experts said was too cold to ripen grapes. It became the estate's most celebrated vineyard, with limestone-rich soils, cool nights and intense mountain sunlight. Each parcel is now bottled separately. Mundus Bacillus Terrae Malbec comes from a small plot of limestone and ancient marine deposits, rich in soil bacteria, and shows spice, violets and a savoury, mineral edge. Fortuna Terrae Malbec grows on deeper, loamy soils and is darker in fruit, with bright acidity and floral lift.
Nicolás Catena Zapata, Nicasia and Catena Alta
The flagship Nicolás Catena Zapata is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec, made to show that Argentine Cabernet can age like a great Bordeaux. The 2018 is deep and polished, with cassis, graphite and a long, firm finish. Nicasia Malbec, named after Nicolás's grandmother, is a single-vineyard Malbec with ripe black fruit and fine tannins.
Catena Alta is made from the family's historic rows across several high-altitude vineyards. Catena Alta Malbec is concentrated and layered, and Catena Alta Chardonnay is one of the best whites in South America, with citrus, white peach and a mineral, saline finish. For everyday drinking, Catena Malbec and Catena Cabernet Sauvignon offer the house style at its most approachable.
Food pairing and serving
Malbec is made for grilled meat: serve the Catena and Catena Alta Malbecs with steak, lamb chops or empanadas at 16 to 18°C. The Adrianna wines and Nicolás Catena Zapata benefit from an hour in a decanter when young and pair well with slow-roasted beef or game. Catena Alta Chardonnay suits roast chicken, grilled fish and creamy pasta.
Discover more in our Malbec collection, explore Mendoza and Argentina, or compare with Cabernet Sauvignon from other regions.
Catena Zapata FAQ
Is Catena Malbec the same as Catena Zapata?
Yes. Catena Malbec is the entry point of Bodega Catena Zapata's range. Catena Alta, the Adrianna Vineyard wines and Nicolás Catena Zapata sit above it.
What is special about the Adrianna Vineyard?
It is one of the highest and coolest vineyards in Mendoza, in Gualtallary in the Uco Valley. Its limestone soils and cool climate give Malbec and Chardonnay unusual freshness and minerality.
What grapes are in Nicolás Catena Zapata?
It is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec. The proportions change from vintage to vintage.
Are El Enemigo and Caro part of Catena Zapata?
No. El Enemigo is a separate winery founded by Adrianna Catena with winemaker Alejandro Vigil, and Caro is a joint venture between the Catena family and Domaines Barons de Rothschild (Lafite). Neither is included in this collection.
How long can Catena Zapata wines age?
Catena Malbec is best within five years. Catena Alta can age for ten years or more, and the Adrianna wines and Nicolás Catena Zapata for twenty or more in good vintages.