The 7 Wineries of Mendoza That Rival Bordeaux and Napa
Chapter 1: Catena Zapata — The Mayan Pyramid of High-Altitude Luxury
1. Catena Zapata — The Grand Pioneer of Agrelo
Rising out of the Agrelo vineyards like a majestic Mayan pyramid, Bodega Catena Zapata is the spiritual birthplace of modern South American fine wine. Founded in 1902 by Italian immigrant Nicola Catena, it was his grandson, Dr. Nicolás Catena, who risked everything in the late 1980s by planting vines at 5,000 feet elevation in Gualtallary—a region French viticulturists declared too cold for grapes.
The Signature Bottle: Catena Zapata Adrianna Vineyard 'River Stones' Malbec (Consistently awarded 99-100 points by Robert Parker and James Suckling).
Visitor Experience: A private tour takes you through subterranean cellars before a curated tasting in the glass tower overlooking the Andes.