Catena Zapata: Experience the world’s best winery tour according to the world’s best vineyards | Mendoza | Argentina | Alcohol | Vineyards | World’s Best Vineyards | Wine Industry | Advantage

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Founded in 1902, it is the oldest family winery in Argentina and is widely celebrated for its pioneering role in the international recognition of the Malbec variety, one of the country’s most classic. “One of the big changes Nicolas (Catena) made was to start understanding that to achieve a good wine, you have to look at the process from its cultivation in the vineyard,” explained Carolina Fuller, the brand’s head of hospitality. .

The first thing that grabs your attention when you arrive is The Pyramid, which as they say is not the first choice for families. At first, designs were solicited from renowned architects, but none seemed to represent Latin America, which Nicolás Catana was looking for.

“Nicolas took a trip with his family to Guatemala, where he fell in love with the Mayan construction, the pyramid of the Temple of the Great Jaguar. It represented more of Latin America to them, and they decided to make it that way,” Fuller adds. Indeed, in the middle of the vineyard stands out the magnificent construction, which seems to break the natural environment, but in a very curious and, to a certain extent, harmonious way. Construction began in 1998 and opened in April 2001.

The interior is not expected: spacious, bright and with a staircase system in the center of the same construction, it connects four levels. You can start by learning a little about the history of the winery and visiting the Bodega de Barcelas, where the grapes are grown from small plots located in high-altitude vineyards. At this point, we know the various special tanks that wine can work in. “It depends on what the winemaker wants to do with the wine, you choose whether to work with the barrel, sphere, jars or amphora, each one gives you a different stamp on the taste,” explains Carolina.

It should be noted that thanks to the work of the Catena team, they have more wines with 100 points (perfect score) than any other winery in South America and the Adriana vineyard is recognized at 1,500 meters above sea level. Gran Kru of South America.

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In the mid-60s, he took control of the family winery, where his grandfather and father made wine with old Italian traditions. Although this wine revolution started with Nicolas Cadena Zapata (and wouldn’t have been possible without it), his daughter Laura Cadena and the brand’s oenology director, Alejandro Vigil, have been able to elevate the experience of enjoying their wines and sustain it. A benchmark based on quality and taste in each chip. He is the General Director and Founder of Catana Institute of Wine.

The company’s mission, together with the Catena Enology and Viticulture team, is to create wines of the highest quality, capable of competing with the best in the world, thus positioning Argentina as one of the best wine regions. Also, according to Fuller, scientific knowledge generated through research and development programs is shared with the scientific and wine communities.

“The company employs 7 to 8 agronomists and oenologists, of which there are only 4 of this type in the world. Although it is a private company, the knowledge generated here is shared in scientific journals. Everything we say about the wines at Catena Zapata is because we studied at the company, ” notes Fuller as we progress through the tour.

Storage space for wines can also be found on the ground floor in impressive barrels. A beautiful corridor emerges where you can see workers checking the wines and making sure conditions such as temperature and humidity are adequate. Additionally, a tasting area is located nearby and has a glorious view of the barrels. Around the central staircase are various niches where precious wines and private collections are housed.

Precisely in one of these cellars, we learn a little more about Angelica, the mother of Nicolas Catena, educator and director of the school at an early age. “He was determined that all his children should have an education, and that was the legacy he wanted to leave to the children: education,” says Fuller.

On the second, third and fourth levels, you will find different rooms that receive different groups of visitors: from tourists interested in wine to experts who come to learn a little more about the activity carried out there. Even the chefs visit the winery and work with restaurants around the world. The panoramic views of the vineyards will take your breath away and allow you to enjoy them in silence.

What’s new from Catena Zapata

One of the new experiences is their other large building, Angelica – where the cocina maestro is located and the beautiful cellar where they make aperitifs like grappa or vermouth. The proposal in this restaurant is simple but no less complex: it is created to showcase the brand’s wines and to know what to add to them to give them the best chance in the mouth.

That said, all the ingredients used here are designed to pair with some of the brand’s wines, so the experience is more guided with a 7-step menu. For example, they have the ability to create menu accommodations for people with lactose sensitivity or gluten allergy.

To get to the appetizer section, you walk along a beautiful path where you can learn a little more about the Catena Zapata family through photos, texts and specially selected works of art. At the end of this corridor is a beautiful dome with obsidian glass at the base, surprising in its design.

In the old cellar, vermouth and grappa are now made, among other delicious appetizers – which we were able to try. Additionally, in this segment, we’ve got a tasting spot to learn more about three of the brand’s most interesting labels.

We were able to taste Angélica Zapata, a very smooth, fresh chardonnay with interesting notes on the palate. Next up was Nicolas Catena Bonarta, a red wine with a very interesting body for considerable aging. Finally, my favorite is the Malbec Catena Zapata, very classic and elegant, but still surprising in its taste, excellent level of acidity and perfect to enjoy alone or with a good meal.

know Catena Zapata This is one of those milestones, because here you learn not only the history of a family and its path in the world of wine. In general, the world knows about the potential of Argentine wine, and the passion can be seen in every detail, in every room, in every tour for the public, in every glass of wine.