Bodega Catena Zapata
Bodega Catena Zapata was founded by Nicola Catena in 1902 after he immigrated to Mendoza, Argentina from The Marches, Italy. Nicola's son Domingo took over the family business and was joined by Domingo's son Nicolás in 1963. Together they worked to expand the family business, and by 1976 Catena was selling 20 million bottles of wine per month in Argentina alone.
In 1982, Nicolás returned from a trip to Napa Valley with a new vision in mind -- to make Bodega Catena Zapata the Argentine leader in quality wine. When Nicolás returned he immediately sold the table wine producing part of Catena and kept only Bodegas Esmerelda, the premium winemaking branch of the family business. He organized research groups to study the various microclimates of Mendoza to determine the best locations for growing Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay and the family grape of choice, Malbec.
Catena invested heavily in high altitude vineyards closer to the base of the Andes Mountains. The new vineyards ranged from 3100 feet at Uxmal Vineyard to 3870 feet at Altamira Vineyard to 5000 feet at Adrianna Vineyard (named after Nicolás’ daughter), and the soil is made up of alluvial deposits (clay, silt and gravel). When Domingo passed away in 1985, Nicolás vowed to fulfill his father's vision to place Argentine Malbec among the world's most coveted red wines. Today, Nicolás’ is working with his daughter Laura to bring this vision to fruition.
Bodega Catena Zapata produces wine under four labels: Nicolás Catena Zapata, Catena Alta, Catena and Alamos.
Bodega Catena Zapata was the Winegeeks.com Producer of the Month in July, 2005.
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Wines (9)
| Bodega Catena Zapata Malbec Mendoza 2005 | Mendoza | Red | |
| Bodega Catena Zapata Cabernet Sauvignon Mendoza 2002 | Mendoza | Red | |
| Bodega Catena Zapata Malbec Mendoza 2002 | Mendoza | Red | |
| Bodega Catena Zapata Chardonnay Mendoza 2003 | Mendoza | White | |
| Bodega Catena Zapata Alamos Merlot NV | Mendoza | Red | |
| Bodega Catena Zapata Alamos Malbec Mendoza 2004 | Mendoza | Red | |
| Bodega Catena Zapata Alamos Chardonnay Mendoza 2004 | Mendoza | White | |
| Bodega Catena Zapata Alamos Malbec Mendoza 2003 | Mendoza | Red | |
| Bodega Catena Zapata Alamos Malbec Mendoza 2002 | Mendoza | Red |