Catena Zapata winery has repeatedly swept awards from Decanter, Wine Spectator and Wine Enthusiast for its quality and style. Chardonnay Alta - Catena Zapata belongs to the "most popular wine brand in the world", as declared in 2022 by Drinks International and the 2023 vintage scored 94pts from James Suckling!
in 1902 by Nicola Catena and stood out for the way it managed to highlight the exceptional terroirs of Argentina at very high altitudes, at the foot of the Andes in Mendoza. He was the first to grow the famous Argentine Malbec, but he soon discovered the excellent performance of other varieties, such as Chardonnay. Today the winery is run by the fourth generation of the family and through the philosophy of "High Altitude Vineyards", it has become a huge name in Argentine viticulture and one of the largest vineyard owners in the region.
In the Catena Alta wine series, the grapes come from the winery's highest vineyards, at an altitude of almost 1500 meters. This is so rare that it actually had to be labeled on the wine and thus got the name 'Alta' which means ‘high’ in Spanish! The famous Adrianna and Domingo vineyards are considered the Grand Cru of South America because they combine elements that are not found elsewhere in Mendoza. Calcareous soils and cool climate, it is "the garden of Eden" for Chardonnay, where it gives its best fruity and mineral character!
For Chardonnay Alta - Catena Zapata we have whole cluster pressing and then fermentation with ambient yeasts under controlled temperatures, in 500 liter French oak barrels. After that it matures in French oak barrels (1st, 2nd and 3rd use) for 14 months. 70% of the wine goes through malolactic conversion, which means simply, awesome buttery mouthfeel and at the same time fruity aromas that make you wonder if you want to drink it or eat it!
Winery experts claim that the best time to drink a Catena Chardonnay Alta is 3 years after harvest (ie now!) and within the next two decades. And we intend to listen to them!
