Catena Zapata


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Catena Zapata: 1. The Foundations (1898 – 1960) The Arrival: Nicola Catena left Italy for Argentina in 1898. Convinced he had found the "promised land," he planted his first Malbec vineyard in Mendoza in 1902. Domingo’s Vision: His son, Domingo, grew the business into one of the largest vineyard holdings in the region, firmly believing that Argentine Malbec could rival the best Bordeaux wines. 2. Crisis and the Turning Point (1960 – 1980) Economic Struggles: During the soaring inflation of the 1960s, the family struggled to survive. Nicolás, Domingo's son and a PhD in economics, even advised his father not to harvest one year to avoid further losses. Californian Inspiration: While a visiting scholar at UC Berkeley in the early 1980s, Nicolás witnessed the Napa Valley revolution challenging French supremacy. He returned to Mendoza with a new vision: to create world-class wines instead of bulk table wine. 3. The Nicolás Catena Zapata Revolution Extreme Altitude: Ignoring the advice of his managers, Nicolás pushed the limits by planting at higher, cooler elevations. He established the Adrianna vineyard at 5,000 feet, where the poor soils and cool climate produced elegant, balanced wines. The Malbec Bet: Initially skeptical, Nicolás made it his mission to prove his father’s intuition right after Domingo passed away. He meticulously selected the best Argentine Malbec clones (which outperformed French cuttings) to produce small, flavor-rich berries. 4. Global Recognition Critical Success: By the 1990s, his Malbecs were receiving high praise from international critics like Robert Parker. The Triumph (2001): The flagship Nicolás Catena Zapata 1997 was entered into blind tastings in the US and Europe. It placed first or second against legendary wines like Château Latour and Opus One, definitively putting Argentina on the map of the world's greatest wines.