Catena Zapata is on Cobos s/n, Agrelo, Luján de Cuyo. You’ll recognize it by the building, which is shaped like a Mayan pyramid. Probably the most photographed winery in Mendoza.
The winery was founded by Nicolás Catena Zapata, who bet on high altitude Malbec vineyards back in the 1990s when most of that grape was still going into bulk table wine. That bet worked. The family now farms vineyards in both Agrelo and the Uco Valley.
They produce several lines: Catena and Catena Alta are the ones you’ll find in most export markets. Their top bottle is Nicolás Catena Zapata, a Cabernet-Malbec blend. White Bones and White Stones are two single-vineyard Chardonnays worth trying if you’re into whites.
Visits are by reservation only and they fill up fast, especially from October to March. The tour covers the winery and ends with a guided tasting. Everything is well run. This is a large operation, not a small family cellar, so expect a professional setup.
The winery is about 25 minutes south of Mendoza city. We include it in our Luján de Cuyo wine tours, usually paired with two or three other wineries and a long lunch.
