Catena Zapata — Attraction in Mendoza

Catena is the Royalty of Argentine Wine - and for good reason.

The setting for the pyramid is simply spectacular. The Andean views out of the front door are simply gorgeous. The interior is, well, pyramidy above ground but the cellar and winemaking facilities are the attraction. We didn’t realize that the main facility within the pyramid is given to wine research and development. They use dozens of different fermentation and storage vessels (barrels, eggs, etc) to research different winemaking practices.

We work in the wine industry and can be a bit jaded about another tour of a barrel room. However, Carolina Fuller spent a full hour taking us around and answering specific wine-making questions. She is not a carbon copy mouthpiece of a corporate winery - she was amazing.

Catena must have the widest breadth of quality wine in the world. From weekday wine to multi hundred dollar single vineyard bottles. The difference is that their wines deserve the price point - some of the wines are extraordinarily.

We had a personal tasting from Richard Gordon that featured maybe one of the best wines I’ve ever had. Wow

The only complaint that I’ve heard from other people is that they can’t get an appointment. I see why...

I decided to bump this rating up to 3 stars as I made a hasty 1 star review immediately after visiting this winery. The property is absolutely beautiful, and the people are very friendly. Those are the only 2 reasons to visit this winery in my opinion. I could get most of the wine we tried in the US, so traveling to Mendoza to visit this winery was a bit of a waste. The higher end wines that we wanted to try (and haven't seen in the US) were not offered - we even asked about a payed tasting to have them, and the answer was still, "no". The icing on the cake though - even if you do like a wine you try - they do not offer any shipping options. You'd be limited to what you could legally carry home in your bags. I'd seriously have given 4-5 stars if they offered a higher end tasting (even if it is a paid tasting) and shipping. Plenty of other wineries in the area have tiered tastings and shipping options. They may not have the cool architecture that Catena Zapata has, but they are...

Visiting Catena Zapata was an extraordinary experience. They exemplify the clear vision of a family business committed to bringing Argentine wine to the highest level of quality, variety, and research, and sharing this with the world. The winery is an architectural gem that pays homage to the Mayan culture. Its wines are gems in Mendoza that deserve to be discovered and enjoyed. The hospitality team's attention was unbeatable. Pablo explained the wines with the passion any family member would have, but Daniel ultimately finished with a flourish by showing us a distillery that in five years will proclaim to the world that good things come to those who wait. Catena Zapata is a must-see if you come to Mendoza, and if not, it's worth the trip to experience this magnificent project, a blend of extraordinary wines, art, architecture, gastronomy, culture, and the...