The Catena Zapata story begins in 1902, when Nicola Catena, an Italian immigrant from Le Marche, planted his first vines in Mendoza. Three generations later his grandson Nicolás Catena Zapata revolutionised Argentine winemaking by betting on high-altitude vineyards when nobody else would. His decision to plant the Adrianna Vineyard at 1,450 metres, deep in the Andes, defined the identity of modern Argentine Malbec. His daughter Laura, a doctor of biology and a winemaker, now leads the third wave: scientific research into terroir and single-vineyard wines that already belong to the global canon of fine wine.

Catena's vineyards spread between 900 and 1,500 metres across five strategic estates. The Adrianna Vineyard in Gualtallary (Uco Valley) is one of the most studied vineyards in the world: limestone soils over alluvial stones, a 20°C swing between day and night, and a unique Andean light that produces soft tannins and singular aromas. The Catena philosophy is simple: the more extreme the altitude, the purer the expression of each parcel.

Catena Zapata's main building, in Agrelo (Luján de Cuyo), is a Mayan pyramid built in 2001 by the architect Pablo Sánchez Elía. Its three levels work by gravity, without pumps, preserving the integrity of every grape. The underground cellars hold thousands of French and American oak barrels. The tasting room, at the top, opens 360° to the Andes — one of the most striking winery views in the world.

Catena Zapata was named New World Winery of the Year by Wine Enthusiast in 2009, the first winery from outside Europe and North America to receive the distinction. Its wines appear consistently in the Top 100 lists of Wine Spectator, James Suckling and Robert Parker. Adrianna River Stones and Mundus Bacillus Terrae have scored above 99 points in the leading global guides.