Angelica Zapata Chardonnay Alta
⏳ wine.drinking_window
Typically best enjoyed 3–8 years from the vintage release.
🍽️ wine.food_pairings
roasted chicken, creamy mushroom risotto, grilled lobster with butter
✨ wine.spec_sheet
Named in honor of Angélica Zapata, the beloved matriarch of the Catena family who instilled a relentless pursuit of excellence in her children, this Chardonnay is a testament to the family's pioneering spirit in high-altitude viticulture. Sourced from the cool-climate, high-elevation vineyards of Tupungato in Mendoza, particularly the Adrianna Vineyard at nearly 1,450 meters above sea level, the grapes benefit from intense mountain sunlight and cool alpine nights. This extreme diurnal temperature variation preserves vibrant acidity while allowing the fruit to develop rich, complex flavors. Fermented and aged in French oak barrels, the wine undergoes partial malolactic fermentation, resulting in a beautifully balanced profile that marries luscious tropical fruit and citrus notes with a distinct mineral backbone and a creamy, elegant finish.
🍾 wine.about_producer
Founded in 1902 by Italian immigrant Nicola Catena, the historic Catena Zapata estate is located in Luján de Cuyo, Mendoza, Argentina, and remains family-owned under the visionary leadership of Nicolás Catena Zapata and his daughter Laura. Renowned for pioneering high-altitude viticulture in the Andean foothills, the winery revolutionized Argentine winemaking by proving that world-class, age-worthy wines could be produced from extreme mountain terroirs. Their production philosophy focuses on meticulous parcel selection and soil-specific micro-vinifications, particularly within the acclaimed Adrianna Vineyard. Catena Zapata is celebrated globally for its profound, structured red wines, most notably its flagship Bordeaux-style blend, Nicolás Catena Zapata, and the highly expressive, mineral-driven Adrianna Vineyard River Stones Malbec.