Chardonnay Catena
⏳ Drinking Window
Typically best enjoyed within 2–5 years of vintage release.
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Roasted chicken, grilled sea bass, creamy mushroom risotto
✨ Technical Specifications
The Catena Chardonnay represents a landmark achievement in Argentine winemaking, born from the Catena family's revolutionary vision to produce world-class white wines in the high-altitude foothills of the Andes. In the late 20th century, conventional wisdom held that Mendoza was far too warm for elegant Chardonnay. Defying skeptics, Nicolás Catena sought out extreme elevations in Tupungato, where intense mountain sunlight and cool alpine nights yield grapes with remarkable acid structure and concentrated flavors. Sourced from historic family vineyards, this wine is partially barrel-fermented using wild yeasts and aged in French oak, seamlessly blending rich citrus and stone fruit notes with a vibrant, mineral-driven backbone that redefined the potential of South American white wines.
🍾 About the Producer
Founded in 1902 by Italian immigrant Nicola Catena, Bodega Catena Zapata is celebrated as the pioneer that revolutionized modern Argentine winemaking and propelled Malbec onto the international stage. Located in Mendoza, the estate was transformed in the 1980s by third-generation vintner Nicolás Catena Zapata, who boldly advanced high-altitude viticulture along the Andean foothills, highlighted by the iconic Adrianna Vineyard in Gualtallary. Today, under the stewardship of Nicolás and his daughter Dr. Laura Catena, the winery unites traditional winemaking with groundbreaking soil and climate research via the Catena Institute of Wine. The estate is globally revered for its profound, terroir-driven expressions, exemplified by flagship cuvées such as Nicolás Catena Zapata, Malbec Argentino, and the acclaimed Adrianna Vineyard parcel-specific bottlings.
🍇 Grape Varieties
Chardonnay
🍷 Alcohol By Volume (ABV)
13-13.5%