White Clay
⏳ Drinking Window
Typically best enjoyed within 1 to 5 years of vintage release, though it can cellar gracefully for up to 8 years, developing complex waxy and honeyed characteristics.
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Grilled sea bass, roasted chicken with herbs, goat cheese salad
✨ Technical Specifications
Catena Zapata's 'White Clay' is a compelling tribute to the historic white winemaking traditions of Mendoza, resurrecting a classic blend of Semillon and Chenin Blanc. The wine takes its name from the distinct, deep white clay soils of the estate's vineyards in Luján de Cuyo. Historically, Semillon and Chenin Blanc were widely planted in Argentina during the mid-20th century before being largely overshadowed by Chardonnay. By sourcing grapes from high-altitude vines rooted in these mineral-rich clay deposits, Catena Zapata crafts a white wine of remarkable texture, tension, and aromatic complexity. The clay soils help retain coolness in the warm Mendoza sun, imparting a signature mineral backbone and a rich, round mouthfeel that is beautifully balanced by the natural, vibrant acidity of the Chen is Blanc.
🍾 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
Semillon 60%, Chenin Blanc 40%
🍷 Alcohol By Volume (ABV)
12.5-13%