September 11th: Bodega Catena Zapata with Pablo Piccolo
At Vinonueva | 5145 NE 2nd Ave, Miami, FL, 33137 | 7:00 pm-8:30 pm
Click HERE to get tickets
We’re excited to welcome Bodega Catena Zapata, one of Argentina’s most iconic winery, for a special walktrhough tasting.
Leading the tasting is Pablo Piccolo, a native of Mendoza who grew up surrounded by vineyards and the local winemaking culture. Pablo began his career in exports with Concha y Toro Bodega Trivento before joining Bodega Catena Zapata in 2011. Today, as US Export Manager, he represents Catena’s portfolio nationwide. From Pablo’s perspective, Argentina is one of the most exciting places to be making wine today, and no other winery does it as well as Catena.
BACKGROUND
Mendoza is Argentina's largest and best-known wine region, home to about 80% of the country's production, with more vineyard land than Bordeaux, Burgundy, and Napa Valley combined.
Founded in 1902, Bodega Catena Zapata is one of Argentina’s most influential wineries. Nicolás Catena is credited with putting Argentine wine on the world stage—reviving Malbec, pioneering high-altitude vineyards in Mendoza, and driving investment and research to raise quality standards.
Nicolás dared to plant vines where no one thought they would ripen. His boldest move was the Adrianna Vineyard in Gualtallary, almost 5,000 feet above sea level—now often called the Grand Cru of South America. Initially, many believed Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon could never ripen in such a cool, harsh climate. Yet the results were extraordinary: Malbecs with more grip and depth, Cabernets with aromatic precision, and Chardonnays that combined minerality with richness.
Today, the Adrianna Vineyard is perhaps one of the most studied vineyards. The Catena Institute of Wine examines every meter of soil, every microorganism, to understand how altitude shapes flavor. Cooler temperatures, dramatic day-night shifts, and brilliant sunlight allow grapes to ripen slowly, preserving acidity and developing fine tannins at lower alcohol levels. Each parcel of Adrianna is farmed individually to capture its most authentic expression.
Over the past 50 years, the Catena family has reshaped both their own winery and the Argentine wine industry. Their philosophy is simple but ambitious: wines must speak of their place and stand among the world's best.
Bodega Catena Zapata is now led by Nicolás's daughter, Dr. Laura Catena. Under her leadership, the family has continued to raise the bar, holding more 100-point ratings than any other winery in South America and earning multiple 'Best Winery' awards worldwide. Certified Sustainable by Bodegas de Argentina, Catena Zapata has become synonymous with both innovation and excellence.
How did Catena Zapata Redefined Malbec and Mendoza?
A New Winemaking Style
When Nicolás Catena took over in the 1960s, the family's wines were made in the old Italian style—long oak aging that produced oxidized flavors. After studying in California in the 1980s, Nicolás brought back modern techniques inspired by Napa: temperature control, stainless steel, French oak, and a focus on fruit purity. His first release in this 'Californian-French' style, the 1990 Cabernet Sauvignon with a touch of Malbec, became the foundation of Argentina's most collected red wine. This shift or 'first revolution' transformed winemaking across Mendoza.
High-Altitude Vineyards
Determined to rival the best wines of France, Nicolás pushed vineyards higher into the Andes rather than further south. At nearly 5,000 feet, the Adrianna Vineyard revealed something extraordinary: Malbecs of deep color, freshness, floral intensity, and fine tannins unique to extreme altitude. This 'second revolution' redefined how Mendoza valued its mountain terroirs and cemented the importance of elevation in Argentine wine.
The Parcel Revolution
At Adrianna, the family discovered that soils varied dramatically even within the same vineyard, producing distinct characters from small plots. Led by Dr. Laura Catena and her research-driven Catena Institute of Wine, the family's first successful project using research as a guide was with Chardonnay. They began bottling wines like 'White Stones' and 'White Bones' Chardonnay, sourced from nearby lots within the same vineyard. This scientific approach to terroir marked the 'third revolution' and continues to shape Argentina's most site-expressive wines.
Check out the lineup for this tasting:
- Catena Zapata - Adrianna Chard White Stones 2022
- Catena Zapata - Malbec Argentino 2022
- Catena Zapata - Malbec Nicasia Vineyard 2021
- Catena Zapata - Adrianna Vineyard 'River' Malbec 2021
- Catena Zapata Nicolas Catena 2020
- Catena Zapata Nicolas Catena 2004
Photo Credits: Bodega Catena Zapata