Boise Coop Wine Shop

Bodegas Catena Zapata

• July 7, 2009
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The history of this winery begins back in 1902 when Nicoli Catena left Italy for Argentina and planted their first Malbec vineyard in Mendoza. Malbec had been a blending grape in Bordeaux. But Nicola suspected it would find its hidden splendor in the Argentine Andes. Domingo, his son, inherited that dream and took the family winery to the next level, becoming one of the largest vineyard holders in Mendoza. By the 1960s, however, Familia Catena was struggling. The Argentine economy was in shambles and inflation rates were soaring. One year, Domingo realized that it would cost him more to harvest than to leave the fruit on the vines. He asked his twenty-two year old son Nicolás, a recent PhD graduate in economics, what to do about such a dilemma. Nicolás advised him not to harvest. Domingo could not follow his son’s advice with a clear conscience and picked anyway. Nicolás still remembers the sadness he felt for his father that year.

Nicolás Catena would never use the word about himself – a less boastful spirit, it’s hard to imagine – but he has been the quiet revolutionary in the Catena family history book. He has charted the family’s path to the new frontier of winemaking, drawing on lessons learned from the land and in the classroom, then applying his education to dare to challenge the conventional wisdom. Over the past 20 years, Nicolás and Laura Catena and their vineyard management team have worked tirelessly in the discovery, identification and development of key microclimates in the high altitude wine country of Mendoza, Argentina. Nicolás Catena has planted an almost countless number of varietals and clones throughout his mountain vineyard sites.

This quest for quality lead Nicolás and Laura Catena to a crucial discovery regarding the influence of altitude on grape cultivation in Mendoza. Observing the important differences in soil types, average temperatures and thermal amplitudes that exist at varying altitudes, they found that vineyard sites which are just a few kilometers apart can have vast differences in altitude and possess remarkably different microclimates. As great artists tap their creative spirit to mix and match colors in the production of magnificent works of art, this wide array of distinct lot selections allows the winemaking team at Bodega Catena Zapata to engage in a creative, intricate process of blending in order to craft the final wine.

In addition to the wines of their estate, Catena owns a sister facility, Bodegas Esmeralda. Founded by Don Juan Fernández, the estate was named in honour of daughter, Esmeralda Fernández, the only woman amongst four brothers. Located in Junin, it is one of the oldest wineries in the region and one of the major producers. In fact, it has become an icon of the winemaking industry due to its fine modern equipment, systematic work and sustained growth in terms of volume and quality. Under their Tilia label, they offer a value-priced selection of varieties. Here are a few of the wines we have available from these two properties:

2007 Catena Chardonnay, $18.50
2007 Catena Malbec, $19.50
2007 Catena Cabernet Sauvignon, $18.50
2008 Tilia Torrontes, $8.99
2008 Tilia Bonarda, $8.99
2008 Tilia Merlot, $8.99
2008 Tilia Malbec, $8.99