Often found at theaters and museums, Kwon Mee-yoo has covered a wide range of cultural fields from K-pop and dramas to theater and fine art for over a decade. Now as K-Culture Desk editor, she tries to connect Korean culture with global readers through fresh perspectives.
Argentine winery named world's best vineyard
Argentine winery Catena Zapata's La Piramide vineyard is located in Mendoza, Argentina. Catena Zapata was named the top winery in the World's Best Vineyards 2023. Courtesy of Catena Zapata
By Kwon Mee-yoo
By Kwon Mee-yoo
Hailing from Mendoza, Argentina, Catena Zapata was named the top winery in the World's Best Vineyards 2023. This list is renowned for spotlighting the cream of the crop of global wine tourism, offering more than just fine wines, showcasing destinations that deliver a comprehensive wine travel experience combining exceptional wine-tasting opportunities with quality accommodation.
Established in 1902, Catena Zapata holds the distinction of being the oldest Argentine family winery still managed by the founding family. The winery is renowned for its pioneering role in reinventing Malbec, with a record-breaking number of 100-point wine ratings in South America.
Particularly notable is its Adrianna Vineyard, located at an elevation of 5,000 feet, often recognized as the "Grand Cru" Vineyard of South America. The high altitude makes Catena Zapata's Malbec wines floral and lighter in color.
This year, Catena Zapata opened its first restaurant Angelica ― Cocina Maestra, situated within the La Piramide vineyard. The winery, renowned for its Mayan-inspired pyramid-shaped architecture, provides situated distinct winery tours. These unique experiences offer visitors novel ways to explore the vineyard and appreciate the exquisite wines.
Laura Catena, Managing Director of Catena Zapata and a fourth-generation winemaker, expressed that the accolade is a profound honor and validates her father's aspiration of crafting Argentine wines that are on par with the world's finest.
"A recognition for our family and for all the super hard-working people at Catena ― past, present and future," Laura said in a statement. "Through elevating Argentine wine, I can actually help hundreds of thousands or millions of people in my region."
Laura Catena, Managing Director of Catena Zapata, poses after winning the World's Best Vineyards 2023 during an award ceremony in La Rioja, Spain, July 12. Courtesy of Catena Zapata
Argentinian wines, especially the Malbec variety, are quickly gaining popularity in Korea, thanks to their exceptional quality and the unique characteristics of Argentina's varieties and Catena Zapata is one of them.
Catena Zapata is available in Korea through Shinsegae L&B, the largest wine importer in Korea The winery perceives Korea as a valuable market for its range of premium to ultra-premium wines.
Catena Zapata's export manager of Asia, Canada, Africa and the Middle East, Marcelo Marasco, visited Korea in May to promote the company's high-end wine varieties at the Wines of Argentina, an annual Argentine wine-tasting event hosted by the Argentine Embassy in Korea.
Marasco conveyed that Catena Zapata is striving to meet substantial demand within the premium wine market in Korea and their aim is to secure a stronger position in the Korean market, targeting the country's discerning wine consumers.
"We are incredibly excited by the Korean market which has been our fastest growing Asian market over the last few years. The culinary scene in Korea is among the best in the world and luxury shopping malls are busy and thriving. We also think that the dark and fruit forward Malbec flavors, accompanied by velvety tannins are a great match for the umami flavors and textures of Korean food," the winery told The Korea Times, Monday.
"We hope that our friends in Korea will appreciate our 2023 no. 1 World's Best Vineyard Award and if they can't visit us in Argentina, they will be able to visit us by drinking a bottle of our delicious Catena Zapata wine, which is available at many venues such as E-Mart, Shinsegae and Wine & More."
Two more Argentine wineries also made the top 10, including Bodegas Salentein at no. 9 and El Enemigo Wines at no. 10.
Argentine Ambassador to Korea Alfredo Bascou saw this accomplishment as a clear indication of Argentine wine's global progression and advancement.
“The success achieved by Argentine wineries in the World's Best Vineyard" Bascou told The Korea Times.
"Three Argentine wineries among the top 10 is a clear sign of the development of the Argentine wine industry and its growing international insertion.”