Celebrating World Malbec Day with Laura Catena.

Each year on April 17th, wine lovers around the globe raise a glass to honor Malbec—Argentina’s flagship grape and one of the world’s most compelling varietals. This year, we had the privilege to celebrate World Malbec Day in conversation with one of its greatest champions: Laura Catena, fourth-generation vintner, managing director of Bodega Catena Zapata, and a driving force behind Malbec’s renaissance.

Malbec: From French Origins to Argentine Identity

Malbec’s story begins in southwest France, where it was once widely planted under the names Côt and Auxerrois. Although it held a prominent place in Bordeaux blends and reigned supreme in Cahors, Malbec’s fortunes waned following the phylloxera epidemic in the late 19th century. But as France pulled back, Argentina stepped forward.

As Laura recounts, the story of Malbec in Argentina is as improbable as it is inspiring. Introduced to Argentina by French agronomist Michel Aimé Pouget in the mid-1800s, the variety was largely misunderstood for decades—often mistaken for Merlot—and nearly disappeared altogether in the 20th century. That is, until Laura’s father, Nicolás Catena Zapata, had a bold vision. 

“In 1994, he dared to bottle high-quality Malbec at a time when few people knew the grape,” Laura recalls. “I was in medical school at the time. I’d go on the road with salespeople, and they’d say, ‘This is a great wine, but nobody knows what Malbec is—I can’t sell it.’” How far we’ve come.

Malbec’s Modern Renaissance: A Global Icon

Today, thanks in large part to the work of the Catena family, Malbec is not only known—it’s celebrated worldwide. As Laura says, “You can’t go to a restaurant or wine shop without finding a Malbec. People now tell me the story of Malbec at tastings!”

And indeed, it’s a story worth telling. Malbec is arguably the only grape that is better known in the New World than in the Old. “Cabernet might be associated with Napa, but Bordeaux is still king. With Pinot Noir, it’s Burgundy. But Malbec? Argentina owns that story,” says Laura.

The grape’s versatility plays a big role in its success. From the high, cool reaches of the Uco Valley to the warmer zones of Maipú, Malbec reveals strikingly different expressions. “It’s a terroir-driven grape,” Laura explains. “It can show minerality, ripe fruit, floral aromatics, even natural vanillin. And it pairs with everything—from a juicy steak to spicy or roasted dishes.”

Old Vines, New Heights: A Review of the 2022 Catena Zapata Malbec Argentino

Among the most lauded expressions of Argentine Malbec is the Catena Zapata Malbec Argentino. The 2022 vintage is a standout—a wine that not only reflects the grape’s grandeur but also tells its saga through a powerful narrative label. 

In honour of World Malbec Day, we had the pleasure of enjoying one of Argentina’s best Malbec’s; the Malbec Argentino by Catena Zapata. Below our findings. 

2022 Catena Zapata Malbec Argentino

The 2022 Malbec Argentino is a bold yet refined expression of high-altitude Malbec, drawn from two contrasting terroirs—La Consulta and Paraje Altamira—that together weave a seamless tapestry of depth and elegance.

In the glass, the wine shows a deep, purplish hue, hinting at its concentration and youth. The nose is alluring and complex, with layers of crushed violets, wild blackberry, ripe plum, and blueberry, interwoven with exotic spice, cocoa nib, and a whisper of cigar box and white pepper. There’s a delicate smokiness and a suggestion of dried herbs that add further nuance.

On the palate, it is juicy, vibrant, and exceptionally balanced. The tannins are fine-grained and compact, offering structure without excess weight, while the oak is beautifully integrated, lending a creamy texture and gentle polish. The finish is remarkably long and graceful, tapering out on notes of dark fruit, floral spice, and a subtle mineral lift.

Conclusion:

A wine of poise and power, the 2022 Malbec Argentino is both a tribute to the past and a vision of Malbec’s future. A stunning showcase of Argentina’s terroir and the finesse possible with Malbec. 

This vintage captures both the richness of old vines and the precision of modern winemaking—a wine of poise, power, and place. 

We award this beautiful Malbec with a 95-point DWA score.

Science, Sustainability, and Age-Worthy Malbec

Laura’s vision doesn’t stop at global fame. She’s equally passionate about elevating Malbec’s reputation as an age-worthy wine. “Most people think of ageing Bordeaux or Burgundy,” she says. “But we recently released the 2004 Malbec Argentino—and it’s stunning. It ages just as gracefully as a Cabernet Sauvignon.”

Through the Catena Institute of Wine, founded in 1995, Laura and her team have taken a scientific approach to terroir. “We mapped the chemical fingerprint of Malbec from different regions,” she explains. “Now, a winemaker can taste a wine and know exactly where it’s from. That’s the proof of terroir.”

This research has supported both single-parcel bottlings and what Laura calls the ‘Chanel No. 5’ approach—blending vineyards at different altitudes to create harmonious complexity. “You can’t do that in many places, but in Mendoza, we have Winkler Zones 1 and 4 within an hour of each other.”

Looking Ahead: The Next Chapter for Malbec

Despite changing wine trends and a global thirst for novelty, Laura is confident in Malbec’s continued relevance. “For 20 years people have asked me what comes after Malbec. My answer? You don’t ask what comes after Pinot Noir, right?”

Still, she acknowledges a growing interest in Argentine white wines—particularly Chardonnay, Sémillon, and Chenin Blanc, varieties deeply rooted in the country’s heritage. Yet Laura believes the same people who crave freshness in whites will also discover a love for aged reds. “It’s the desire for elegance, for complexity without heaviness.”

Final Thoughts: A Living Artform

For Laura Catena, wine is more than a beverage—it’s a living, breathing expression of place and time. “It changes every time you taste it. Even two bottles of the same vintage can evolve differently. It’s a piece of art you drink, and now it’s part of you.”

As we raise a glass on World Malbec Day, we’re not just celebrating a grape—we’re honoring a journey of perseverance, reinvention, and beauty. And thanks to pioneers like Laura Catena and her family, Malbec has found not only a home in Argentina but a place in the hearts and cellars of wine lovers across the globe.

Discover more about the Malbec Argentino and the story behind its label at malbecargentino.com. Additionally we published an earlier review of the 2019 vintage of the Malbec Argentino, you can find it here. Happy World Malbec Day — ¡Salud!

This article has been written by our own Niels Aarts. We thank Laura Catena, and Catena Zapata, for their contribution to this article, and their import partner Vinites for their support. Catena Zapata’s wines are widely available around the world, and distributed in the Netherlands by Vinites.