El Enemigo (The Enemy) Wine Collection

Reinventing the Boundaries of High-Altitude Argentine Wine

Founded in 2008 by two visionary minds—Alejandro Vigil (world-renowned soil expert and Chief Winemaker at Bodega Catena Zapata) andAdrianna Catena (historian and daughter of Nicolás Catena Zapata)—El Enemigo ("The Enemy") was created to challenge the winemaking status quo. Named as a nod to the internal struggles and doubts we overcome to achieve true greatness, the winery operates out ofBodega Aleanna in Piedemonte al Sur, Mendoza.

By shifting the global spotlight away from traditional, heavy oak-laden Malbecs toward high-elevationCabernet Franc, biologicalChardonnay, and historicBonarda, El Enemigo has achieved cult status worldwide. Utilizing centuries-old Alsatian foudres and concrete eggs, Vigil crafts wines defined by chalky texture, laser-like acidity, and intense mineral drive.

Viticultural Heritage & Uncompromising Terroir

• Gualtallary & High-Altitude Calcareous Soils: The core of El Enemigo's portfolio is anchored inGualtallary (Tupungato, Uco Valley), perched at extreme elevations between 1,300 and 1,470 meters above sea level. Stony, calcium-carbonate-rich soils (caliche) impart a distinct "chalky" tannic grip and intense herbal minerality.

• Old Foudres & Low-Intervention Vinification: Wines are fermented with wild indigenous yeasts and matured predominantly in100-year-old Alsatian oak foudres imported from Italy. This avoids heavy vanilla and oak masking, preserving pure fruit clarity and soil expression.

Portfolio Highlights & Key Bottlings

• El Enemigo Cabernet Franc (Flagship): The wine that ignited South America's Cabernet Franc renaissance. Blended with ~10% Malbec to add mid-palate roundness, it bursts with crushed dark berries, graphite, fresh rosemary, black pepper, and fine, chalky tannins.

• Gran Enemigo Gualtallary Single Vineyard: One of Argentina's highest-scoring wines. A Cabernet Franc-dominant single-plot blend delivering monumental complexity, wild herbs, black plum, wet slate minerality, and decade-plus cellaring structure.

• Gran Enemigo Single Vineyard Series (Agrelo, El Cepillo, Los Cerezos): Terroir-driven single-parcel Cabernet Franc bottlings highlighting Mendoza's diverse microclimates—from the warm clay of Agrelo to the extreme cold of El Cepillo.

• El Enemigo Chardonnay: Produced in a rare biological style reminiscent of Jura or Jerez, developing a thin layer of yeast (flor) during barrel aging. Yields a crisp, saline, and textured white packed with green apple, salted almonds, lemon curd, and vibrant acidity.

• El Enemigo Bonarda & Semillon: Elevating historic heritage varieties into world-class fine wines with depth, floral elegance, and food-friendly tension.

Epicurean Food Pairings

• Cabernet Franc & Gran Enemigo Reds: Grilled Argentine bife de chorizo (ribeye), herb-crusted rack of lamb, braised beef short ribs, roasted venison, and wild mushroom empanadas.

• Chardonnay & Whites: Grilled octopus, roasted halibut with citrus butter, pan-seared sea scallops, roasted pork tenderloin, and aged Comté or Gruyère cheeses.