Two new Mendoza wineries anointed with Michelin stars

This week, at one of the most anticipated nights in Argentina’s wine and gastronomy calendar, two new wineries in Mendoza were awarded with a coveted Michelin star for their restaurants: Catena Zapata and Matías Riccitelli. The post Two new Mendoza wineries anointed with Michelin stars appeared first on The Drinks Business.

Apr 10, 2025 - 11:30

Two new Mendoza wineries anointed with Michelin stars

This week, at one of the most anticipated nights in Argentina’s wine and gastronomy calendar, two new wineries in Mendoza were awarded with a coveted Michelin star for their restaurants: Catena Zapata and Matías Riccitelli. Grilled beef barbecue Veal rib Steak on bone and Argentinean wine on stone slate background

Angélica Cocina Maestra, the restaurant of Catena Zapata, helmed by chefs Josefina Diana and Juan Manuel Feijoo, and Riccitelli Bistró, located at Matias Riccitelli Wines and led by chef Juan Ventureyra, now join the ranks of Mendoza’s Michelin-starred winery restaurants. They stand alongside Casa Vigil at El Enemigo Wines and Zonda Cocina de Paisaje at Lagarde, both of which successfully retained their stars from last year. The Michelin Guide made its debut in Argentina in 2023, with the first round of stars and recommendations announced on 24th November 2023 in Buenos Aires. Last night’s ceremony — this time held in the heart of Argentina’s wine country, at Susana Balbo’s winery in Mendoza — marked the second edition of the Michelin awards in Argentina. These new additions underscore the growing significance of winery restaurants in Argentina’s gastronomic landscape. Four of the nine Michelin-starred restaurants in Argentina are now located within wineries, highlighting the synergy between fine dining and winemaking in the region.

The rest of Argentina

Elsewhere in Mendoza, Brindillas and Azafrán maintained their stars from the previous year. In Buenos Aires, Don Julio and Trescha also retained their stars, while Crizia earned its first Michelin star. Aramburo in Buenos Aires once again held its two-star distinction, remaining the only restaurant in Argentina with such a high accolade. Lunch with wine pairings at Mendoza’s newly starred winery restaurants ranges from $250 to $2,685 USD per person at Catena Zapata’s Angélica Cocina Maestra, and a more wallet-friendly $135 to $185 USD per person at Matías Riccitelli’s Riccitelli Bistró. Although Argentina was once celebrated as one of the world’s best-value wine destinations, it has seen a dramatic shift over the past year. Today, it is considered one of the most expensive countries to live in Latin America. According to the Big Mac Index — an informal economic indicator based on purchasing power parity — Argentina is currently the second-most expensive country to live in the world, just behind Switzerland. Amanda Barnes is the drinks business´ regular South America correspondent and author of The South America Wine Guide.