Alejandro Vigil, for years the lead winemaker at Catena Zapata, opened Casa Vigil in 2013 in El Carrizal, Maipú. But more than a conventional winery, Casa Vigil is an authorial project: literature, mythology, family Italian cuisine and wines loaded with narrative. Each label tells a story. Its El Enemigo line, launched with Adrianna Catena, took Argentine Cabernet Franc to the world's best wine rankings. The winery is one of Mendoza's most sought-after spots: small, theatrical and with a months-long waiting list.
Iconic winery · Maipú
Visiting Casa Vigil
Mendoza's most theatrical winery. Alejandro Vigil built a tribute to literature, art and Argentine passion for wine.
Luján de Cuyo
The Land of Malbec
Private Tastings
Gourmet Lunch
Exclusive Transfer
All Inclusive at Wineries
Mendoza · Argentina
Luján de Cuyo
The Land of Malbec
Private Tastings
Gourmet Lunch
Exclusive Transfer
All Inclusive at Wineries
Mendoza · Argentina
Iconic winery · Maipú
Where wine
becomes literature.
Casa Vigil is the personal project of Alejandro Vigil, for years the lead winemaker of Catena Zapata. His boutique winery in El Carrizal is a tribute to literature, Argentine legends and his family's Italian cuisine. Cellars carved into hills, restaurant designed like a literary salon, wines like El Enemigo Malbec, Bonarda and the iconic Gran Enemigo Cabernet Franc. An experience that combines winemaking, gastronomy and narrative like few in the world.
"Every wine has a story. Every story has a wine."
Discovery Wine Mendoza · conciergeHistory & legacy
The house, its origin.
Terroir & vineyards
The place makes the wine.
El Carrizal, in southeast Maipú, is a traditional area with stony alluvial soils typical of Mendoza. Vigil works old vineyards with vines over 80 years old, especially Malbec and Bonarda. He also vinifies fruit from Gualtallary, Paraje Altamira and Tupungato, showing altitude and soil contrasts. His philosophy: respect the place, do not make up the wine, let it tell its origin.
Architecture & visit
The space where it happens.
Casa Vigil features cellars carved into hills, decorated like literary salons. Sculptures, frescoes, antique books: every space is scenography. The restaurant, run by María Laura Vigil (Alejandro's wife and chef), serves Italian-Argentine cuisine with farm ingredients. Lunches are long, social, with guided pairing. The experience is cultural before technical.
Iconic wines
The El Enemigo line.
01
Gran Enemigo Cabernet Franc
The wine that put Casa Vigil on the international radar. Structure, complexity and longevity.
02
El Enemigo Malbec
A Malbec from old vines with Maipú identity. Depth and character.
03
El Enemigo Bonarda
A modern and refined expression of Argentina's second-most-planted variety.
04
Adrianna by Vigil & Catena
Collaborations with the Catena family. Very limited production.
Recognition
Awards & critique.
Gran Enemigo Cabernet Franc Single Vineyard was chosen among the Top 10 wines in the world by James Suckling. El Enemigo Bonarda received 100 points from Tim Atkin MW in 2020. Alejandro Vigil has been named Winemaker of the Year by international publications and serves on Decanter's Wine of the Year jury.
Frequently asked
The questions we get most.
Do I need to book in advance?
Yes, several weeks or months in advance, especially in high season (October-April). Casa Vigil has very limited capacity and is among Mendoza's most in-demand visits. Discovery Wine handles the booking.
Is lunch included in the visit?
The classic Casa Vigil experience includes tour + tasting + multi-course lunch with pairing. It is roughly a 4-hour visit at the winery.
Does Alejandro Vigil host personally?
Sometimes. He tends to appear when at the winery, especially for special lunches. We cannot guarantee it, but it happens frequently.
Is it suitable for non-experts in wine?
Absolutely. Casa Vigil's strength is precisely the narrative: anyone enjoys the storytelling, cuisine and atmosphere, no sommelier knowledge required.
Can you combine Casa Vigil with another winery the same day?
Yes. We usually combine it with a centenarian winery in Maipú (Trapiche, López, Norton) in the morning, and Casa Vigil with lunch afterwards.
Our service
How we visit
Casa Vigil.
We coordinate the visit and lunch within a private Maipú wine tour, optionally combining it with a centuries-old winery of the region. Casa Vigil is the most emotional and gastronomic experience of the route — we always position it as the culminating moment. Discover our luxury wine tour in Mendoza or explore the Maipúregion.