i. Biography
Chief Winemaker at Bodegas Salentein in the Uco Valley, Mendoza, Argentina, José Galante’s career maps a particular strain of modern Argentine wine: cellar discipline, long-view stewardship, and Malbec worked with patience rather than noise. The line from Catena Zapata to Bodegas Salentein runs through that same ethic. The constant is attentive work, a precise read on place, and an understanding of altitude as part of the wine’s structure, not scenery.
The Path
Teaching at the University in Rodeo del Medio, Maipu, Mendoza placed José Galante at the meeting point of theory and cellar practice early on. From there, he moved into the main enologist role at Catena Zapata in Mendoza, where he remained until 2010. That period established the discipline and continuity that would carry into his next post, and it set up the transition to Bodegas Salentein with a working vocabulary already formed in one of the country’s most closely watched estates.
The Work Today
Since 2010, José Galante has served as Chief Winemaker at Bodegas Salentein in Mendoza. In the Uco Valley, the work is tied to vineyard translation: taking fruit from a high-altitude site and shaping it with as little interference as possible. Argentinian Malbec and modern winemaking in Argentina sit at the center of that approach. When he describes the estate’s fruit, altitude is not treated as a romantic idea but as a working variable: climate, air pressure, and the ability to produce grapes at different elevations all become part of the wine’s final profile.
Signature
José's signature wines include Nicolás Catena Zapata 1997.
Acclaim
Recognition in Galante’s record is visible in the wines attached to his name and the houses that placed them in his hands. At Catena Zapata, Nicolás Catena Zapata 1997 marked a first vintage under his vinification; at Salentein, the 2014 Gran Valle de Uco Blend turned the Uco Valley focus into a limited-edition wine. Together, they show a craft defined by house-level responsibility and by a specific attention to place. That continuity matters. José Galante moved from main enologist at Catena Zapata in Mendoza until 2010 to Chief Winemaker at Bodegas Salentein, where the vineyards sit entirely in Uco Valley. Across both posts, the through-line is Argentinian wine made with close attention to site, especially Malbec and the blending choices around it, with expertise carrying more weight than flourish.
Profile updated July 2026
FAQ
Asked of José
What is José Galante's current role?
José Galante is Chief Winemaker.
Where did José Galante work before?
Earlier in their career, José Galante worked at the University and Catena Zapata.
What is José Galante known for?
Modern winemaking in Argentina.
