Marimar Estate
Overview
Estate
Marimar Estate was founded in 1986 by Marimar Torres, a member of the Spanish Torres winemaking family, to bring the family's winegrowing heritage to California. The estate is based in western Sonoma County, with its winery and tasting room at Don Miguel Vineyard in the Green Valley of the Russian River Valley. The winery was built in 1992 in the style of a traditional Catalan farmhouse. Current wines are made from estate-grown fruit from the estate's two vineyards.
Climate
The estate is strongly influenced by the Pacific Ocean. Don Miguel Vineyard, in the Green Valley of the Russian River Valley, is described as a very cool, foggy site, approximately ten miles from the Pacific. Doña Margarita Vineyard on the West Sonoma Coast is approximately seven miles from the ocean, with cool nights from ocean fog, while the vineyard is often above the fog line during the day.
Soil
Don Miguel Vineyard is planted in Goldridge sandy loam. Doña Margarita has a thin layer of Goldridge sandy loam of volcanic origin and marine sediment over fractured sandstone. The porous sandstone provides moisture-holding capacity while maintaining drainage, conditions particularly suited to Pinot Noir.
Vineyards
Don Miguel Vineyard was first planted in 1986 and today covers 81 acres, with approximately 50 acres planted. It produces estate Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Albariño, Godello, Tempranillo, and Syrah. The vineyard uses European-style high density, with more than 2,000 vines per acre, and multiple clones. Doña Margarita Vineyard is on the West Sonoma Coast and is planted exclusively to Pinot Noir. The winery has approximately 60 plantable acres, with 20 acres planted in 2002 and 2008, including Pommard and Dijon clones.
Cultivation
Marimar Estate farms both vineyards with its own full-time vineyard crew. The approach is sustainable and emphasizes European viticultural methods adapted to California conditions. High-density planting at Don Miguel encourages root competition, limits vigor, and reduces yield per vine. Doña Margarita includes conservation areas and protected native habitat.
Winery
The winery was built in 1992 with a 15,000-case capacity and is equipped for gentle handling and precise temperature control. The wines are estate-grown and estate-bottled. Small stainless-steel fermentation, French-oak aging, and, for selected wines, bottling unfined and unfiltered.
Family
Marimar Torres is a member of the fifth generation of the Torres family, whose winegrowing roots in Spain date to the 17th century. Her father was Miguel Torres, after whom Don Miguel Vineyard is named. Marimar moved to California in 1975 and began developing the Sonoma estate in 1986. Her daughter, Cristina Torres, joined the family business in 2020 and is now the General Manager. The current transition represents the first time in the family's history that leadership is being passed from mother to daughter.
Winemaker
The winemaking team consists of Taylor Bianco as Vineyard & Production Manager and Bill Dyer as Technical Director.
Focus Point
• Family-owned estate founded in California in 1986 by Marimar Torres of the Spanish Torres family.
• Two estate vineyards: Don Miguel in Green Valley of Russian River Valley and Doña Margarita on the West Sonoma Coast.
• All current wines are estate-grown and estate-bottled.
• European-style high-density planting of more than 2,000 vines per acre at Don Miguel.
• Catalan architectural and culinary identity integrated into the California estate.
• Sustainable farming with an in-house vineyard crew and protected natural habitat.
• Current family leadership is transitioning from Marimar to her daughter Cristina.
Marketing materials
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Marimar Estate logo
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