Why it matters
The producer
Marimar Torres purchased the initial property in 1983 and began planting Chardonnay in 1986. Marimar Estate is a family owned winery in western Sonoma County, guided by the Spanish heritage of the Torres family. Its wines come from estate vineyards and are bottled at the estate.
Cristina Torres joined the family business in 2020 and became General Manager in 2023. The winery's work spans Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and four additional varieties grown at Don Miguel Vineyard, while Doña Margarita is devoted solely to Pinot Noir.
Place and vineyards
Where the wines begin
The estate's vineyards occupy two distinct Sonoma County locations. Don Miguel Vineyard lies in the Green Valley sub appellation at the southwest corner of the Russian River Valley. It carries Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Albariño, Godello, Tempranillo and Syrah.
Doña Margarita Vineyard is in the West Sonoma Coast appellation, seven miles from the Pacific Ocean. Planted in 2002 in the cool, coastal Freestone Valley, it is named for Marimar Torres's mother and planted solely to Pinot Noir.
Wines to know
The range in view
Marimar Estate's named wines include Marimar La Masia Chardonnay, Marimar Cristina Pinot Noir, Marimar Estate Cristina and Marimar Estate Pinot Noir. Marimar La Masia Chardonnay is a 2024 white wine. Marimar Cristina Pinot Noir is a 2021 red wine. Marimar Estate Cristina is a 2019 red wine from North Coast, while Marimar Estate Pinot Noir is a 2021 red wine from North Coast.
The wider range follows the vineyard plantings. Chardonnay and Pinot Noir sit alongside Albariño, Godello, Tempranillo and Syrah, giving the estate both white and red grape varieties. Don Miguel uses high density planting at 2,000 vines per acre, about four times the traditional density in California.