Family owned Sonoma winery with Spanish heritage, high density vineyards, estate grown Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Spanish varieties.
The producer
Marimar Estate is a family owned winery in western Sonoma County shaped by the Spanish heritage of the Torres family. Don Miguel Vineyard lies in Green Valley at the southwest corner of the Russian River Valley, while Doña Margarita Vineyard sits in the West Sonoma Coast, seven miles from the Pacific Ocean, and is planted solely to Pinot Noir. The estate grows and bottles Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Albariño, Godello, Tempranillo and Syrah. Chardonnay uses French oak barrel fermentation, while Pinot Noir begins in stainless steel before French oak ageing.
Known for
Estate grown Sonoma Chardonnay and Pinot Noir
Notable facts
Marimar Torres purchased the initial property in 1983.
Marimar Torres began planting Chardonnay in 1986.
Doña Margarita Vineyard was planted in 2002 in the coastal Freestone Valley and named for Marimar Torres's mother.
The winery has capacity for 15,000 cases.
Don Miguel Vineyard uses high density planting at 2,000 vines per acre.
The story
A Bottle To Spain
In 1989, Marimar Torres made her first commercial wine, a barrel fermented Chardonnay. Barrel fermentation takes place in oak rather than a tank, where the wine can gain texture and gentle oak influence during its first stage. The wine was released in April 1991. Marimar carried a bottle to Spain for her gravely ill father. The estate's first Pinot Noir followed in 1992, and the estate was officially inaugurated in April 1993.
A Bottle To Spain
In 1989, Marimar Torres made her first commercial wine, a barrel fermented Chardonnay. Barrel fermentation takes place in oak rather than a tank, where the wine can gain texture and gentle oak influence during its first stage. The wine was released in April 1991. Marimar carried a bottle to Spain for her gravely ill father. The estate's first Pinot Noir followed in 1992, and the estate was officially inaugurated in April 1993.
From the atlas
Marimar Estate
A family owned winery in western Sonoma County with Spanish heritage and vineyards in Green Valley and the West Sonoma Coast.
At A Glance
Field
Detail
Type
Family owned winery
Place
Western Sonoma County, California
Estate format
Estate grown and estate bottled wines
Main varieties
Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Albariño, Godello, Tempranillo and Syrah
Vineyard locations
Don Miguel and Doña Margarita
Farming
Organic and biodynamic certification
Winery capacity
15,000 cases
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
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.
The two vineyard names keep the range tied to specific places. Don Miguel holds several varieties, while Doña Margarita narrows the planting to one grape in a coastal site.
Wines
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.
Doña Margarita supplies a separate Pinot Noir line from a vineyard planted to one variety. Don Miguel carries the broader estate planting, with the Spanish varieties included alongside Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.
Final Word
Chardonnay is whole cluster pressed and barrel fermented in premium French oak. After full malolactic conversion, the wine ages on its lees in the same barrels until bottling in spring. Lees are spent yeast cells, and ageing on them can add weight and roundness.
Pinot Noir, Syrah and Tempranillo undergo primary fermentation in stainless steel tanks. The cap is punched down twice daily during malolactic fermentation for better extraction of colour and tannins, after which the wines age in French oak.