Don’t mind me. Just hopped in my private jet and skedaddled over to Catalonia, Spain today. Twirling through vineyards like a Spanish señorita. ???? Just Kidding!!! Although, looking through these pics, you probably wondered…
Marimar Winery is designed in the traditional Catalan farmhouse style. ????
The next best thing to Spain resides in our very own Sonoma County Backyard. Marimar Estate Vineyards & Winery @marimarestate
Red shoes were essential for this wine tasting outing.
As was my dress with a super twirly skirt. I partook in the Tapas and Wine Pairing.
Usually my wine tasting experiences consist of a lot of French and Italian influence.
It was refreshing to get a totally different cultural wine experience. Delectable tapas included:
Prawns in garlic sauce, cabbage dumplings with pork chorizo, figs stuffed with chocolate and nuts in a chocolate sauce. Pinot and Chardonnay complimented these small plates. As I devoured my tapas, I skimmed two of Marimar’s cookbooks. Paella recipes caught my attention!
Owner Marimar Torres is a powerhouse woman.
Here are some more important Marimar tasting pieces of info:
Located in the rolling hills Sebastopol.
Only 6 miles from the ocean.
Specializing in limited production Chardonnay and Pinot
Marimar also wanted to bring Spanish Varietals to Sonoma County so she started with Albariño and Tempranillo.
Did you know that Tempranillo is the highest quality red variety grown in Spain?
Marimar’s Club Members get exclusive access to the Tempranillo!
Estate grown and estate bottled wine coming from a 20 acre vineyard.
I particularly wanted to visit this winery because it is DIFFERENT.
Different from the usual French, Italian, and trendsetting wineries.
At Marimar you are instantly transported to Spain and a Catalan-style farmhouse winery surrounded by vineyards.
All the furniture and decor in the tasting room will enchant you.
Most pieces are antiques and collectibles coming from Catalonia.
IMPORTANT TO NOTE:
This is a by appointment only winery.
I highly recommend reserving a Tapas & Wine Pairing.
In this experience I tasted 5 chards and pinots out on the terrace overlooking the most epic vineyard view.
PLUS…
These wines are paired with four delectable tapas from the Marimar Cookbooks.
Albariño was paired with Patis de carbaco Cristina ( zucchini cakes).
La Masia Chardonnay with gambes a l’All amb pebots (prawns in a garlic sauce with sweet red peppers).
La Masia Pinot noir with farcellets de col (cabbage dumplings stuffed with pork, chorizo, pine nuts and raisins).
Final pairing was a Pinot noir with higos pasos rellenos con salsa se chocolate. Figs stuffed with chocolate and nuts in a chocolate sauce.
This experience costs $55 but is worth it for the tapas, Russian River Valley Redwood tree views, and unique wine tasting experience.
So who is Marimar Torres?
Founder and Proprietor.
Unfortunately, I did not get to meet this incredibly talented and powerhouse woman.
Born in Barcelona, Spain.
Fluent in 6 languages
Before she began Marimar Estate she was the export director for her families business, Torres Wines.
With her at the helm, Torress wine went from 15,000 cases of wine shipped to the US to 150,000.
Marimar proved that there is a place for women in the wine business and she was a trailblazer.
In 1986 she began planting in Sonoma County.
In 1989 she released barrel fermented Chardonnay.
1992 the winery was built!
Prince Felipe, the future KING OF SPAIN, visited Marimar in 1995.
Marimar is also well knows for her culinary skills.
She has produced many Spanish cuisine cookbooks.
Her home is on the property overlooking the vineyard Don Miguel, named after her father.
Club Member events are held in her house.
Flamenco dancing, pallella cooking, tennis playing, and wine enjoying are all activities Marimar infuses in to her wine club.
You can’t miss Marimar Estate Vineyards because of the three MASSIVE statues of Marimar’s three English Springer Spaniels. Bonita, Brandy, and Chico.
I met two of her dogs.
