Sustainable Winemaking: The Marimar Torres Experience at Coulisse, Amsterdam

As I delve into viticulture, 'sustainable winemaking' emerges as a guiding light, embodying not just environmental stewardship but also economic and social sustainability in grape cultivation and wine production. Marimar Torres, a pioneer from the esteemed Familia Torres, champions sustainable farming and meticulous vineyard management, ensuring the wines' legacy and quality. At Marimar Estate in Sonoma County, California, sustainable winemaking evolves beyond practice into a philosophy that harmonizes with the land and its cycles. With challenges like water management and carbon emissions at the forefront, Marimar leads with ecological innovations and pursues sustainability certification, demonstrating that exceptional wines can be crafted with the planet in mind.|

We attended a wine tasting at Coulisse restaurant in Amsterdam, organized by Walraven Sax and PitchPR. We appreciate the invitation from The Story Of My Wine. We had the opportunity to taste wines with Marimar Torres, gaining insight into her experiences and savoring the wines over a satisfying lunch. Thank you very much for the lovely interview, Marimar. I really appreciate you taking the time.

Discovering Marimar Estate: A Sustainable Winery

Marimar Torres sets herself apart in the wine industry not only through her exceptional winemaking skills but also as a leading female winemaker, guiding the Torres family's European heritage towards new horizons with her pioneering spirit. Marimar Estate, following in the footsteps of her father, Miguel Torres, who led Bodegas Torres for six decades, she has honored the family's winemaking legacy with a steadfast commitment to sustainable farming and the cherished Torres family traditions, ensuring a green future for their vineyards.

Spread across 20 hectares, the estate is famous for its excellent Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. It also pays tribute to Spanish heritage by cultivating Albariño, Godello, and Tempranillo. The high-density planting, underscores Marimar's dedication to quality, yielding wines of greater flavor and elegance from their single vineyard and estate vineyards.

Sustainability as a key factor

Sustainability is woven into the fabric of Marimar Estate, as evidenced by its sustainability certification in 2017. The winery adopts a holistic approach to sustainability, focusing on environmental, economic, and social aspects to ensure a sustainable future for viticulture.

• Renewable Energy: The winery and residences on the property operate on 100% solar energy, showcasing a commitment to green energy sources.
• Waste Management: A robust recycling and composting program that leverages grape pomace and horse manure enriches the vineyard soil at Marimar Estate, showcasing a deep commitment to sustainable farming, effective waste reduction, and enhanced soil health, all pivotal aspects of their environmental stewardship.
• Biodiversity: The estate boosts soil vitality, champions water conservation, thwarts erosion, and nurtures biodiversity by employing cover crops and insectaries, truly embodying ecological principles. This approach is pivotal in creating sanctuaries for beneficial insects and birds, which are crucial for sustaining a balanced ecosystem and promoting ecological principles.

The different vineyards around the Marimar Estate

Located in the Green Valley, the estate's vineyards, named after Marimar's grandparents, Don Lorenzo, and Doña Rosa, benefit from sandy loam soils and a cool climate. This makes an ideal environment for their main grape varieties. The estate received organic certification in 2006 and now follows biodynamic and eco-friendly farming practices. This approach treats the land as a whole ecosystem, showing a dedication to green farming. Marimar is actively involved with organizations such as Sustainable Winegrowing and Sonoma Winegrape. She imports sustainable farming methods from Chile's Miguel Torres Winery and Spain's Torres Winery, showing her dedication to environmental stewardship. More information can be found at California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance. The estate uses chickens for natural pest control and has installed owl boxes and beehives to improve biodiversity. Marimar Estate is a leader in ecological responsibility and sustainability in the wine industry, showing that wine production can coexist with nature.

Tasting Notes and Highlights winetasting together with Marimar

We started our Marimar wine journey under the guidance of Marimar herself. Exploring the nuanced flavors and aromas of Marimar Torres' wines at Coulisse, Amsterdam, I was particularly drawn to a few outstanding wines that encapsulate the essence of their vineyards. Here's a closer look at some of the wines that left an indelible impression, showcasing their nuanced flavors and aromas alongside their status as outstanding wines.

Marimar Estate, Albariño 2020
This vibrant wine greets the senses with tropical aromas and minerality. It boasts ripe fruit notes of yellow nectarines, apricots, and pineapple, leading to a zesty and aromatic experience on the palate. The result is a clean, crisp finish that is both refreshing and rich. It's reminiscent of a Spanish Albariño in expression but stands apart with its distinct tropical fruits and strong minerality.

Marimar Estate, Acero Chardonnay Unoaked 2020
This unoaked Chardonnay is a full, round, and pleasing wine with fresh, floral aromas. It features notes of white flowers, apple blossoms, and citrus, paired with stone fruits for a savory and lively taste. The roundness comes from the Malolactic fermentation (MLF) and is typical of the terroir, according to Marimar. Its acidity and refreshing minerality make it a standout in the Chardonnay category, culminating in a crisp finish. 'Acero' is the Spanish word for steel. Everything is made of stainless steel, with no wood involved.

Marimar Estate, Godello 2021
This typical Spanish grape variety is very popular in Bierzo, and this Godello from Marimar Estate is a very similar expression. It's lively with subtle notes of flowers, gooseberries, apple, and pear. It's full and creamy with an intense, yeasty, herbal, and spicy profile. Again, it has lots of minerality and medium acidity with a hint of BBQ bacon in the aftertaste.

Marimar Estate, La Masía Chardonnay 2021
This is a completely different expression of Chardonnay, another gem with abundant wood, vanilla, and coconut aromas. In my opinion, this is a typical US Chardonnay, full in every aspect. It has lots of vanilla, peach, apple, pear, apricot, and peach candy notes, accompanied by butter and cream. It's high in acidity, full-bodied, and has a round mouthfeel with a deep, long aftertaste.

Marimar Estate, La Masía Pinot Noir 2019
This is a great Pinot Noir with subtle notes of cherries, balsamic, tobacco, chocolate, and violet aromas. It has a beautiful palate with high tannins, high acidity, and flavors of cherries, chocolate, raspberries, strawberries, rosemary, eucalyptus, and a meaty BBQ bacon aftertaste. The finish is very long, and it continues to develop in the glass and the mouth, keeping you curious about what you'll taste next. Truly a lovely wine!

The Winemaker's Lunch Experience

After the tasting, we continued with a delightful lunch paired with Marimar Estate wines. My trip to Coulisse in Amsterdam for The Winemaker's Lunch was a much-anticipated event, filled with exclusive opportunities and unforgettable moments.

• Intimate Atmosphere - The lunch took place in a warm setting that encouraged personal interactions and a deeper understanding of the winemaking process. It felt more like a private gathering among friends than a press event, adding to the exclusivity of the experience.
• Expert Guidance - Marimar herself as a knowledgeable winemaker introduced each wine, sharing details about its origin, unique flavor, and why it was paired with a particular menu item. This guidance turned each taste into a learning opportunity, enriching my appreciation for Marimar Torres' estate wines.
• Seasonal and Local Pairings - The menu was carefully planned by the chefs Simon and Tim to enhance the wines, with seasonal and locally sourced ingredients, reflecting a commitment to quality and local producers. This strategy not only supported the local economy but also ensured the freshness and high quality of each dish, greatly improving the wine-pairing experience. The Winemaker's Lunch was structured as follows:
• Starter A little tartelette with a mushroom-scallop mille-feuille and shiso tempura with Castelfranco. We had it with Marimar Estate's Acero Chardonnay Unoaked 2020.
• Appetizer We tucked into a tartare from Dutch squid, almond, and chamomile. We paired it up with Marimar Estate's Albariño 2020 and Godello 2021.
• Mid-Course Next up, we had monkfish with saffron and pine nuts, and we washed it down with Marimar Estate's La Masía Chardonnay 2021.
• Main Course For the main event, we savored grilled Anjou pigeon with Ushi Kuri pumpkin and Savoy cabbage. This was nicely paired with Marimar Estate's La Masía Pinot Noir 2019. Yum!
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Behind the Scenes with Marimar Estate

Marimar Torres' journey in the wine industry is a testament to her passion, education, and innovation. Her academic background in economics, with degrees from the University of Barcelona and the Stanford Executive Program, provided a solid foundation for her business acumen. This knowledge was instrumental in her success in introducing Torres Wines to the United States market, leaving a lasting impact on the wine business.

In 1981, her vision led her to convince her father to invest in 56 acres in the Russian River/Green Valley area of Sonoma, which flourished into the renowned Don Miguel Vineyard at Marimar Estate Winery. This strategic decision capitalized on the region's ideal climate for cultivating their signature grape varieties, marking a significant milestone in the Sonoma Coast AVA vineyards and winery landscape.

Marimar's dedication to winemaking deepened when she pursued studies in viticulture and enology at the University of California, Davis, in 1988. Her debut Chardonnay, produced in collaboration with another winery, marked the beginning of her hands-on approach to winemaking. By 1992, with her family's support, Marimar Estate Winery opened its doors, showcasing her dedication to crafting exceptional wines and her unwavering commitment to excellence.

The Future of Marimar Estate

The winemaking legacy of the family is carried forward by Cristina Torres, Marimar's daughter. After her education, she enthusiastically took on the role of general manager in 2023. Cristina has been crucial in incorporating new technologies and Vintools into the winery's framework, steering it towards sustainable practices, and attracting a younger demographic through innovative events.
The female-led legacy at Marimar Estate goes beyond just being a story, transforming into a dynamic force. Marimar and Cristina Torres, with unwavering pride, continue their family's winemaking tradition. They place a strong emphasis on sustainability, ensuring that their estate wines are not only exceptional in taste, but also crafted with the highest regard for the environment.

Conclusion

Marimar Estate's viticulture practices, led by Marimar Torres, uniquely blend sustainable farming with innovative techniques to produce premium wines. The winery's dedication to organic farming and respect for the land distinguishes it within the industry, striking a notable balance between environmental stewardship and exceptional winemaking.
Not only does Marimar Estate set higher industry standards with its commitment to sustainability certification, but it also deepens our understanding of the connection between the earth and the vine. It is a leader in promoting sustainability within the wine industry and encourages us to become part of an eco-conscious community of wine enthusiasts. Here, we can savor carefully crafted wines and participate in events that honor sustainability.

In conclusion, Marimar Estate is more than just a winery. It stands as a testament to sustainability, innovation, and reverence for the land, serving as a guiding light for the future of the wine industry.

Website Marimar Estate 
Dutch importer Walravensax
Organisation Pitch PR