Marimar Estate offers flavor of Spain - tapas, too

Marimar Estate offers flavor of Spain - tapas, too

Your first impression of Marimar Estate is likely to be a doggone good one: Towering over the winery's driveway are three huge statues of owner Marimar Torres' pet canines.

It's the first hint that this Sonoma County estate is as much about family and tradition as it is about wine.

The vibe: On a hilltop in Sonoma's Green Valley, a Catalan-meets-California spirit abounds, no surprise considering Torres was born in Barcelona. The winery was built in 1992 in the style of an old Catalan farmhouse and is filled with Spanish antiques, including winemaking equipment and cookware.

Big wooden tables and chairs adorn the reception wing, where tapas-and-wine pairings are held. Adding to the rustic - and reverential - feel are portraits of Torres' mother and father that hang by the fireplace.

The team: Marimar Estate is the U.S. extension of Torres Winery, the Spanish powerhouse that has roots dating back to the 17th century.

Marimar Torres, daughter of patriarch Miguel Torres, runs the Sonoma estate. After persuading her father to purchase the 81-acre property here, she began planting the vineyard in 1986 with Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grapes. Over the years, she's added a second property in the Sonoma Coast appellation and converted to organic farming.

The wine: Primarily known for its Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, Marimar Estate also produces Syrah, Tempranillo and Albarino.

All wines are estate-grown, coming from one of two vineyards: the original Don Miguel, named after her late father; and Dona Margarita, after her mother. Annual case production is about 15,000.

The experience: A regular tasting of four wines is $10 - a fine, but pretty standard, visit. Better to splurge on the Tapas & Wine Pairing Experience ($30), given Torres' culinary background. (She's published two cookbooks, "The Catalan Country Kitchen" and "The Spanish Table," which you can flip through at the winery).

The four-course tasting takes place either outdoors, on the charming patio overlooking the Don Miguel vineyard, or in the reception room.

During our visit, we started with the 2009 Albarino/Chardonnay blend. Then came the pairings: a 2007 La Masia Chardonnay with a savory zucchini cake, a 2006 Dobles Lias Chardonnay with garlic prawns; a 2006 La Masia Pinot Noir with a pork-stuffed cabbage dumpling; and a 2005 Cristina Pinot Noir with chocolate-stuffed figs.

Service was fast and friendly, and after a brief explanation of the wines, visitors were mostly left alone to enjoy the ambiance.

The extras: Among the offerings for Club Marimar members is a weeklong Western Mediterranean cruise in June, hosted by Torres and her daughter, Cristina, that begins in Barcelona and ends in Lisbon.

Nearby: Iron Horse Vineyards, 9786 Ross Station Road, Sebastopol, (707) 887-1507. Merry Edwards Winery, 2959 Gravenstein Highway N., Sebastopol, (707) 823-7466.

If you go: Marimar Estate Vineyards & Winery, 11400 Graton Road, Sebastopol, (707) 823-4365. www.marimarestate.com. Open daily 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Origin information: SFGate