The Torres Family is Spain’s leading wine dynasty and the world’s most recognizable Spanish brand. Torres is the family winery with the most extensive vineyards in the Denomination of Origin (DO) of Penedès and the largest winery in Spain. They also run the Miguel Torres Chile winery in the Chilean Central Valley, and in the United States (California) where in 1986 Marimar Torres founded Marimar Estate. In Spain outside of the Torres family’s native Penedès region, they own vineyards in DO Conca de Barberà, DO Toro, DO Jumilla, DO Ribera del Duero, DOQ Priorat and most recently in DOC Rioja – in the last three areas with new wineries or wineries under construction. Likewise, Torres is also Spain’s largest producer of DO wines under its own label, exporting to more than 140 countries. Torres made two significant contributions to the development of enology in Spain: firstly, the use of fermentation at controlled temperatures, and secondly, the maturing of the wine in small oak barrels during a scrupulously defined time, as has been a habitual practice in Bordeaux.
Bodegas Torres is founded by Jaime Torres and his brother in 1870 in Vilafranca del Penedes. During the Spanish Civil War the winery was bombarded, leaving everything in ruins. Miguel Torres Carbó, a fourth generation member of the family, rebuilt the winery in 1940 and started business up again. He brought an end to the sale of bulk wine and started to market it in labelled bottles. In the year of reconstruction, when France was under Hitler’s control and unable to provide wine, Miguel Torres traveled to the United States to promote his wines.It was in this period that the brands Sangre de Toro, Viña Sol and Coronas first came into being. In 1966 work started on the planting of imported grape varieties: at first Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon and later on Merlot, Pinot noir, Riesling and Gewürztraminer.
In 1979 Don Miguel Torres Carbó arrived in Chile and acquired a small winery in Curicó, establishing Torres as the first firm to place their faith in this now renowned viticultural paradise. Over the years, Torres installations have grown to reach 400 hectares in the Central Valley of Chile. Today, more than two decades after its first discoveries, Torres produces some of its best and most prized wines in Chile.
In 1975 Marimar Torres, daughter of Don Miguel Torres Carbó arrived in the USA. In 1986 she started planting The Don Miguel Vineyard and later The Dona Margarita Vineyard, both located in the Sonoma Valley.
Miguel Torres S.A. is founding member of Primum Familiae Vini.
ESTATES IN THE WORLD:
Miguel Torres, Chile
Marimar Estate, Sonoma Valley, USA