2023 05 Marimar Paella

Société Mondiale du Vin

Fête de la Fleur  --  Wine Country Outing

at Marimar Estate Vineyards and Winery

11400 Graton Road, Sebastopol, CA 95472 

       www.MarimarEstate.com   

6 May 2023

CLICK HERE for Event Photos Dennis Swanson Photographer

On Saturday May 6, 2023 twenty members and guests of the Hillsborough Bailliage joined together at the Marimar Torres Estate Home in Sebastopol to celebrate a 'Fête de la Fleur' Mondiale Event of Wine and Paella. As a rainy day slowly turned to partly cloudy sunshine in the rolling hills of the Don Miguel Vineyard, attendees gathered on a beautiful outdoor terrace to enjoy sips of the signature Albarino white wine and three wonderful tapas. Classic OUS FARCITS AMB ANXOVA (Eggs Stuffed with Anchovies. Garlic & Cheese), PA AMB TOMÀQUET (Toasted Bread with Tomato) AMB EL CEP DELS EMBOTITS (with the “Sausage Vine”), and ESCOLANETS (Bacon-wrapped Dates Stuffed with Almonds) paired perfectly with the Albarino Wine (Classic floral, engaging aromas of honeysuckle and gardenia, with tropical notes of lichee, mango and guava, as well as orchard fruits like apple and pear. The Grape originates from Galicia NW Spain).  Marimar Torres graciously greeted all with stories of the winery and the Catalan influence.

Next the group moved to a lovely covered patio area that overlooks the Don Miguel Vineyard. A wood burning fire was heating the main event Paella. Everyone enjoyed seeing the final seafood & chicken ingredients being added to the bubbling Paella. 

The first lunch course was a classic chilled SALMOREJO DE CÓRDOBA (Thick Gazpacho soup from Córdoba) paired with a 2021 Godello (Displaying complex, rich aromas of custard and lemon meringue, with savory notes of lemon and other citrusy fruits. Grapes originate from Valdeorras, Galicia NW Spain)

The main course came steaming to each guest. PAELLA MIXTA DE POLLASTRE I MARISC (Paella with Chicken & Shellfish. Rosemary & Saffron). A classic recipe enjoyed in the Catalonian Region of Spain. Two red wines paired included a 2018 “Mas Cavalls” Pinot Noir, Doña Margarita Vineyard, Sonoma Coast, and a 2018 Tempranillo, Don Miguel Vineyard, Russian River Valley.

Dessert topped off the Lunch, which included a SOUFFLÉ DE TARONJA GELAT (Frozen Orange Soufflé with Orange Liqueur), and some PANELLETS D’AVELLANES (Hazelnut Panellets)

Two of Marimar Torres cookbooks available featured today’s dishes. The Catalan County Kitchen” (CCK) and “The Spanish Table” (TST)

Complete information about HISTORY, WINERY, WINES, COOKBOOKS, SUSTAINABILITY and PEOPLE:

www.MarimarEstate.com

The Venue

The Marimar Estate’s Don Miguel Vineyard & Winery near Sebastopol are nestled in the Russian River / Green Valley appellation, 10 miles from the Pacific. Marimar Torres and her daughter Cristina (general manager) are part of the Spanish Torres wine dynasty, which has been growing grapes since the 17th century and making wine since 1870, also has operations in Spain, California (since 1986) and Chile. Grapes used in Marimar wines include Albariño, Godello, Tempranillo, Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs.

The People

Marimar Torres (Proprietor) has been involved in the wine business all her life. Born in 1945 in Barcelona, Spain, she is fluent in six languages and holds a degree in Business & Economics from the University of Barcelona. She is also a graduate of the Stanford Executive Program, and studied Enology & Viticulture for a year at the University of California at Davis. At Marimar Estate Vineyards & Winery, she directs the activities at the winery and both vineyards - Don Miguel (named after her late father) in the Russian River Valley AVA and Doña Margarita (named after her late mother) in the Sonoma Coast AVA, both in Sonoma County.

Born in 1988, Cristina Torres (General Manager) is the daughter and only child of Marimar Torres and a member of the fifth generation of the Torres family, whose wine growing roots trace back to the 17th century. Cristina has inherited her love of the vineyard from her family and has grown up working alongside her mother her whole life. After gaining several years of experience outside the family business, she joined the company in 2020 and is now the General Manager. Cristina graduated from Princeton University in 2010 with a bachelor’s degree in Economics. 

Estate Vineyards

Don Miguel Vineyard 81 acres located at the Southwest corner of the Russian River Valley, in the Green Valley sub-appellation of Sonoma County. Planted with 100% estate-grown, estate-bottled Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Syrah, Tempranillo, and Albarino. Planed with 20 acres in Chardonnay (Clones: See, Rued, Spring Mountain), 20 acres in Pinot Noir (Clones: Swan, Pommard, Dijon 115, Dijon 667), 3 acres in Albariño, 1 acre in Syrah, and 1 acre in Tempranillo.

Doña Margarita Vineyard 180 Acres located in the Sonoma Coast AOC, on the Bohemian Highway, between Freestone and Occidental - seven miles from the Pacific Ocean. Planted with Pinot Noir: 7 aces of Pommard, 5 acres of Dijon 115, and 4 acres of Dijon 667.

Wine-growing Team

Marimar Torres, Founder/Proprietor

Bill Dyer, Technical Director

Taylor Bianco, Cellar Master/Production Manager

MENU

THE WINES

WITH TAPAS:

2021 Albariño, Don Miguel Vineyard, Russian River Valley

   WITH LUNCH:

2021 Godello, Don Miguel Vineyard, Russian River Valley

2018 “Mas Cavalls” Pinot Noir, Doña Margarita Vineyard, Sonoma Coast

2018  Tempranillo, Don Miguel Vineyard, Russian River Valley

THE TAPAS

OUS FARCITS AMB ANXOVA (CCK    p. 35)

(Eggs Stuffed with Anchovies. Garlic & Cheese)

PA AMB TOMÀQUET (Toasted Bread with Tomato)   (CCK   p. 41)

AMB EL CEP DELS EMBOTITS (with the “Sausage Vine”)

ESCOLANETS (CCK   p. 34)

(Bacon-wrapped Dates Stuffed with Almonds)

THE LUNCH

SALMOREJO DE CÓRDOBA          (TST    p. 59)

(Thick Gazpacho from Córdoba)

PAELLA MIXTA DE POLLASTRE I MARISC      (CCK   p. 107)

(Paella with Chicken & Shellfish. Rosemary & Saffron)

THE DESSERT

SOUFFLÉ DE TARONJA GELAT               (CCK   p. 129)

(Frozen Orange Soufflé with Orange Liqueur)

PANELLETS D’AVELLANES                      (CCK   p. 133)

(Hazelnut Panellets)

The recipes for this lunch are from Marimar Torres’ books,

“THE CATALAN COUNTRY KITCHEN” (CCK)

“THE SPANISH TABLE” (TST)

ATTENDEES

PERSON                             TITLE

Bruce Bastl                        Vice Echanson

Patricia Bastl                     Guest

Ruben Balderas              Guest

Christine Balderas          Guest

Barbara Bessey               Vice Chargée de Missions Membership

Lynne Brown                   Bailli SiVly

Vern Vanderbilt              Chevalier

Peggy Dozier                    Dame de la Chaîne

Ron Fenolio                      Vice Echanson Provincial - PNW Region

Julia Anne Murray         Guest

Michael Kalkstein           Bailli

Susan English                   Vice Chargée de Presse Honoraire S.V.

Jim Kaye                            Chevalier SAC

Glenys Kaye                     Guest

Darrell Monda                 VC Gastronomique Hon S.V.

Dennis Noss                     Officier Commandeur SF Bailliage

Maggie Zhou                    Guest

Claudia Smay                   Vice Conseiller Gastronomique, Commandeur

Dennis Swanson             Vice Chargé de Missions

Sally Swanson                  VC-Argentier Silicon Valley