Miguel Torres

There are many contestants for the title of Spain’s most iconic wine estate, but in our opinion, Torres stands head and shoulders above the rest. A living legend among wine lovers, sommeliers, and critics the world over, the name Torres has been associated with wine ever since the family planted their first vineyards in Penedès more than three centuries ago. From the very beginning, since 1870, when the company was founded, Torres has been true to its roots and has received worldwide recognition for its wines and brandies.

Despite the global acclaim, Torres owes its origins to the vision of just one extraordinary man – Jaime Torres Vendrell. Having spent time in Cuba, Jaime Torres decided to start a bodega (winery) in the Penedès region near Barcelona, constructing his buildings next to the railway station. For decades his business thrived and expanded, including the move into distillation in 1928. Sadly, the Spanish Civil War outbreak in 1936 would cost the family dearly, not least in the partial destruction of the winery during a bombing raid in 1939.

Nevertheless, the family recovered from this ordeal, rebuilding the winery in 1940. 1954 saw the release of perhaps the firm’s most iconic brand – Sangre de Toro – which remains deeply emblematic of Torres and Spanish wine in general. However, Torres’s real turning point was in the 1960s, when Miguel A Torres began planting international varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay in Penedès – a hitherto unheard-of practice. His vision was for Penedès to become the first Spanish region to embrace French and other varieties, a vision that has clearly been realized. Subsequently, both the Torres Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon – Milmanda and Mas La Plana – were recognized as being among the best in the world; in the 1970s, Mas La Plana beat Chateau Latour at the Paris Wine Olympiad tasting to great acclaim.

However, this is a family that would never rest on its laurels, despite such great achievements. In 1979, Torres started its expansion into Chile, while Marimar Torres planted her first vineyards in California in 1982. Since then, both the wines and indeed Miguel A Torres have been showered with awards, including the Decanter Man of the Year award in 2002 and Lifetime Achievement award in 2011.

Today Miguel’s son, Miguel Torres Maczassek, is the fifth generation to run the company as Managing Director. At the same time, his beautiful and talented sister, Mireia Torres Maczassek, is in charge of R&D. Yet despite their modern approaches and ideas, Torres’ philosophy remains rooted in the mantra of founder Jamie Torres; respect for the terroir and historical traditions, combined with a willingness to adapt and explore new regions and wine styles. Indeed, expansion is very much part of the Torres DNA – in 2016, they released their inaugural sparkling wine brand, called Cuvée Esplendor 2013 by Vardon Kennett.

According to Miguel Torres Maczassek, the wine is named after a Briton who lived on the property during the early 19th century. “Great wines are born from exceptional vineyards with unique stories that have always been there and which need to be rescued from oblivion. Vardon Kennett’s story is indeed one of them,” says Torres.

Another example of the incredible energy, vision, and innovation comes as second nature to this true legend of Spanish winemaking.

You can experience a Private VIP Winery visit of the Torres estate with Cellar Tours on a Penedès Wine Tour