Marimar Estate Wins Two Gold Medals at 2025 Global Chardonnay Masters, One of Only Two U.S. Winners

Marimar Estate, a California winery led by Marimar Torres and her daughter Cristina, has received two gold medals at the 2025 Global Chardonnay Masters. The competition, organized by the British magazine The Drinks Business, awarded gold to both of the winery’s chardonnays: Acero Chardonnay 2023 in the unoaked category and La Masía Chardonnay 2023 in the oaked category.

The Global Chardonnay Masters is an annual event that focuses exclusively on single-varietal chardonnay wines from major wine regions around the world. Wines are judged blind by an international panel that includes Masters of Wine, Master Sommeliers, and professional buyers. The competition recognizes top wines based on style and price range.

Marimar Estate was one of only two American wineries to win gold in the oaked chardonnay category this year. The Acero Chardonnay is made entirely in stainless steel tanks and remains on its lees until bottling. This process results in a wine with a creamy texture and aromas of fresh apple and white flowers. La Masía Chardonnay, the first wine produced by Marimar Estate when it was founded in the 1980s, is aged for nine months in French oak barrels. The name “La Masía” pays tribute to the traditional Catalan farmhouse, reflecting the Torres family’s heritage. This wine is known for its freshness, complexity, and silky mouthfeel.

Both wines come from the Don Miguel Vineyard in Green Valley, Russian River Valley. This area is recognized as one of the coolest and foggiest parts of Sonoma County, located just 15 kilometers from the Pacific Ocean. The vineyard is farmed organically.

The Drinks Business holds this competition each year to highlight outstanding examples of chardonnay from around the globe. In April 2025, during a separate edition dedicated to pinot noir, Marimar Estate also received recognition: its Cristina 2019 Pinot Noir from Russian River Valley won gold, while Mas Cavalls 2019 from West Sonoma Coast took silver.

The recommended retail prices for these award-winning wines are €33.40 for Acero Chardonnay 2023 and €40.10 for La Masía Chardonnay 2023.