Travel along this timeline and discover the key dates in Torres' history. Move along it with the mouse wheel or with the arrows.
1870 Company is founded
The company is founded by Jaime and Miguel Torres. The bodega is built opposite the railway station in Vilafranca.
1904 Visit of HRH Alfonso XIII
(April 17th) His Majesty King Alfonso XIII visits the bodega. Lunch was served inside a 500,000 litre wooden barrel.
1904 Death of Jaime Torres Vendrell
Since he left no heirs, his companies are divided between his brothers and nephews, except the wine company, which is left to Miguel.
1907 Coronas trademark registered
On February 7, Juan Torres Casals registers the Coronas trademark
1909 Birth of Miguel Torres Carbó
Miguel Torres Carbó is born in the "Casa Pairal," very near to the Vilafranca railway station. This house was the Torres family museum until 1997.
1910 Death of Miguel Torres Vendrell
The company is handed down to his son, Juan Torres Casals.
1928 First distillation and ageing of brandies
The company begins the distillation and ageing of brandies
1932 Death of Juan Torres Casals
The company is taken over by his son Miguel Torres at the age of just 23, helped in the early stages by his mother, Doña Josefa.
1934 Miguel Torres Carbó's wedding
Miguel Torres Carbó and Margarita Riera are married
1936-39 Civil War in Spain
The bodega is partially destroyed by bombing in January 1939.
1940 Rebuilding of the bodega begins
Wines are no longer sold in bulk, and the wines are sold in labelled bottles for the first time.
1946 The first Torres 10
The first bottled wine, Coronas, is launched
1947 The first Viña Sol
The first Viña Sol is released
1954 The first Sangre de Toro
Sangre de Toro is put on sale for the first time
1966 Beginning of modern viticulture and winemaking
The first of the non-traditional varieties, Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay, are planted and the first stainless steel tanks come into use.
1970 The winery celebrates its centenary
The new technique of cold fermentation for white wines is introduced. Fresh fruity white wines, first Viña Sol closely followed by Viña Esmeralda, are blessed with tremendous success, replacing the concept of tired oak-aged whites.
1975 Marimar Torres takes up residence in the U.S.
1979 Chilean operation begins
Miguel Torres buys 100 hectares (247 acres) of vineyards in Chile. The Chilean wine industry's first stainless steel tanks are imported from Spain, along with the first new oak casks in over forty years.
1979 Black Label awarded in Paris
Gran Coronas Black Label 1970 wins the Gault-Millau wine olympiad in Paris, with higher marks than wines like Chateau Latour or Chateau Haut-Brion.
1980 New era in red winemaking
Marks the start of an important period of reflection on the style of red winemaking, reducing the yields of the vines and controlling the process of fermentation. Fruit tannins (from the grapes) start to be preferred to wood tannins, perfecting the ageing in oak.
1982 Marimar Torres plants her first vineyard in California
Marimar Torres buys 22.5 hectares (56 acres) of vineyards in the Sonoma County region of the Russian River/Green Valley, California, close to the town of Sebastopol. Planting of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Parellada begins in 1986.
1985 New vineyards in Chile
50 more hectares (124 acres) are bought in Chile.
1989 Milmanda awarded
Milmanda scores third in a blind tasting of oak-fermented Chardonnays from around the world (the first two were both Montrachets).
1990 Miguel Torres Carbó given the "Creu de Sant Jordi"
Jordi Pujol, the President of the Generalitat de Catalunya, awards the 'Creu de Sant Jordi' (Cross of St. George) to Miguel Torres.
1990 More vineyards in Chile
80 hectares (198 acres) more of vineyard land are acquired in Chile, (now 230 hectares/568 acres in total).
1990 Gran Coronas Black Label best again
In a blind tasting held by "Farr Vintners" in London, Gran Coronas Black Label (1971 vintage) once more receives higher marks than all the Grands Crus of the Médoc.
1991 Death of Miguel Torres Carbó
He is succeeded by his son, Miguel A. Torres.
The first of Torres's Californian wines is released onto the market.
1992 Jordi Pujol visits us in Chile
The Right Honourable Jordi Pujol, President of the Generalitat de Catalunya, visits the winery in Curicó (Chile).
1993 The Marimar Estate winery opens in California
The Marimar Estate winery opens in California (USA).
Doña Margarita Torres is awarded the 'Fransesc Macià' medal by the Generalitat de Catalunya.
1993 HRH The Infanta Cristina visits our winery
1995 Celebration of Torres' 125th anniversary
Celebration of the 125th anniversary:
HRH Prince Felipe visits the winery in California
HM King Juan Carlos I visits the winery in Pacs
1996 Honours for Miguel A. Torres
Miguel A. Torres is awarded the "golden" key to the city of Barcelona in recognition of his business trajectory and for the promotion od Barcelona and Catalonia around the world through his wines.
The Chilean Government presents Miguel A. Torres with the Order of Bernardo O'Higgins (grado de gran oficial), in recognition of services lent towards improving relations between Chile and Spain, as well as his contribution towards the viticultural development of that country.
1997 Miguel Torres Foundation Exhibition inaugurated
The Miguel Torres Foundation Exhibition Hall is inaugurated at the Visitors Reception Centre in Pacs del Penedès, containing the Torres family’s artistic and historic collection.
1997 Joint Venture in China
Establishment of a Joint-Venture in China: Zhangjiakou Great Wall Torres Winery Co. Ltd.
1997 ISO9002 certification
Bodegas Torres was awarded with the ISO 9002:1994 certification for its wine and brandy production and bottling processes, following extensive auditing by the officially recognised body, “Det Norske Veritas”.
1997 Torres 20 named Best Brandy in the world
The brandy, Torres 20, is chosen as the best brandy in the world in a blind tasting of brandies and cognacs organised by the International Wine & Spirit Competition, and awarded with a gold medal.
1998 Own company in Sweden
Torres founds its own distribution company in Sweden: Miguel Torres Sverige AB
1999 The Most Important Winery in Spain
The Readers of the North American magazine Wine Spectator declare Torres as “The Most Important Winery in Spain”
1999 Commercial activity begins in China
Torres' commercial office in China opens: Shanghai Torres Wine Trading Co. Ltd.
2000 Marimar acquires more vineyard in California
73 hectares are acquired on the Sonoma Coast – the best Pinot Noir area in California (USA). The vineyard is named “Doña Margarita”
2001 New international expansion
Establishment of a Joint Venture in India - T.T & G. Trading Private Limited – the first Spanish winery to do so there
Miguel Torres becomes part of the Peruvian Company: Distribuidora de Vinos S.A.C
2001 Torres in Wine Spectator's Hall of Fame
Torres is the only Spanish winery mentioned in the Wine Spectator's Hall of Fame in their 25th anniversary issue
2002 New Visitor's Centre opened
Jordi Pujol, the President of the Generalitat de Catalunya, opens Torres' new Visitors Centre in Pacs del Penedès
2002 Miguel A. Torres - Man of the Year
Miguel A. Torres is named “Decanter Man of the Year 2002” by the international magazine Decanter
2002 Nerola launched
Two new wines are launched under the NEROLA label. With this new wine TORRES has sought out the very essence of the Mediterranean (grape varieties, terroir and microclimate) complemented by the contemporary production and management of Mireia Torres (the fifth generation) and finally the quality guarantee of TORRES’ experience, tradition and savoir faire.
2003-2004 New vineyards
Acquisition of Fundo Empedrado estate in Chile (369 ha / 912 ac), 160 hectares / 395 acres of vineyards in Jumilla, Spain, vineyards in Toro, Spain (40 ha / 99 ac) and a small winery in the Ribera del Duero area of Spain.
2004 Death of Doña Margarita Riera Puig
Death of Doña Margarita Riera Puig, widow of the late Miguel Torres Carbó
2005 CELESTE launched
CELESTE launched – Torres' first red wine made in Ribera del Duero
2005 Miguel A. Torres - Personality of the Year
Miguel Torres recieves the Personality of the Year award for innovation from Wine International Magazine.
2006 Miguel A. Torres receives lifetime award
Miguel Torres distinguished with the "Lebenswerk" (lifetime) award by the German magazine Wein Gourmet.
2006 Best European Winery
Wine Enthusiast Magazine names Torres as the Best European Winery
2007 Launch of first Priorat wine - Salmos
SALMOS red wine launched. Torres' first D.O.C. Priorat wine.
2007 Miguel A. Torres most influential winegrower
Miguel A. Torres most influential Spanish winegrower and second in Europe, as per July 2007 Decanter worldwide Power List.
2007 Land acquired in La Rioja
Torres purchases 52,158.23m2 of land in Labastida (La Rioja).
2008 New Waltraud Cellar
Presentation of the new "Bodega Waltraud" for Torres single vineyard wines.
2009 Launch of Torres' first Rioja wine - Ibéricos
IBERICOS launched – Torres' first red wine made in La Rioja, at the new Labastida winery
2009 Alcohol free Natureo launched
Presentation of Torres' first alcohol free wine - Natureo
