Maria Martinez Marin

Maria's Story

“I studied at the Pharmacy University in Seville, after this I studied Enology and Viticulture for two years more in Logroño (La Rioja). I started as Winemaker assistant in 1996 and after 2 years I took the head of the winemaking department at Cooperativa de Alcanadre in Rioja Baja.

In 2003 I moved to Bodegas patrocinio which is placed in Rioja Alta, the best vineyard area in Rioja. I was searching a winery able to get top quality wines and after 13 years making wine I have developed so many different wines.

Why am I in the wine business? I love to create something to give pleasure to the rest of the world, I mean WINE. I love the whole process of winemaking. You start working together with our growers in the fields and finish drinking my wine in the best restaurant in Madrid.

Wine comes from the fields and if we don't take care of it we couldn't get good grapes to make good wine. We are involved in 3 different projects with the Scientifics of Rioja (one of them to avoid of using of chemical treatments) and also we are making Organic wine, so, we are really involved with environmental issues. I have 3 viticulture experts to control our vineyard and they help me to take the best decision to get the best quality grapes and under the rule of the maximum respect for the mother nature.

I threat my wines like my own babies. I taste them two or three times per day during the harvesting time in order to get exactly what I want from all of them. This is the most critical time, elaboration and it's like the growth of a baby, you must pay whole attention to him.

I feel really lucky, I've got the most lovely job in the world. With access to some great grapes, I set out to change the co-op mentality away from quantity to quality.After 3 years of hard work as head winemaker in such a prestigious area, I finally have the wines where I want them. They are called Lagrimas de Maria, Maria's tears. When you see that your idea becomes true, when you dream with a type of wine and you are able to do it, this is the best moment”