Owner and winemaker Edgar Torres.
A wine portfolio with something for everyone
—Edgar Torres was born in Mexico and his family immigrated to the United States to pursue the American dream when he was a young boy. It wasn’t an easy path to citizenship, there were many hurdles along the way and Edgar learned the value of hard work, family, and never taking anything for granted.
When a decision had to be made, Edgar decided to follow his passion for making wine instead of pursuing a traditional college degree. He worked hard, starting at an entry-level position, and learned everything he could about winemaking from a community that embraced him with open arms. He worked in various cellars and absorbed all the knowledge he could. When he had enough money to purchase four oak barrels in 2007, he produced his first wine in his own style. He chose to honor his Spanish heritage by focusing on tempranillo and other varietals that grew well in Paso Robles.
Clearly, he made the right choice – after 22 years in the wine industry, Edgar is a well-respected winemaker and part of the thriving wine community. The Bodega de Edgar brand has expanded to include a dozen wines, each receiving top accolades with 92 to 96-point ratings. The demand for his wines continues to grow and Edgar produces approximately 5,000 cases annually.
His product portfolio has something for everyone with three different brands. The Straight Out of Paso brand is offered at an everyday drinking price and can be found in distribution. Bodega de Edgar remains the focus brand, while Songs by Bodega de Edgar is an ultra-premium brand made in limited quantities.
Songs brought Edgar back to his early days of winemaking. “Songs is a project that I hold very close to my heart and brings us back to the beginning. It is a celebration of music and the French varietals that started my winemaking journey. We believe that music and wine are similar in their ability to transport us to a moment in time.” Each of the wines released under the Songs brand is named for a song that means something to Edgar, often it is about his relationship with his son, or a song from his son’s playlist. The Songs brand is poured exclusively in the winery’s tasting room on the west side of Paso.
The winery hosts event weekends timed with club pickups in the spring and fall. This fall, in addition to a winemaker dinner at BL Brasserie on November 8, club members can attend a November to Remember members-only event on Saturday afternoon where they can enjoy the fall allocation wines paired with lunch and taste library wines.
The weekend ends on a high note with the 4th Annual Tacos & Tempranillo event on Sunday afternoon. Although there are a limited number of tickets available, the event is open to everyone. Three taco vendors present different style tacos, each pairing with one of the three tempranillo wines produced by Bodega de Edgar — one of those taco makers happens to be Edgar’s father. In addition to showcasing Bodega de Edgar Tempranillo, Edgar invites top tempranillo producers from the area to attend and pour their wines, making it a true celebration of the Spanish grape. Please visit the winery’s website for additional information and to purchase tickets.
Edgar invites guests to make wine-tasting reservations online, and enjoy an educational tasting, and hear more about the story behind the wine.
Bodega de Edgar tasting room is located at 3550 Combine Street, Paso Robles. Open Thursday-Monday 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Appointments highly recommended. For more information visit bodegadeedgar.com, or call (805) 369-2625.
—Lisa Pretty
