laetitia VINEYARD & WINERY
June 2014
LAETITIA VINEYARD & WINERY
Situated in the Arroyo Grande Valley of Southern San Luis Obispo County, California, Laetitia Vineyard & Winery is dedicated to producing world-class Burgundian wines with a special focus on Pinot Noir. The winery is also noted for its limited production of French-inspired MÊthode Champenoise sparkling wines. From a hillside setting just four miles from the Pacific Ocean, Laetitia’s vineyards enjoy cool sea breezes, coastal fog and a long growing season. When combined with the well-drained soils of the Laetitia Estate, these favorable conditions result in exceptional fruit and wines with balance, complexity and elegance. Laetitia Vineyard & Winery 453 Laetitia Vineyard Dr. Arroyo Grande, CA 93420 Tasting Room open daily from 11 am to 5 pm
805.481.1772
info@laetitiawine.com www.laetitiawine.com www.nadiawine.com Cover: Chardonnay grapes ripening.
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cellar update with
ERIC HICKEY
riddling the racks with
DAVE HICKEY
on the streets with
NADIA ZILKHA featured employee club contents awards & accolades
happenings
nadia quattro release
cooking with laetitia
Pictured: Happy goats at Laetitia Vineyard.
Pictured: Tank door.
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cellar update with eric hickey
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Eric Hickey, Head Winemaker To blend or not to blend? In the world of wine this is a question often debated. Many people feel that the most expressive wines are ones created from a single plot of land, or from a single barrel. Unblended, pure. And while this is certainly true (La Colline or Les Galets, for example), the argument is always present that a blended wine is actually better.
“..the most expressive wines are ones created from a single plot of land, or from a single barrel.” The fact most often cited in the latter arguement is that in a blend you capture the best parts of different lots of wine. In doing so, you are left with a more complex final wine (Reserve du Domaine, Trio, and the newly released Quattro). Highs and lows of different varieties make a more ‘whole’ wine with an intact and complex mouthfeel, aroma, flavor, body, depth, tannin, acid, backbone and structure. Although there are many examples of very ‘complete’ varietals all on their own. It’s a fun discussion. Try it at your next dinner party. Pull out a single vineyard wine and a blended wine, some cheese, and the boxing gloves! 4
riddling the racks with dave hickey ........................................................
Dave Hickey, Sparkling Winemaker The other day I had some friends visiting the winery. It was their first time here and, needless to say, they had a great time. It was also the first time that they ever got to see the inside workings of a winery; the barrel rooms, the tank room, disgorging and bottling lines. While I was showing them around I asked them a question: What is it that makes a red wine red and a white wine white? They looked at me with a funny look in their eyes and then proudly responded: “The color of the grapes!” I then politely told them that they were right..and wrong. It is true that to make a red wine you must start with red grapes. But you can also make a white wine from those same red grapes. It’s all in the way that the grapes are handled when they come into the winery at harvest. To make a red wine, you remove the berries from the stems and then pump those berries into a tank and start the fermentation. As the wine ferments, the color will be extracted from the skins of the grapes causing the wine to become red. To make a white wine from red grapes, you take the freshly harvested red grapes and put them immediately into a wine press and extract the juice from the berries. That juice will be very light in color and when it is fermented it will make a white wine. That is why our Brut de Noir, which is predominately Pinot Noir is a white sparkling wine. So how do you make a Rosé? We’ll save that for another time. 5
Pictured: Chardonnay grapes.
“..what is it that makes a red wine red and a white wine white?�
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on the streets with nadia zilkha .................................................................... “..I never imagined the new wine would be named after me.” Nadia Zilkha, Owner In the beginning of the new wine project in 2007, that became NADIA wines, I never imagined the new wine would be named after me. In part that’s why the cork reads “You never know where life will take you.” After all, I grew up studying English literature in London, worked in finance in New York and spent a lot of time in the not-for-profit world in Los Angeles, before I started working at Laetitia. Today in addition to the NADIA flagship wines of Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc, we have nine other NADIA wines available in our tasting room and through the Wine Club. It’s no surprise I love our NADIA wines. But love must be turned into action, and in this months wine club we’re debuting a new proprietary blend called Quattro. Comprised of Cabernet Sauvignon, Grenache and Petite Sirah from our Santa Barbara Highlands Vineyard and Tempranillo from the Laetitia property. In more ways than one, Quattro is an innovative wine and shows every sign of being a serious winner for us, for you and, importantly, for our community. Because we don’t just love NADIA, we love our community, who has supported us, we will now donate $1 from the sale of every bottle of Quattro to two local charities. This year we’ve selected the Family Care Network and the Woods Humane Society. We will repeat this gift with every new vintage, but will rotate charities to have as broad an impact as possible. Please join us in buying a bottle of our delicious Quattro and be transported by this sumptuous blend, while you help families and animals in our neighborhood at the same time. Let charity come in this new delicious form, and as our cork says, “You never know where life will take you”. Pictured: Assortment of Laetitia & NADIA corks.
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“..Maria may have very well been the girl behind the lens!�
9 Pictured: Pinot Noir grapes.
Featured Employee:
maria anderson. . . . . . . .
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If you have ever wondered who is behind many of the beautiful photos of our events and the Laetitia property, Maria Anderson may have very well been the girl behind the lens! Maria has been with us for nearly 4 years working part-time in the tasting room and at many of our events, as our Hospitality & Events Attendant. When she isn’t snapping pictures, Maria can be found spending time with her two sons and her husband. She enjoys helping others, football, snowboarding, traveling, running, cooking, a small amount of camping, visiting the beach, hiking, dancing, calligraphy and just enjoying life! Her favorite football team is the Denver Broncos and when asked what her favorite wine of the moment is, she picked two! “The Laetitia Brut Rosé is my favorite sparkling wine because it has light fruit and a nice crisp finish, it is the perfect sparkling wine for me...and Laetitia Les Galets! One of my absolute favorite wines ever is the 2005 vintage.” Mrs. Anderson tells us that her favorite thing about her job is that she works for a company that makes great wine, which makes her job a lot easier. We are lucky to have had Maria for all these years and hope to have her for many more, thank you Maria! (And we’re glad we’ve made things easy on you.)
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Sparkling club
Non-Vintage Laetitia Brut Cuvée Gala apple, streams of bubbles and soft melon notes meet to create this festive sparkling wine comprised of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Blanc, respectively. Lemon chiffon and sultry pear framed by freshly baked challah bread come forward on second approach of our house sparkling wine, great for pairing with pork with an apple-celery root slaw or our winemaker’s favorite: potato chips. Retail $25.00 Club $17.50 2011 Laetitia Brut de Noirs A luxurious sparkler primarily made up of Martini 13 Pinot Noir grapes from the Estate, BDN shows rich mocha and freshly baked croissant coexisting with dried cherry nuances. Secondary hints of orange marmalade and crème brûlée meld beautifully for a creamy, pleasing finish. Retail $30.00 Club $21.00 2009 Laetitia Brut Coquard The Coquard is known for showing the depth of an 80% Pinot Noir dominated blend, with a touch of lively acidity and citrus characters from 20% Chardonnay inclusion. Imagine walking into a pastry shop, with aromas of freshly baked nectarine tart, topped with rich mascarpone, candied key lime rind and macadamia nuts. Pair that with a freshly brewed coffee or mocha for the essence of the 2009 Coquard. Retail $35.00 Club $24.50 2010 Laetitia Cuvée M Generous aromas of lemon shortbread greet the nose with a kiss of lime blossom and bread yeast. This 50/50 blend of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay highlights the yin and yang of these wines traditionally used for sparkling production. First made to commemorate the millennium, the M finishes with balancing notes of citrusy lemon drop, courtesy of the Chardonnay, and structured apricot jam nuances from the Pinot Noir in the blend. Retail $35.00 Club $24.50 11
Pinot Noir club 2012 Laetitia Estate Pinot Noir A seductive nose reminiscent of ripe plum and blackberry, with layered components of earth, violets and Asian spice. The palate reveals supple tannins and lively acids accented with pretty hints of framboise and underlying notes of dark chocolate and rye. Try with caramelized onion and goat cheese crostinis, smoked pork and a game of bocce. Retail $25.00 Club $17.50 2012 Laetitia Reserve du Domaine Pinot Noir A rich plum hue and intense candied cherry, leather, white pepper and true Cuban-cigar box aromas mark the 2012 vintage of our Reserve Pinot Noir. The thick bouquet continues on to the palate with complex layers of black fruits, rich mocha and baking spice lingering to the finish. Retail $40.00 Club $28.00 2012 Laetitia Black Label Pinot Noir(2) Every year when we harvest our 400+ acres of Pinot Noir, there are small lots of fruit that stand out amongst their fellow crop. These selections are taken aside and fermented alone to capture the essence of naturally superior fruit. The lots turn out one to two barrels of amazingly well balanced, structured, deep Pinot Noir. Retail $60.00 Club $42.00
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Mixed CLUB 2009 Laetitia Brut Coquard The Coquard is known for showing the depth of an 80% Pinot Noir dominated blend, with a touch of lively acidity and citrus characters from 20% Chardonnay inclusion. Imagine walking into a pastry shop, with aromas of freshly baked nectarine tart, topped with rich mascarpone, candied key lime rind and macadamia nuts. Pair that with a freshly brewed coffee or mocha for the essence of the 2009 Coquard. Retail $35.00 Club $24.50 2013 NADIA Sauvignon Blanc Mango peel aromas waft from the glass weaving through a redolence of tropical kiwi and night blooming jasmine. On the palate, cooked stone fruit and zingy key lime notes are softened by hints of dried field grass. A refreshing mineral-driven backbone is balanced by weight and texture imparted by 15% aging in neutral French oak, while the remainder aged in stainless steel. Retail $18.00 Club $12.60 2012 NADIA Quattro The wine wafts from the glass aromas of brambleberry, blackberry and saddle leather, intriguing to take a closer look. On the palate, strawberry rhubarb pie and cardamom interweave with black licorice and fine grain tannin. This wine is ‘giving’ on the palate, and further, we are giving $1 from the sale of each bottle to two local charities each year! Retail $35.00 Club $24.50 2012 Laetitia Reserve du Domaine A rich plum hue and intense candied cherry, leather, white pepper and true Cubancigar box aromas mark the 2012 vintage of our Reserve Pinot Noir. The thick bouquet continues on to the palate with complex layers of black fruits, rich mocha and baking spice lingering to the finish. Retail $40.00 Club $28.00 13
Red club
2012 Laetitia Estate Syrah A perfect illustration of what cool-climate Syrah should be. A hue reminiscent of squid ink and a palate drenched in blackberry and blueberry jam nuances. Balancing notes of black olive, cassis and lavender bring multi-layered dimension to this very food friendly Syrah, finishing with a hint of white pepper. Pair with Hoisin-glazed ribs or sirloin burgers with onion jam. Retail $25.00 Club $17.50 2012 Laetitia Clone 459 Pinot Noir Rich in color of crushed red velvet, the Clone 459 shows initial aromas of fresh leather, hard cherry candy and warm mocha. Upon secondary approach, the wine opens up beautifully with notes of roasted hazelnut, spiced berry and tart rhubarb. This wine is ready for a hearty stew, or a good book in front of the fire. Retail $32.00 Club $22.40 2012 NADIA Quattro The wine wafts from the glass aromas of brambleberry, blackberry and saddle leather, intriguing to take a closer look. On the palate, strawberry rhubarb pie and cardamom interweave with black licorice and fine grain tannin. This wine is ‘giving’ on the palate, and further, we are giving $1 from the sale of each bottle to two local charities each year! Retail $35.00 Club $24.50 2012 Laetitia Reserve du Domaine Pinot Noir A rich plum hue and intense candied cherry, leather, white pepper and true Cubancigar box aromas mark the 2012 vintage of our Reserve Pinot Noir. The thick bouquet continues on to the palate with complex layers of black fruits, rich mocha and baking spice lingering to the finish. Retail $40.00 Club $28.00 14
White club 2012 Laetitia Estate Chardonnay Dried honeycomb and tart green apple show themselves in this beautiful interpretation of a cool climate Chardonnay. Multilayered notes of hard lemon candy, wet river rock and hazelnut sweet cream weave throughout this estate bottling, finishing with notes of spicy anise. Try with prosciutto wrapped melon! Retail $18.00 Club $12.60 2013 NADIA Sauvignon Blanc Mango peel aromas waft from the glass weaving through a redolence of tropical kiwi and night blooming jasmine. On the palate, cooked stone fruit and zingy key lime notes are softened by hints of dried field grass. A refreshing mineral-driven backbone is balanced by weight and texture imparted by 15% aging in neutral French oak, while the remainder aged in stainless steel. Retail $18.00 Club $12.60 2013 Laetitia Pinot Gris Fresh white blooms greet the nose accompanied by tart lemon zest and a beautiful pale straw color with flecks of green-gold in the glass. Once it hits the tongue, notes of ripe nectarine and lime blossom come alive with refreshing flint and mineral flavors. Look to pair with light appetizers or seafood. Retail $20.00 Club $14.00 2012 Laetitia Reserve du Domaine Chardonnay
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Rich and golden in color, this full-bodied Chardonnay delivers tropical aromas and a citrus character on the nose. Slight tart apple and ripe pear flavors emerge on the palate and are accentuated by barrel aging influences of vanilla and toastiness. Retail $30.00 Club $21.00
• 2013 Central Coast Wine Comp - Gold, Best of Sparkling Wine-94 Points • 2013 LA Intl Wine and Spirits Comp - Gold 90 Points • 2013 Houston Rodeo Intl Wine Comp - Gold • Restaurant Wine - Five Stars 2012 Laetitia Estate Chardonnay • 2014 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Comp - Silver • Stephen Tanzer’s Intl Wine Cellar - 90 Points • 2013 Houston Rodeo Intl Wine Comp - Silver
Awards & Accolades
Non-Vintage Laetitia Brut Cuvée
2012 Laetitia Reserve du Domaine Chardonnay • Stephen Tanzer’s Intl Wine Cellar - 90 Points • 2013 Houston Rodeo Intl Wine Comp - Silver 2012 Laetitia Estate Pinot Noir • Connosieurs’ Guide to CA Wine - Best Buy in the Market • 2014 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Comp - Silver • Wine Lines Online - 90 Points • 2013 Houston Rodeo Intl Wine Comp - Silver 2012 Laetitia Reserve du Domaine Pinot Noir • 2014 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Comp - Silver • 2013 Houston Rodeo Intl Wine Comp - Gold 16
happenings
.............................................................................. Wine Blending Seminar • Friday, June 13th - 6:30-8pm Join Winemaker Eric Hickey in this fun and educational seminar where he will lead you through the blending process, while you learn the craft of winemaking. After the demonstration you will be split into groups to practice your blending and label design skills. There will be a contest for best blend and best designed label. $50pp/$45 Wine Club NADIA Quattro Release Party • Sunday, June 15th - 12-3pm To kick-off the release of our newest charitably-focused wine, we’re holding a launch party with live music from Two for the Road and delectable cuisine for purchase from The Pairing Knife food truck, samples of Quattro paired with locally-made chocolates, and booths for both Family Care Network and Woods Humane, including animal adoption. *Samples of NADIA Quattro & chocolate available all day, live music, food truck and non-profits here from 12-3pm. No reservations needed. Wine Club Summer BBQ • Saturday, July 19th - 1-4pm Join us at the Laetitia Estate House, Club Members, while we BBQ, enjoy Laetitia wines and live music from Les Beck in the backyard as well as door prizes! $35pp, Wine Club only. Annual Grape Stomp • Saturday, August 23rd - 11am-1pm It’s that time of year again! Harvest has nearly started and we would like to invite you out to get into our Coquard presses and stomp some grapes with us! Stomping will be from 11am-1pm, but the fun doesn’t stop there! We will have food for sale from the Gusto on the Go Bistro food truck from 11-4pm and live music from Soul Sauce from 1-4pm, grab a bottle and hang out! *Date is tentative due to unknown harvest schedule, check back for updates. Wine Club Casino Night • Saturday, October 11th - 6-8:30pm Join us, Club Members, for casino-themed games, appetizers, raffled prizes and a photo booth for you to enjoy! Bring your blackjack skills, this isn’t an event to miss! $35pp, Wine Club only. 17
Pictured: Blending Laetitia Pinot Noir.
18 For reservations to any of our events call 805.474.7641, guests must be 21 and over.
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QUATTRO
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$1 from the sale of each bottle goes to local charities.
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ew in the wine club this month is our first release of our 12th NADIA wine since the launch of the second label. What makes this bottling so special is not only it’s intriguing blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Tempranillo, Grenache and Petite Sirah, but what this wine stands for. Throughout the years, we have always made sure to donate to locate charities and auctions to show our support for the work they do and for our community but with this wine we aim to be a little more proactive with our giving. With each vintage of the NADIA Quattro, we will donate a dollar from the sale of each bottle and split the proceeds between two local charities close to our hearts. The majority of this blend is comprised of fruit from our Santa Barbara Highlands Vineyard, with the exception of the Tempranillo. We have had great success growing Bordeaux and Rhône-variety grapes at the Highlands Vineyard due to many factors including the low vigor soils which help regulate the crop, as well as the sunlight intensity brought about by the high elevation of the vineyard paired with the cooling effect of the northwest winds that blow through in the afternoons.
40% Cabernet Sauvignon 25% Tempranillo 20% Grenache 15% Petite Sirah On the opposite end of the spectrum, Tempranillo grown in cool climate areas, such as our Laetitia property, expresses its truest self, with beautiful dark fruit notes such as stewed blackberry and blueberry with balanced acidity that isn’t usually present in a warm climate Tempranillo. The first vintage, the 2012 NADIA Quattro, will benefit Family Care Network, which operates multiple programs designed to strengthen and preserve families and individuals; and the Woods Humane Society, which serves homeless companion animals and places them into humane environments. To kick-off the start of a new venture, we will host a NADIA Quattro release party on Sunday, June 15 from 12 to 3 PM. Admission is free and will include live music, delectable cuisine for purchase from The Pairing Knife food truck, samples of NADIA Quattro paired with locally-made chocolates, and booths for both Family Care Network and the Woods Humane Society, including animal adoption. Reservations are not required to attend this family-friendly event. We hope you enjoy this very special bottling in your shipment this month and join us for the release party as well! 20
Cooking with laetitia
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Cabbage Crunch Salad Ingredients: • • • •
Serves 10
1 head chopped cabbage 4 green onions, chopped finely 1 ½ c slivered almonds 2 packages chicken Top Ramen, broken up
Mix in a mason jar the night before: • • • • •
6 T wine vinegar 1 c oil 3 T sugar 1 t salt 2 seasoning packets from noodles
Toast almonds in a cast iron skillet. Add sesame seeds at the end. Mix ingredients with dressing. Add noodles just before serving. When bringing to an event, I have the noodles, almonds & sesame seeds in one ziplock bag, the cabbage in another & the mason jar of dressing. When ready to serve, toss together & enjoy!
“This salad holds up really well in the summer heat and has a nice crunch & refreshing flavors. In my family, this recipe is a must for bridal showers, baby showers & backyard gatherings!” -Erica 21
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rica Correia (right) is a Red Club member and has been since March of 2009. She resides in Firebaugh, in the heart of central California. She has been teaching for the last 15 years and has taught 5th grade for 12 of those years. She enjoys spending time with her family, camping, hunting and watching her boys play baseball. 22
wine club customer reorder form Please complete your customer information and write the quantity of bottles desired next to the wine(s). You may also call-in your order to (888) 809-8463, email it to wineclub@laetitiawine.com, or mail this form back to: Laetitia Vineyard & Winery - Attn: Wine Club 453 Laetitia Vineyard Drive Arroyo Grande, CA 93420 Club Member’s Name (first and last):_ ________________________________ Phone Number: _________________________________________________ Email: _________________________________________________________ Do you need to update your address or credit card information? Yes___No___ _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________
June Wine Club Order Price List* Sparkling Wines: Non-Vintage Laetitia Brut Cuvée 2011 Brut de Noirs 2009 Laetitia Brut Coquard 2010 Laetitia Cuvée M
$17.50 $21.00 $24.50 $24.50
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White Wines: 2012 Laetitia Estate Chardonnay 2013 NADIA Sauvignon Blanc 2013 Laetitia Pinot Gris 2012 Laetitia Reserve du Domaine Chardonnay
$12.60 $12.60 $14.00 $21.00
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Red Wines: 2012 Laetitia Estate Pinot Noir 2012 Laetitia Estate Syrah 2012 Laetitia Clone 459 Pinot Noir 2012 NADIA Quattro 2012 NADIA Cabernet Sauvignon 2012 Laetitia Reserve du Domaine Pinot Noir 2012 Laetitia Black Label Pinot Noir
$17.50 $17.50 $22.40 $24.50 $24.50 $28.00 $42.00
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For a complete list of wines, visit our websites laetitiawine.com & nadiawine.com. *Prices will be honored through June 30, 2014. **Form must be postmarked on or before June 30, 2014.