laetitia VINEYARD & WINERY
june 2015
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 Drive Arroyo Grande, CA 93420 Tasting Room open daily from 11:00AM to 5:00PM
805.481.1772
info@laetitiawine.com www.laetitiawine.com www.nadiawine.com
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cellar update with
ERIC HICKEY
riddling the racks with
DAVE HICKEY
in the vines with
LINO BOZZANO featured employee club contents awards & accolades
happenings
wine term pronunciations cooking with laetitia
Pictured: Aerial of rows at Laetitia Vineyard.
“...our Brut Rosé has been a longtime staple, but we 3 have another bottle to join...your summer...”
cellar update with eric hickey
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Eric Hickey, Head Winemaker
Ah, Summer. The vines are green, the fruit is maturing and it is time to enjoy the nice weather with a refreshing bottle of Rosé. Of course, our Brut Rosé has been a longtime staple, but we have another bottle to pair with your summer activities – NADIA Grenache Rosé.
This wine has the light strawberry and raspberry notes you would expect with a beautiful pink wine, but also has a bit of the richness and round mouthfeel you would expect from a Grenache. It finishes with just a touch of natural sweetness and a pop of acidity to leave your mouth wanting more. Sound good? We hope so. We only make enough for the spring and summer months, so next time you are planning a picnic, day at the beach or just hanging out playing bocce ball, be sure you grab a bottle of Rosé to make your day even more fun!
Pictured: Laetitia tank yard, showing a few tanks going through their cold-soak period.
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riddling the racks with dave hickey ............................................................
Dave Hickey, Sparkling Winemaker The sounds of French words often tickle our ears. That certainly was and is true in my case. So you can imagine how thrilled I was to be hired by the French company, Champagne Deutz, to work at their new winery in California - Pressoir Deutz. That was in the Spring of 1985 and suddenly there was a constant barrage of French words and terms that I was learning. I was even given titles that I had never heard of before: “Le Remueur” and “ Le Chef de Pressoir”. What was my response? “WOW! How cool is that?!” Both of those titles go with jobs that historically are very well respected in Champagne. Le Remueur has the responsibility of properly “riddling” the sparkling wine. Riddling is the daily process of gently turning each bottle in the riddling rack so as to consolidate the yeast sediment and prepare the wine for disgorging - the expelling of the yeast from the bottle. At our peak we were riddling 30,000 bottles, twice per day. Le Chef de Pressoir would oversee the running of the Coquard presses during harvest. This proved to be both physically and mentally challenging work. At the peak of harvest, after working a long string of 12-plus hour days, I would lie exhausted in bed and I could still hear the thumping of the press’s hydraulic pumps echoing in my head. As a young man I loved it! Occasionally I am asked: “Parlez-vous français?” Interestingly, no I don’t. But to this day, if you want to get my attention, just tickle my ears with a few words in French. 5
Pictured: Coquard Press pressing Chardonnay for sparkling wine.
“Le Chef de Pressoir would oversee the running of the Coquard presses during harvest.�
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Pictured: Row at Santa Barbara HighlandsVineyard.
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“However, the fact is California’s coastal climates are inverse to what most people think.”
in the vines with LINO BOZZANO ................................................................
Lino Bozzano, VP of Vineyard Operations It is always assumed that California is the land of the endless summer. Everybody lives at the beach, hangs out in swimsuits and swims in the warm ocean. However, the fact is California’s coastal climates are inverse to what most people think. Our winters are warm and our summers cool. The long growing season at Laetitia provides the ideal “hang-time” for growing delicate varieties like Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. “Hang-time” is the concept of how long the grapes stay on the vine, and in general the longer the hang-time, the better. Laetitia is 3.5 miles from the Pacific Ocean; most of our vineyards have ocean views. A typical summer day starts with foggy mornings where the sun poke emerges between 9-10AM and we get a few hours of cool sunshine with temperatures in the low to mid 70’s. By 1:30-2PM, the winds start to blow from the Northwest, bringing cool ocean air into the beaches and in our case the vineyards with temperatures in the mid to high 60’s. The winds blow out the marine layer giving much needed sunshine to the grapes, at the same time these winds blow in surface air off the ocean (which is usually 58°F). These cool winds enter the vineyard and immediately cool off the grapes, allowing them to grow slowly creating intense colors and flavors. While the beach goers may be down in Pismo Beach shivering on the sand, these Northwest winds are the saving grace for the Pinot Noir and Chardonnay here at Laetitia, allowing us to grow full-flavored wines of interest and intensity.
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“...her passion for wine quickly became apparent.” 9
Featured Employee:
haylee cornett. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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Haylee started with us in 2011, working one day a week in our tasting room while attending college nearby. She started with us initially to supplement her lifestyle, but her passion for wine quickly became apparent. She began studying for the Court of Master Sommeliers Intro Exam and passed with flying colors. Soon thereafter, she moved from her part-time position to a full-time position at the winery as our Shipping & Receiving Coordinator. This came as blissful news to Haylee, as she was able to continue to call the Central Coast her home. Aside from this position, Haylee has since accepted a new postition as Wine Club Coordinator where she is able to more directly communicate with the club members she has come to know and love while working in our tasting room. In her free time, Haylee enjoys hiking with her fiancé Dan and their German Shepard/Labrador mix, Bozley, and working on their fixer-upper house they purchased last year in Grover Beach. Other hobbies include running, practicing yoga, drinking wine and beer, traveling, painting and drawing. Haylee’s favorite wine depends on the weather. A cold glass of Brut Rosé on a hot day or a glass of Les Galets Pinot Noir on a cold, rainy night. She tells us that her ‘go-to’ wine and food pairing has to be Laetitia Estate Pinot Noir with a grilled jalapeño turkey burger with goat cheese, fig spread and roasted bell peppers on a pretzel bun. Haylee’s favorite part about her job is chatting with our guests and wine club members about their love of wine. We are happy to have Haylee as a part of our team and appreciate her cando, flexible attitude. Congrats on four years, Haylee!
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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 2012 Laetitia Brut de Blancs A thoughtful blend of Chardonnay and Pinot Blanc, this lively sparkler shows bright flavors of grapefruit pith, lime blossom and kiwi fruit. Clean and focused, the wine finishes with delicate white tea, crushed stone and buttered toast nuances. Retail $32.00 Club $22.40 2012 Laetitia Brut de Noirs This rich bubble is proof that you can get your point across without raising your voice. Lush notes of crushed raspberry, orange rind and currant are interwoven with tones of cocoa powder and vanilla meringue. A soft, creamy finish and seamless integration make this a favorite among our most discerning sparkling fans. Retail $32.00 Club $22.40 2011 Laetitia Cuvée M Our proprietary blend of 50% Chardonnay and 50% Pinot Noir, the Cuvée M is known for its beautiful pale, golden straw color and superb balance. Notes of fresh white peach and macadamia nuts combine with Tahitian lime blossom for a wine with lively acidity and invigorating minerality. This wine finishes with accents of crisp pastry dough and creamy mascarpone cheese. Retail $40.00 Club $28.00 11
Pinot Noir club 2013 Laetitia Clone 5 Pommard Pinot Noir One of the first French clones to come to California, the Clone 5 shows classic cherry and tart rhubarb flavors. Old world in style, this wine is known for its jammy, pie-like characters along with ripe tannins, bright acidity and a long, lingering finish. Retail $34.00 Club $23.80 2013 Laetitia Whole Cluster Pinot Noir Our ‘black sheep’ of the Laetitia Pinot Noir Family, the Whole Cluster has made a name for itself for its beautiful red-purple hue, grippy mouthfeel and old world notes of rose petal, spiced black cherry and Earl Grey tea with perfectly integrated tannins and acidity. It has been said that this wine has a magical “je ne sais quoi.” Retail $42.00 Club $29.40 2013 Laetitia Reserve du Domaine Pinot Noir Deep garnet color and initial aromas of cherry cola and Shiitake mushroom, the Reserve Pinot Noir is known for its silken texture and seamless integration of finegrain tannin, complexity and balance. Expect crushed red raspberry and cherry flavors on the palate complimented by elements of soy, sweet smoke and savory herbs. Retail $42.00 Club $29.40 2013 Laetitia Black Label Pinot Noir 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 12
Mixed CLUB 2010 Laetitia Brut Coquard Creamy layers of hazelnut and toast carrying fruit flavors of spiced pear and rich cherry. Lively bubbles and subtle vanilla highlights finish with fresh acidity and lemonlime vibrance in this sparkler named for our 30-year-old Coquard basket presses. Retail $40.00 Club $28.00 2013 Laetitia Clone 5 Pommard Pinot Noir One of the first French clones to come to California, the Clone 5 shows classic cherry and tart rhubarb flavors. Old world in style, this wine is known for its jammy, pie-like characters along with ripe tannins, bright acidity and a long, lingering finish. Retail $34.00 Club $23.80 2013 NADIA GSM Blend Complex, supple and intriguing, our 2013 GSM Blend introduces sultry notes of stewed strawberry, balsamic glaze and a dash of pepper. Secondary notes of wild game, cola and freshly bloomed violet, this Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre blend leaves behind a medium-long finish with ripe tannins chock-full of food pairing options. Retail $25.00 Club $17.50 2012 NADIA Trio Lovely black cherry red with tawny accents. Flavors of cedar, chocolate and cranberries with slightly angular tannins finish with strong fruit, subtle spice and the lingering promise of growing complexity. Retail $38.00 Club $26.60 13
Red club
2013 Laetitia Clone 5 Pommard Pinot Noir One of the first French clones to come to California, the Clone 5 shows classic cherry and tart rhubarb flavors. Old world in style, this wine is known for its jammy, pie-like characters along with ripe tannins, bright acidity and a long, lingering finish. Retail $34.00 Club $23.80 2013 NADIA GSM Blend Complex, supple and intriguing, our 2013 GSM Blend introduces sultry notes of stewed strawberry, balsamic glaze and a dash of pepper. Secondary notes of wild game, cola and freshly bloomed violet, this Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre blend leaves behind a medium-long finish with ripe tannins chock-full of food pairing options. Retail $25.00 Club $17.50 2013 Laetitia Reserve du Domaine Pinot Noir Deep garnet color and initial aromas of cherry cola and Shiitake mushroom, the Reserve Pinot Noir is known for its silken texture and seamless integration of finegrain tannin, complexity and balance. Expect crushed red raspberry and cherry flavors on the palate complimented by elements of soy, sweet smoke and savory herbs. Retail $42.00 Club $29.40 2012 NADIA Trio Lovely black cherry red with tawny accents. Flavors of cedar, chocolate and cranberries with slightly angular tannins finish with strong fruit, subtle spice and the lingering promise of growing complexity. Retail $38.00 Club $26.60 14
White club 2014 NADIA Sauvignon Blanc Aromas of mango peel and night blooming jasmine waft from the glass weaving through notes of juicy kiwi and lime verbena. On the palate, stewed peaches and fresh citrus are softened by hints of dried field grass. A refreshing mineral-driven backbone is balanced by 15% aging in neutral French oak, while the remainder aged stainless steel. Retail $18.00 Club $12.60 2013 Laetitia Estate Chardonnay A mouth-filling palate of Bosc pear, pineapple and lemon oil overtones is balanced by spirited acidity and notes of crushed chalk. On second approach, this Chardonnay unfolds with nuances of summer melon, honeycomb cereal and spiced nutmeg. Look to pair with a simple Caesar salad with grilled shrimp or one of our favorites, chicken saltimbocca. Retail $20.00 Club $14.00 2013 NADIA White Aromatic waves of white lilies, citrus oils and hazelnut emerge from the glass in this blend of Grenache Blanc, Roussanne and Viognier. Round in mouth feel with adequate weight and mineral flavors framed with honeycomb, graham cracker and Meyer Lemon crispness. This blend has spicy flavors of nutmeg and cinnamon; fullbodied and supple, perfect for rich seafood dishes with creamy sauces. Retail $30.00 Club $21.00 2013 Laetitia Reserve du Domaine Chardonnay 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 15
• 2015 Houston Rodeo Intl Wine Competition Silver Medal • 2015 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition Silver Medal • 2015 Veritage Miami Best in Glass Wine Challenge Silver Medal 2013 Laetitia Estate Chardonnay • 2015 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition Silver Medal • Paso Robles Daily News Top local white wines for the holidays • SLO Visitors Guide Best local wines for the holidays
Awards & Accolades
NV Laetitia Brut Cuvée
Orange Coast Magazine - Must-Try Wine of Week WineBusiness.com - Laetitia Vineyard & Winery Brings A Taste Of The Central Coast To NYC Durtti - Hollywood Actor Charley Koontz Talks to Durtti Ahead Of The US Premiere Of CSI: Cyber The Dish by PSPR - Wedding season field trip: Rings and wines and gowns, oh my! Vault 29 - Wine Mic Monday: Laetitia Vineyard & Winery *To read these articles online visit www.laetitiawine.com/awards-and-accolades/ 16
happenings
.............................................................................. Blending Seminar with Winemaker Eric Hickey • Saturday, June 6th 10:00AM-2:00PM An interactive, educational event led by Winemaker, Eric Hickey, where he will instruct on the process of blending followed by some hands-on blending of your own. Lunch will be provided. Reservations required, limited space available. (Date of event is subject to change) $55/Wine Club: $50 Wine Club Pick Up Party • Wednesday, June 10th OR Thursday, June 11th 5:30-7:00PM Wine Club Members, please join us for a casual evening where you can taste the wines in your June Club, pick up your shipments and enjoy some light fare on us! This is a great time to take advantage of your 30% discount! Club Members can choose to attend one of the dates above. Reservations required, limited space available. Free of Charge (Wine Club Only) Wine Club BBQ • Saturday, July 18th 1:00-4:00PM Wine Club Members, join us for our Annual Summer BBQ on the Laetitia Estate House lawn where we feature Santa Maria Style BBQ accompanied by Laetitia & NADIA Wines as well as live music, a photo booth area and wine-themed games! Reservations required, limited space available. $40 (Wine Club Only) Pinot & Paella • Saturday, September 19th 3:00-5:00PM A casual summer afternoon on the Laetitia Estate House lawn, where we feature various seasonal paellas prepared outdoors by a local chef alongside Laetitia & NADIA Wines for a perfect al fresco summer meal. Reservations required, limited space available. $45/Wine Club: $40 Summer Music Sessions 17
Check our website for our summer music schedule.
RSVP to our events by calling 805.474.7641. Limited availability, guests must be 21+.18
wine term Pronunciations
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Domaine: doh-MAYN Pinot Noir: PEE-noh NWAHR Pinot Gris: PEE-noh-GREE Terroir: teh-RWAHR Sommelier: soh-me-LYAY Rosé: roh-ZAY Roussanne: roo-SAHN Cabernet Sauvignon: ka-behr-NAY-so-vihn-YOHN Chardonnay: shar-doh-NAY Sauvignon Blanc: SOH-vihn-yohn-BLAHNK Cuvée: koo-VAY Petite Sirah: peh-TEET sih-RAH La Coupelle: lah-coo-PELL 19
Pinot Blanc: PEE-noh-BLAHNK Grenache: gren-NOSH Grenache Blanc: gren-NOSH-BLAHNK Merlot: mer-LOH Syrah: sih-RAH Brut de Noirs: brewt-deh-NWAHR Cabernet Franc: ka-behr-NAY-FRAHNK Les Galets: lay-gal-LAY Méthode Champenoise: may-tohd sha-pen-WAZ Brut de Blancs: brewt-deh-BLAHNK La Colline: lah-coal-LEAN Coquard: coh-CARD Viognier: vee-oh-NYAY Mourvèdre: moor-VAY-druh Tempranillo: temp-prah-NEE-yoh
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Cooking with laetitia
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Linguine with Clam Sauce
Ingredients
Serves 4-6
• 16 ounces linguine - cook al dente as directed Clam Sauce • 5 tablespoons olive oil • 6 large cloves garlic - chopped • (4) 10 ounce cans chopped clams • 1/3 cup Laetitia Chardonnay • 2 large carrots finely chopped • 2 tablespoons fresh oregano - minced • 1/2 cup parsley - minced Directions Heat oil over medium heat in large sauce pan, add garlic and cook about 30 seconds. Add clams and juice, wine, carrot and oregano. Reduce about 15 minutes. If you want the sauce a little thicker - add 1 tablespoon flour dispersed in 1/4 cup Chardonnay - and cook about 5 minutes. Add all but 1 tablespoon parsley - season with fresh ground peppper. Add linguine and sauce to serving bowl and toss well. Garnish with remaining parsley.
Recipe courtesy of our CFO’s wife and avid lover of Laetitia and NADIA Wines, Barbara McPherson. Barbara has lived on the Central Coast for 8 years and particularly enjoys the beautiful weather, which allows her the ability to grow fresh vegetables and flowers in her garden. In her free time, she enjoys sewing, cooking and traveling, and only has one state to check off her list of visiting all 50 states - North Dakota, here she comes! 21
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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 2012 Laetitia Brut de Blancs 2012 Laetitia Brut de Noirs 2010 Laetitia Brut Coquard 2011 Laetitia Cuvée M
$17.50 $22.40 $22.40 $28.00 $28.00
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White Wines: 2014 NADIA Sauvignon Blanc 2013 Laetitia Estate Chardonnay 2013 NADIA White 2013 Laetitia Reserve du Domaine Chardonnay
$12.60 $14.00 $21.00 $21.00
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Red Wines: 2013 NADIA GSM Blend 2013 Laetitia Clone 5 Pommard Pinot Noir 2012 NADIA Trio 2013 Laetitia Whole Cluster Pinot Noir 2013 Laetitia Reserve du Domaine Pinot Noir 2013 Laetitia Black Label Pinot Noir
$17.50 $23.80 $26.60 $29.40 $29.40 $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, 2015. Form must be postmarked on or before June 30, 2015.