laetitia VINEYARD & WINERY
September 2014
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 11pm to 5pm
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
KELSEY RYAN featured employee club contents awards & accolades
happenings change up your club
cooking with laetitia
Pictured: Leaf close up.
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cellar update with eric hickey
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Eric Hickey, Head Winemaker As we all know, winemaking is farming and farming is controlled in a large part by good old mother nature. As wine fans, you know full well the effect of things like frost, rain, fog, heat, cool sunshine and wind can have on grape vines, the grapes themselves, and ultimately the wine that given year. I get asked all the time – “How does the vintage look?” and in the recent years that question has been putting a smile on my face as I reply – “The 2012’s are fantastic, but what you won’t believe is the 2013 look even better!”
“...that question has been putting a smile on my face as I reply - “The 2012’s are fantastic, but what you won’t believe...” Why are these years so good? Who knows exactly, but nature pulled off back-to-back years of great wines. So, with that being said, as club members you have noticed we have been enjoying the fruits of the fantastic 2012 vintage – wines that are rich, round, full-bodied and approachable with a great depth of fruit. What about the 2013 wines? Some have coined the vintage as “The Encore.” You will have to wait and see... Pictured: Emptying a tank, sorting juice from skins.
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riddling the racks with dave hickey ........................................................
Dave Hickey, Sparkling Winemaker Being a Winemaker is a great job. But being a Sparkling Winemaker is even better. There is just something fascinating about popping a cork, pouring the wine, and then watching the bubbles rise in the glass. There are a few different ways to get bubbles into a wine, but the very best way is the Méthode Champenoise. Long ago it was discovered that if wine was fermented in a closed container one of two things would happen: the container would burst open (not a good thing usually), or instead of still wine you would have a sparkling wine! Glass bottle manufacturing has come a long way in the last couple of centuries and so has the understanding of wine fermentation.
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So what are the basics of “Méthode Champenoise?” First, you make a light and delicate still wine, then you add a little sugar to it and some hungry yeast and put it in a sealed bottle and let it ferment. As the yeast slowly consumes the sugar they produce a little alcohol and a bunch of carbon dioxide. If all goes well, in a couple of months you have a sparkling wine! Of course, the entire sparkling winemaking process is quite a bit more complicated than I’ve described, but the end result is bubbles in your glass. Fascinating!
“...fascinating about popping a cork, pouring the wine, and...watching the bubbles rise in the glass.� 6
Pictured: Sunset over Santa Barbara Highlands Vineyard.
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in the vines with kelsey ryan .................................................................... “Becoming a Master Falconer can take at least seven years, including a two-year apprenticeship.”
Kelsey Ryan, Viticulturist As soon as wine grapes begin to develop color and accumulate sugar (veraison), the grape berries become highly attractive to native and migrating birds, including finches and European Starlings. Several techniques can be used to deter birds from damaging the crop. Bird netting is effective but usually can’t entirely exclude birds from accessing the crop. It’s also expensive, timely to apply and even worse to remove. Pest birds quite often become acclimated to noisemakers and visual deterrents. Falconry is another option sometimes used by wine grape growers. We have had success with a falconry-based program for bird abatement at our Santa Barbara Highlands Vineyard for the past two years and are currently exploring the effectiveness of its use at Laetitia. Falconry can be defined as the act of taking wild quarry in its natural state and habitat by means of a trained bird of prey. Becoming a Master Falconer can take at least seven years, including a two-year apprenticeship. In a vineyard setting, trained falconers use predatory birds, usually falcons and hawks, to harass and scare birds that threaten to damage the crop. Throughout the period of veraison to harvest, there are no days off for a falconer. He/she will begin just before sunrise and conclude following sunset. Each individual raptor requires a significant amount of time for caring and training. A falconer will also utilize several different species of raptors, including Peregrine Falcons, Aplomado Falcons, American Kestrels, Red-tailed Hawks, etc. Only one raptor will be flown at a time and it will patrol roughly 400+ acres with each flight. While falconry is expensive, it can be effective with the use of a skilled falconer. In comparison to other methods of bird control, falconry is quiet and environmentally sound. This concept goes hand in hand with our commitment to sustainable farming. We have substantially decreased our need and use of bird netting and we don’t require the use of obnoxious canons, which can be upsetting to neighbors. Falconry is described by some as an art, using natural instincts of predator–prey relationships to our advantage.
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“...began his career here planting vines.. which ultimately made up Block N and P...�
9 Pictured: Sunrise over Laetitia Vineyard.
Featured Employee:
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lucio rojas-garcia . . . . .
Lucio joined the Laetitia Team back in February of 2004 and began his career here planting vines which ultimately made up Block N and P consisting of Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris. Shortly thereafter, he began working on pest management, specifically gopher control. Present day, he plays an important role in the vineyard as an Irrigator, and also was an integral part in the installation of our main water line for irrigation. Lucio was born and raised in Oaxaca, Mexico and in his free time he enjoys spending time with his wife and his 8-year-old daughter Natalie. They enjoy going to the park together, BBQing and watching sports, specifically baseball. His favorite baseball team to watch is the New York Yankees. He also enjoys gardening at home, where he grows tomatoes and various peppers. When asked what his favorite Laetitia or NADIA wine of the moment is, Lucio said that he enjoys the NADIA Orange Muscat. We are grateful to have such a committed employee to watch after our 600+ acres of vineyards’ water needs and to have had him for 10 years! Thank you for your hard work and commitment, Lucio, it has truly been a pleasure!
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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 Blancs Grapefruit pith and raw almond stand out on the nose of this beautifully goldenstraw colored sparkling wine. Lingering bubble and a second approach on the palate lend pleasing notes of effervescent sea spray, key lime, creamy mousse and vibrant chalk-like minerality. This thoughtful blend of nearly 50/50 Chardonnay and Pinot Blanc pairs well with oysters topped with a kiwi mignonette or seared scallops with a grapefruit beurre blanc. Retail $30.00 Club $21.00 2011 Laetitia Brut Rosé Beautifully blush in color with glints of copper throughout the streams of tiny bubbles, our famous Brut Rosé is an instant attention grabber. On the palate, freshly-picked strawberries, tart watermelon rind and quenching acidity mark the 2011 vintage, while secondary notes of freshly baked brioche and baking spices speak to the balance and complexity of this very special wine. 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 11
Pinot Noir club 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 Laetitia Whole Cluster Pinot Noir This wine is marked by a refreshing grip in mouth feel and a singular focus on the palate. Crisp notes of cassis, whole-leaf tobacco and black peppercorn overwhelm the senses. While a touch of sweet oak and sultry black tea round out the profile beautifully. Look to pair with roasted duck or lean meats with caramelized carrots. Retail $40.00 Club $28.00 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 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 2013 Laetitia Clone 17 Chardonnay Originally a Robert Young clone from Wente, our Laetitia Clone 17 beautifully expresses the true potential of the clone when grown on a cool-climate, coastal bench land. Notes of sweet honeysuckle are tempered by fresh mineral-driven characters and zesty lemon verbena. Soft, supple mid-palate flavors of Suncrest peach and sweet cream round out the profile of this very food-friendly Chardonnay. Retail $32.00 Club $22.40 2012 NADIA GSM Blend A blend of Syrah, Grenache, Mourv猫dre, this Rh么ne blend entices the nose with hints of raspberry and boysenberry and underlying accents of clove and nutmeg. Medium body laced with plum and black cherries. Look to pair with pulled pork sliders with pickled vegetables. 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 $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 NADIA GSM Blend A blend of Syrah, Grenache, Mourv猫dre, this Rh么ne blend entices the nose with hints of raspberry and boysenberry and underlying accents of clove and nutmeg. Medium body laced with plum and black cherries. Look to pair with pulled pork sliders with pickled vegetables. 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 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 $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 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 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
• 2013 Central Coast Wine Competition - Gold, Best of Sparkling Wine - 94 Points • 2013 Los Angeles International Wine and Spirits Competition - Gold Medal 90 Points • 2013 Houston Rodeo International Wine Competition - Gold Medal • Restaurant Wine - Five Stars 2011 Laetitia Brut Rosé
Awards & Accolades
Non-Vintage Laetitia Brut Cuvée
• 2014 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition - Double Gold Medal • 2014 San Francisco International Wine Competition - Silver Medal 2012 Laetitia Whole Cluster Pinot Noir • Wine Enthusiast - 90 Points • 2013 Houston Rodeo International Wine Competition - Silver Medal 2012 Laetitia Reserve du Domaine Pinot Noir • 2014 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition - Silver • 2013 Houston Rodeo International Wine Competition - Gold
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happenings
.............................................................................. Live Music • 1-4pm Saturday, September 13th - Two for the Road Sunday, September 21st - Soul Sauce Sunday, October 12th - Soul Sauce Sunday, November 30th - Soul Sauce Wine Club Casino Night • Saturday, October 11th - 6-8:30pm Club Members, join us for a swanky night filled with casino-themed games, appetizers, raffled prizes and a photo booth to capture the evening! Bring your blackjack skills, this is not an event to miss! $35pp, Wine Club Members Only Harvest Celebration Winemaker Dinner • Friday, November 7th - 6:30pm Harvest is finally complete! Join us at the estate house for a Winemaker Dinner celebrating the completion of harvest featuring Eric Hickey with delicious fare by a local chef paired with Laetitia & NADIA wines. $140pp/$120 Wine Club Winter in the Vineyard • Friday, December 5th - 11am-7pm Each year we hold an all day open house and invite our guests out to sip wine by our fireplace and get their holiday shopping done early. This year we will feature light snacks, wine gift packs for sale and live music from 4-7pm. Come visit us during this beautiful time of year, make your holiday shopping easy and taste our new releases! (Also a great time to pick up your wine clubs, members!) No reservations needed. Holiday Hours
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Thanksgiving -11am-3pm Christmas Eve -11am-3pm Christmas Day - Closed New Year’s Eve -11am-pm New Year’s Day -11am-3pm
18 For reservations to any of our events call 805.474.7641, guests must be 21 and over.
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change up your
Club
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W
e strive to have the happiest wine club members around and one of the
ways we ensure you have a wonderful experience in our club is an option we provide to allow our club members to switch clubs at ANY time! We offer four clubs to choose from and we understand that during the holidays, you may want only sparkling wine, while during the springtime, you may want a mixed club of whites, reds and sparkling wines. Or, maybe you are a Pinot Noir head and you’d prefer to only receive Pinot Noirs, or you’d only like to receive a selection of our red wines quarterly - A-OK with us! Call us at any time (preferably 30 days
Pinot Noir Wine Club Sparkling Wine Club Mixed Wine Club Red Wine Club prior to the upcoming shipment) or email wineclub@laetitiawine.com so that we may assist you with any requested changes. Keep in mind that you are allowed to change as many times as you would like. Have any friends you think would like to be a part of our club? If you refer a friend and they sign up to receive our quarterly shipments at 30% off (plus our other benefits), just have them provide your name as a referrer at sign up and you receive a $50 gift certificate, good on your next Laetitia or NADIA wine purchase of over $50 (not including wine club shipments). We thank you for being a part of our club and welcome you to try a new club for your next shipment. You never know what Laetitia or NADIA wine you will fall in love with next!
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Cooking with laetitia
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Singapore Chicken Wontons
with Pickled Cucumber Salad
For the wontons: • 1 T canola oil • 24 3” gyoza wrappers • 1 T Chinese 5 spice • 1 t sea salt
Yields 24 Preheat oven to 350°F. Brush small muffin tin with canola oil and place gyoza wrappers in them to form small cups and bake for about 8 minutes or until golden brown and crisp. Mix sea salt and Chinese 5 spice and sprinkle over wontons while warm.
For the cucumber salad: • 1 hot house cucmber split lengthwise, remove seeds and thinly slice • ¼ c Daikon radish, peel and thinly slice • 1 t Kosher salt • ½ c red onion, slice very thinly • 1 small jalapeno, remove seeds and julienne finely • 5 T unseasoned rice vinegar • 5 T granulated sugar • ½ t fresh ginger, grated • ½ t Kosher Salt
Toss the cucumber, radish and first amount of salt together and place in a colander. Let sit at room temperature for 30 minutes to drain. In a seperate bowl, combine the remaining ingredients and mix to dissolve sugar. Press cucumber mixture lightly with paper towels and mix into other bowl and refrigerate.
For the chicken: Place everything except water in mixing • 3 lbs. boneless skinless chicken thighs, bowl and mix until chicken is coated trimmed of extra fat evenly, allow to marinate for 4 hours. • 1 ½ T minced garlic Place marinated chicken and water in • ½ c dark brown sugar shallow baking dish covered with foil • ¾ T Kosher salt and bake for 45 minutes making sure • ¼ c thick dark soy sauce the water doesn’t dry up. If needed add • ¼ c canola oil a little more water. When fork tender • 1 ¼ T ground coriander and easily shreds, remove chicken from • ¾ T turmeric oven, uncover and cool slightly. Shred • ¼ c unsalted roasted peanuts, ground using a couple forks. • 2 c water 21
To assemble: Fill wonton cups with warm chicken mixture and top with cucumber salad.
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M
ichael Wood is the Executive Chef at Robin’s Restaurant in Cambria, CA. With a passion for wholesome and fresh, along with a charming seaside setting and inspiration drawn from world cuisines, we recommend you visit them on your next trip to the area or look for Chef Michael at an upcoming Laetitia event. 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___ _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________
September Wine Club Order Price List* Sparkling Wines: Non-Vintage Laetitia Brut Cuvée 2011 Brut Rosé 2011 Brut de Blancs 2009 Laetitia Brut Coquard
$17.50 $21.00 $21.00 $24.50
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White Wines: 2013 NADIA Sauvignon Blanc 2013 Laetitia Pinot Gris 2013 Laetitia Clone 17 Chardonnay 2013 NADIA White 2013 Laetitia Reserve du Domaine Chardonnay
$12.60 $14.00 $22.40 $21.00 $21.00
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Red Wines: 2012 NADIA GSM Blend 2012 Laetitia Clone 459 Pinot Noir 2012 NADIA Trio 2012 Laetitia Reserve du Domaine Pinot Noir 2012 Laetitia Whole Cluster Pinot Noir
$17.50 $22.40 $24.50 $28.00 $28.00
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For a complete list of wines, visit our websites: laetitiawine.com & nadiawine.com. *Prices will be honored through September 30, 2014. Form must be postmarked on or before September 30, 2014.