2017 Laetitia Pinot Noir Estate

Since 1982, the Laetitia Vineyard & Winery has produced elegant wines that champion the exceptional character and diversity of the Arroyo Grande Valley AVA. Originally founded by an established French Champagne house, the Laetitia estate carries on in the longstanding traditions of Burgundy and Champagne with a focus on small-lot Pinot Noir and sparkling wines. Valuing legacy, balance, innovation, and sustainable practices from harvest to glass, the Laetitia team works meticulously from vintage to vintage to ensure that every bottle of Laetitia wine is as expressive as the coastal land from which it originates.

Wine made from estate-grown fruit is distinctive because it is the product of one artistic vision from vine to glass. At Laetitia, the vineyard team begins fulfilling that vision by farming the vines according to the winemakers’ styles, the disposition of the varieties, and their particular growing conditions. The vineyard is distinct for having great diversity in one small area, from the soils to the meso-climates.

A deep and abiding respect for Laetitia’s estate-grown fruit is the mark of Eric Hickey’s winemaking. Beginning his hands-on training in the cellar at the age of 16, Eric has lived and breathed Laetitia all the way to the top, where he is now the Head Winemaker and the winery’s General Manager. “I keep it simple,” he says, “and I stay eye-to-eye with our vineyard manager because the interplay between us is what determines the wines’ quality. Everything done in the cellar starts with what we do out in the vineyard.” While Eric makes a point of experimenting with small lots each vintage, his style is fundamentally built upon finding balance, finesse, and the essence of the fruit he has come to know for so many years.

At Laetitia Vineyard & Winery we are committed to protecting our natural resources while producing quality fruit. Sustainability is a concept that carries over into every aspect of the estate, whether that’s using goats instead of herbicide for weed control, ensuring that all of our employees receive a comprehensive benefits package, or contributing to the community in which we work, live and play.

This recognition of the approach Laetitia takes to vineyard management and winemaking and its impact on the community at large —as well as that of future generations —led to Laetitia becoming one of the first SIP Certified (Sustainability in Practice) vineyards by the Central Coast Vineyard Team. This respected organization identifies and promotes the most environmentally safe, viticulturally, and economically sustainable farming methods; and qualifying for SIP certification requires a rigorous third-party audit of ten criteria including water and energy conservation, social equity, and pest management. Examples of Laetitia’s commitment to stewarding its resources include vineyard practices such as re-use of compost and water reclamation and investment in cutting-edge weather station and soil moisture technology.

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