About Laetitia Brut Cuvee Sparkling Wine:
Laetitia Brut Cuvee is a sparkling wine made in true Méthode Champenoise tradition.
Tasting Notes:
Fine-sized bubbles burst from the glass with aromas of freshly baked apple pie and toasted brioche. A creamy mousse glazes the palate accented by flavors of lemon curd and buttery toast, finishing long and seamless.
Growing Notes:
The Laetitia Estate Vineyards were first planted to grapes in 1982 when French viticulturists found ideal growing conditions in the Arroyo Grande Valley for producing wines of similar character to those of their homeland of pernay in the Champagne wine region. Only four miles from the ocean, their hillsides receive a thin band of fog in the morning, intense sunshine during the day and coolness in the evening. This microclimate, coupled with extended growing season, high acidity and low pH, produces grapes with intense flavor and complexity. The well-drained soils yield small crops of great depth and varietal character.
Winemaking Notes:
To respect the delicate nature of the fruit, the Chardonnay and Pinot Noir are carefully hand-harvested, and gently whole-cluster pressed using the traditional Coquard basket presses. Each variety is tank-fermented in stainless-steel vats with Prise de Mousse Champagne yeast to retain brightness and preserve elegant fruit aromas. The cuvée is assembled in the springtime, implementing true méthode champenoise tradition. The winery target 15-18 months en tirage for the Brut Cuvée program. From bottling, to aging, riddling, and disgorging, Laetitia sparkling wines are carefully moved by hand many times before they are ready to be released.
About The Winery:
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.
Laetitia Winemaker and General Manager Eric Hickey began his relationship with the Laetitia Winery Estate in 1988 when he was just 16 years old, working in the cellar with his dad, Dave Hickey, who was a production assistant for Maison Deutz at the time. Seizing the golden opportunity to apprentice with French winemakers, Eric joined the Maison Deutz team full-time after graduating from high school. From vintage to vintage, he gained a deep appreciation for the property’s fruit, while also taking time to explore the Rhône, Burgundy and Bordeaux in France and participating in an extension program through U.C. Davis.
In 2000, Eric was named Head Winemaker, and has since taken on the role as Senior Winemaker and General Manager, overseeing the still and sparkling wine programs. With a winemaking style that balances Old World tradition with cutting-edge California, Eric consistently produces generous, articulate wines that are true to the character of the Laetitia Estate.