Laetitia Vineyard & Winery
Laetitia Vineyard & Winery
Almost exactly halfway between San Francisco and Los Angeles, alongside the scenic and legendary Highway 101 and with a stunning view over the Pacific Ocean, there lies Laetitia Vineyards & Winery. The appellation is called Arroyo Grande Valley AVA and is found in the more southerly parts of San Luis Obispo County. The French Champagne house Deutz once produced sparkling wine here, but the estate has long since returned to American ownership. Given Laetitia's history, sparkling wines remain important here, but they are now complemented by well-regarded still wines from grape varieties such as pinot noir and chardonnay; in Sweden, the estate is probably better known for its still wines than its sparkling ones. Production is sustainably certified via SIP (Sustainability in Practice), which in practice means, among other things, that grazing goats take care of the weeds, that Laetitia's employees enjoy proper wages and conditions, and that water is not wasted nor fertiliser used unnecessarily. Laetitia was, incidentally, one of the first Central Coast producers to be approved for sustainable production. Operations on the estate are led by Eric Hickey, who began his career as a 16-year-old assistant to his father, Dave Hickey, who at the time was production assistant to Deutz. The collaboration with the Champagne house gave young Hickey the chance to travel to France and learn the principles of winemaking there. Perhaps that is what has led to Laetitia's stated goal of making well-balanced wines with finesse and fruit in focus. Wines that balance between what might be called "the Old World" and "the New World." As the quintessential Californian he is, Eric Hickey spends his free time surfing. Footnote: Arroyo Grande Valley AVA lies in San Luis Obispo County within the larger Central Coast AVA area, between San Francisco and Los Angeles. The appellation, stretching roughly 25 kilometres, is dominated by volcanic rock formations and is influenced by the more or less constant breeze from the Pacific Ocean.
