LAETITIA VINEYARD PROFILE

The Laetitia Vineyard rests on a hillside setting just four miles from the Pacific Ocean. Laetitia’s vineyards enjoy cool sea breezes, coastal fog and a long growing season. These favorable conditions result in exceptional fruit that produce wines with balance, complexity and elegance.

There are a total of 438 producing acres of Pinot Noir. Older portions of the vineyard consist of 65 acres of Martini clone (clone 13). Newer planting consists of a variety of clones including 2A, 5, 113, 115, 459, 667, and 777. Trellising is a bilateral cordon with one bud spur, and one shoot per spur with 1-2 clusters per shoot.

The soils consist of decomposed granite and clay loam with large rocks of schist, quartzite, basalt, and gneiss. Soil is acidic and has a heavy concentration of iron.

The individual blocks within the hilly vineyard are subjected to individual microclimates. Most commonly there is a large swing of daily temperatures, with a 40 -50° difference between day and night. Morning maritime fog burns off as the day becomes warmer, then daytime high temperatures are lowered by the arrival of cooling breezes from the north at approximately 2:00 in the afternoon. As the vines mature, the individual character of the wines produced from each block becomes evident.

APPELLATION

The Arroyo Grande Valley is a distinctive viticultural area whose unique topography makes it one of California’s coolest grape growing regions—ideal for cultivating Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. A narrow east-west valley that channels cool maritime influences from the nearby Pacific Ocean to the vineyards defines the appellation. The western portion of Arroyo Grande Valley, where Laetitia, is located is considered a Region I on the U.C. Davis scale.
The history of grape growing in the Arroyo Grande Valley dates back to the late 19th century when homesteaders Henry and Rosa Ditmas planted Zinfandel and Muscat vines, imported from France and Spain, in the upper Arroyo Grande Valley. Laetitia’s vineyards were among the first modern-era plantings begun in the early 1980’s. In 1990, the Arroyo Grande Valley was recognized as an approved American Viticultural Appellation.

HISTORY

Laetitia Vineyard & Winery has a French heritage still evident in the style and grace of the wines today. In 1982, French viticulturists from the House of Champagne Deutz chose the Arroyo Grande Valley to grow and produce their Maison Deutz sparkling wines. They likened the soils and climate of the Arroyo Grande Valley to those found in their native Epérnay, France. About 185 acres were planted to Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Blanc, and for more than 13 years Maison Deutz enjoyed an excellent reputation for Méthode Champenoise sparkling wines.