Laetitia Vineyard & Winery Open in Arroyo Grande

Laetitia’s tasting room in Arroyo Grande is open!

Laetitia Vineyards & Winery in Arroyo Grande has a sparkling wine heritage going back to the early 80s, when it was produced at the same location by Maison Deutz, a Champagne maker in France. Since taking it over in 1997, Laetitia has been the Grande Dame of sparkling wine on the central coast, with 8 different sparkling bottlings at various times of the year.

Laetitia Vineyard Sparkling Wine in San Luis Obispo County

Méthode Champenoise is how sparkling wine is made in the Champagne region of France, also called méthode traditionnelle or classique. This is the highest-quality and most labor-intensive way to make sparkling wine. It involves bottling the still wine with additions of sugar and yeast after a first fermentation, ensuring a second fermentation happens in the bottle, trapping the bubbles inside. It then goes through aging (and periodic turning of the bottles to force the lees to the neck of the bottle), until it’s ready for dégorgement (to get these lees out) and dosage (to finish the wine).

In late 2024, Laetitia sold to new owners, Ejnar Knudsen (managing partner of AGR Partners) Jeff Nicholson (formerly of Vintage Wine Estates), and Eric Hickey (local Laetitia winemaker, employee for sine 1988). We can’t wait to see what the upgrades will look like, and what kind of Sparkling Wine Flight we will be tasting.

See more! There are over 80 sparkling wine producers in San Luis Obispo County.

Here are the Bubblies available now:

2017 Demi Sec – This off-dry sparkling has an attractive and pleasant palate of apple and pear.
2017 Blanc de Noirs – Deep, complex, and suitable for special occasions.
2018 Blanc de Blancs – Soft and lush, yet bright and fresh, this traditionally made sparkler is a beauty.
2018 Brut Rosé – Light, fresh, and fruity, this wine is perfect for a warm, sunny day. Pairs nicely with a picnic basket.
2018 Extra Brut – Super dry, fresh, clean.
2019 Cork Jumper Cuvee – A unique and delicious blend of the three main grapes used in Champagne, France: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier.
2017 Reserve Blanc de Blancs – An extended tirage and extra time in barrel make this the most oxidized sparkling in our lineup, with hints of toasted hazelnut and marzipan.
2018 Sparkling Pinot Meunier – Santa Barbara County’s only sparkling Pinot Meunier exhibits a stunning palate of berry, caraway, and a touch of yeast.

Some have notes of fruit, some lemon zest, hazelnuts, toasty and brioche-ey, though nearly all the sparkling wine here is dry, or Brut. (The Cuvée XD has some sweetness, but the other 5 varieties of sparkling wine are gloriously dry and zesty). Perfect for the quintessential sparkling-wine lover and her quintessential holiday: New Year’s Eve.

So pop those bottles carefully, and share some bubbles with those you love tonight. Or every night!