Three families with ties to SLO purchase Laetitia Vineyard & Winery

Ejnar Knudsen, Jeff Nicholson, and Eric Hickey have taken ownership from Vintage Wine Estates

– Laetitia Vineyard & Winery has been acquired by three families with local connections and long-term plans for the estate. Ejnar Knudsen, Jeff Nicholson, and Eric Hickey have taken ownership from Vintage Wine Estates and aim to build on the winery’s legacy of Pinot Noir and sparkling wines.

The ownership change reconnects Laetitia with its 42-year history in San Luis Obispo County. Each of the new owners has unique ties to the local community.

“My father helped shape early Laetitia releases, and I’ve been involved with the winery for more than 30 years. I’m thrilled to build upon this legacy as a Laetitia partner,” said Laetitia General Manager and Winemaker Eric Hickey. “We’ve always been committed to our community, and this return to local ownership reinforces those ties.”

Hickey started at Laetitia in 1988, working harvest and in the cellar alongside his father, Dave, who was a Maison Deutz production assistant at the time. He joined the Maison Deutz team at 22 and studied Rhône, Burgundy, and Bordeaux vintages through a U.C. Davis extension program in France. Hickey was named Laetitia’s head winemaker in 2000 and has since focused on producing wines that highlight the Arroyo Grande Valley AVA’s character. He also expanded Laetitia’s sustainability programs, leading the vineyard to become one of the region’s first SIP (Sustainability in Practice) Certified vineyards in 2008.

Joining Hickey in the partnership is Ejnar Knudsen, who is a partner in several agribusiness companies in the San Joaquin Valley and has over 100 years of family history in California agriculture. The Knudsen family is closely connected to Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, supporting the development of its wine and viticulture center and program. Knudsen serves on the Cal Poly Dean’s Advisory Council for the College of Agriculture, Food, and Environmental Sciences. He first visited Laetitia in 1988 while attending Cal Poly, which he recalls as a pivotal moment that planted the seeds for future proprietorship.

Jeff Nicholson, another Laetitia partner, brings a background in operations and logistics. He co-founded two food and agricultural distribution companies and serves on the boards of several food and agriculture companies in California. The Nicholson family’s connection to San Luis Obispo began when one of their children attended Cal Poly. The family remains active in the community, and Nicholson looks forward to further strengthening their ties while developing the winery.

As part of the new ownership group, Hickey plans to support Laetitia employees, strengthen ties with the community, and grow the winery’s wine club.

“I have always believed that sustainability centers on making decisions that are good for the environment, good for people, and good for business,” Hickey said. “I have a huge amount of respect for – and trust in – my Laetitia partners. Together, we look forward to re-engaging with old friends and welcoming new guests to the winery.”