“After two internships in Burgundy, I fell in love with this noble grape,” Marie-Laure told me as we tasted her very first 2019 and 2020 releases. “Well-made Chardonnay reflects a terroir, and the spectrum of flavors is wide. Its evolution over time in bottle is unique.”

Hailing from the rural Limousin region of France, Marie-Laure grew up close to the land.

“Truly farm-to-table, my family enjoyed meals made from the vegetables they cultivated, the meat they raised, the fruit they harvested, and making apple cider from my parents’ orchard,” she said. “Considering my relationship with the land, it was no surprise that I gravitated to winemaking. After graduating from the Ecole Viticole of Libourne, Bordeaux, and Beaune/Dijon, I pursued experiences working in Bordeaux, Burgundy, and other southern wine-growing regions of France. Ultimately, my passion for wine landed me in California, where I worked alongside Pierre Seillan at Stonestreet and then with Mike Sullivan at Hartford Court.”

While in California, Marie-Laure met her husband, Frederick Ammons, who was working at RUDD and the Napa Reserve, among other Napa Valley wineries. Together, they moved to Bordeaux for a few years, where Marie-Laure worked four harvests at Dulong Negociant. Then the couple moved back to Napa, and Marie-Laure landed a job working with Philippe Melka, one of the valley’s more respected winemaking consultants.

“After 18 vintages of dedicated work with Atelier Melka, I started producing my own wines in 2019,” said Marie-Laure. “Partnering with growers who have long histories and unique terroirs, Nid Tissé was born.”

Meaning “woven nest,” Nid Tissé represents Marie-Laure and Frederick coming to California, building a nest. The first vintage was 2019 and only two labels were made, both from single vineyards: Bacigalupi Vineyard in Russian River Valley and Hyde Vineyard in Los Carneros (Napa). The wines are made at Hyde Estate winery.

"Minimum intervention in my winemaking allows for full fruit expression."

“Minimum intervention in my winemaking allows for full fruit expression,” Marie-Laure commented. “I age some of the Hyde Chardonnay in a clay amphora made by the Manetti Family in Italy, which brings some saltiness to the finish and more fruit expression.”

The 2019 vintage is sold out. In 2020, only Hyde Vineyard was produced, which will be released this month. 

“In 2021, I produced a small amount of Chardonnay due to another year of drought. I only bottled 81 Cases of Hyde and 56 Cases of Bacigalupi on December 2nd, to be released this Summer, 2023. I am going to keep producing some Bacigalupi and Hyde Chardonnays in the future. In 2022, I just started making Pinot Noir from Radian Vineyard in Sta. Rita Hills, where I believe some of the best Pinot Noirs in California are being produced.”