A Lemon Liqueur Bottled for Friends Becomes a Business
Asbarez
Jan 4th, 2010
FRESNO (The Fresno Bee)-Last year, Fresno entrepreneur Arthur
Hartunian took the advice of friends and family and turned his love of
making lemon-flavored liqueur into a business. And he’s glad he did.
Hartunian, the former owner of a financial-services company, recently
won top honors at the World Beverage Competition in Switzerland for
his Meyer Lemon Limoncello Liqueur. His micro-distillery, based in the
Napa Valley, beat out competitors in the Spirits Division from New
Zealand, Germany and the U.S.
`It’s all very surreal, and I don’t think it has fully hit me,’ said
Hartunian, who runs the small company from Fresno with his wife
Lusine.
And the recognition keeps coming.
His hand-crafted liqueur was mentioned recently on the Fox Business
News program, Hot Mixology – a show about new cocktails and products.
Hartunian admits he didn’t think his company would take off so quickly.
He planned to produce about 500 cases next year, but a major
distributor has asked for 1,500 cases.
He makes two blends of limoncello: an Italian style that has a cloudy
texture, and a California version that has a more clear appearance.
Pino Borrelli, executive chef of GiGi’s Cucina Italiana in Fresno,
says that Hartunian’s company – Napa Valley Limoncello – stands out
because of its attention to detail.
As part of the liqueur-making process, Hartunian uses only organic
Meyer lemons whose rinds are painstakingly peeled to remove the white
pulp.
The rind and premium distilled alcohol are combined and stored in
stainless-steel tanks, where the lemon’s essential oils flavor the
mixture.
`It has a very smooth and clean flavor,’ said Borrelli. `It really
shows that he takes his time in preparing the lemons and getting the
zest.’
Hartunian’s limoncello recipe is the same one he has been using to
make small batches for friends and family.
He took the leap from making holiday gifts to running his own business
a year ago and hasn’t looked back.
`I have been in the financial services industry all my life, and while
it has been very kind to me, it was not something I grew up wishing to
be,’ Hartunian said.
`I always wanted to do something more creative, and this year after I
turned 40, I decided to something that I really loved to do.’
These days, Hartunian’s liqueur in stylish 750 mL bottles sells for
$29.99 to $35.
It is sold at outlets in Northern and Southern California. Locally, it
can be bought at Old Doc’s Liquor, and starting in January at
Beverages and BevMo.
Hartunian also plans to introduce two new products next year: a Meyer
lemon-infused vodka and a regular vodka.