Naturally Sparkling

What is Pet Nat? Pet Nat is a nickname for ‘pétillant naturel’, which means ‘naturally sparkling’. This is a style of wine that is bottled before it has finished fermentation. Normally topped with a crown cap, the wine finishes fermentation inside the bottle. A byproduct of fermentation is CO2, which gets trapped inside the bottle, creating little dancing bubbles. This method of making sparkling wine is also called ‘méthode ancestrale’.

Winemakers Gone Wild

Winemakers are having a lot of fun with Pet Nat. Unlike Champagne and Prosecco, there aren’t any regulations on what you can make this sparkling wine with. Because of this flexibility, you can find a lot of variety and creativity. Chris Miller at Adroit blended Colombard and Barbera for his 2020 Pet Nat, two varieties not often found in sparkling wines. In Australia, Delinquente showcased Bianco d’Alessano with their 2021 Tuff Nutt Pet Nat. Bianco d’Alessano is a late ripening Italian variety that does exceptionally well in warmer climates and holds acid like a champ.

Party in your Glass

These wines are beautifully textured, mouth wateringly juicy and incredibly lively. Given the unpredictability of in-bottle fermentation, the bubbles can vary in size. However, it is pretty much always a party in your glass. If I had to give it two words, I would say ‘liquid badassery’. Don’t be wary of the crown cap and funny name. Give Pet Nat a try.