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if you love wine, then you've heard these two ringing, tickling words before - Pét-Nat.
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The sound is funny, catchy and easy to remember. Like the wine itself.
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Pét-Nat
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But what exactly does Pét-Nat mean?
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Pét-Nat is the abbreviation for Pétillant Naturellewhich means "naturally sparkling". Although the method is quite old (we'll come to that later), the name that contributed to the style's new success was invented by winemakers Thierry Puzelat and Christian Chaussard in the 1990s. The two of them travelled up and down the Loire Valley and called their sparkling wines produced using this old method "Pét-Nat". From then on, this name became known worldwide.
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Other terms that can be found on some labels are "méthode ancestral", "rurale" or the Italian "col fondo".
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Many different names for a process that was originally used by wine-loving monks in Limoux in the early 16th century.
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Basically, a Pét-Nat is a wine that is bottled before the end of the first fermentation. In this way, fermentation continues in the bottle thanks to the natural sugars in the grapes, while the carbon dioxide produced by this process remains trapped in the wine, making it... sparkling!
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This is the opposite of the Champagne method, in which the already fermented wine is bottled by adding yeast and sugar to initiate a second fermentation.
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Another major difference is that Pét-Nat wines Not disgorged and often also unfiltered and unsulphured are bottled. They are then more or less cloudy and usually sealed with a crown cap.
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How did this old style become so popular, starting with Hipster wine bars up to Michelin restaurants?
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Certainly the fact that he has become one of the figureheads of the Natural wine movement has contributed a lot to this.
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If you take a closer look, one possible answer lies in the pleasant, carefree feelingthat the wine conveys. The discreet bubbles, the low alcohol content and the rough, lively feeling of this wine are made for the tastes of a new generation of wine lovers.
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If you simply want a Evening with friends if you want to savour a Pét-Nat without spending hours on tasting notes, if you want to drink something fresh without getting drunk after the second glass, but still want to feel that tingly sensation... then a Pét-Nat is just the thing for you.
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On the other hand, we must not forget the wide variety of wines that can fall under this style. White wines, orange wines, rosé wines, red wines... If you want to be precise, there are endless possibilities for a good food pairing. So it's no wonder that this age-old method can be found on many restaurant wine lists.
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Tasting
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I have a few examples from our range of currently 20 Pét-Nats selected to show the broad spectrum that the genus Pét-Nat can cover:
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A splendid Pét-Nat-Rosé from Portugal, which plays with flavours of small berries. The blend of Juiciness and Minerality makes this wine a perfect example of drinkability and fun-loving side of the Pét-Nat world!
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Well, yes, Lambrusco made the good old-fashioned way is a pét-nat. At the Cinque Campi winery, they follow the traditional method. All the expressions of rural Italy can be found in this wine. Dry, juicy and honestly friendly Pét-Nat in red.
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Château de Béru takes the Pét-Nat method to a new level of finesse. A extremely elegant Chardonnaywhich combines pineapple and melon flavours with yeasty notes of brioche. Forget the glu-glu style for a moment and take your time to savour the silky, sexy texture of this magnificent Pét-Nat.
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Illustrations: Ananda Costa
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Many thanks & best regards,
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PS: Have you already seen our new Search function tested? Pretty well.
Do you have a suggestion for improvement? We look forward to hearing from you.
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PPS: Did you get this email forwarded? Here you can go to the Wine letter and receive a voucher for your first purchase.
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