Pétillant Naturel is a natural fizzy wine that is becoming
widely available, popping up in a liquor store near you. It’s not your usual
sparkling wine like champagne or prosecco — it’s its own thing and made a
little differently.
Champagnes and most other sparkling wines have bubbles
because they are fermented twice. Pét-nats are bottled after the first
fermentation, which results in a soft, fizzy wine, less sharp than a bubbly champagne.
They’re also hazier with more sediment at the bottom, a little sweeter than champagne and lower in alcohol.
Pét-nats are not region-specific and can be found in
vineyards from California to France. They are also not entirely new as the
technique originated in 16th century France and is known as a “methode ancestrale,” an ancient method of making wine. The types of wine made in this
style are usually white or rosé.
Because there is less human intervention in the process of
making pét-nats, the result is a less processed, more natural wine. These are
known as low-intervention wines and their popularity is probably the reason pét-nats
are suddenly trendy.
Enjoy pét-nats chilled and drink it shortly after you buy it
— it’s not meant to age, but is intended to be consumed “young.” Pét-nats are inexpensive,
meant to be sipped like a beer, due to the similar mouth-feel. The bottles have
a crown cap rather than a cork, also like beer.
Not sure if you like pét-nats after trying one? The fun thing about them is
that they have distinct personalities. They can be light and refreshing, funky,
creamy, smooth or juicy. Not all pét-nats are created equal. Try a few this
summer, because each is different with its own charm. Better yet, bring one to
a party and impress your friends with your extensive knowledge of this new/old kind of wine.