Pét-Nat is short for Pétillant Naturel, which is French for ‘naturally sparkling’ or if you’re a child like me ‘a little farty’. ‘Peter’ means to fart. And it’s a type of fizz that’s made in a simpler, more natural way than Champagne, which is arguably more important.
The Method
What this simpler way means is that, instead of going through two fermentations - one to turn the grape juice into wine and the other to make and capture the bubbles inside the bottle - with Pét-Nat, the juice is bottled while still fermenting the first time around, then fixed with a crown cap. This means the CO2 that’s produced at the same time as the alcohol can’t escape and dissolves into the bottles, making bubbles. It also means there’s not a chance to filter out the dead yeast cells from fermentation so it stays a bit cloudy with some sediment.
It’s a process known as the ancestral méthod, which, fun fact, actually predates Champagne! It started in the 16th century, down in Limoux not far from Carcassonne in southern France.
The Style
Pét Nat can be white, rosé or even red and it will always have a simple, rustic feel because unlike commercial wine, it is not filtered to make it star bright - but don’t let that scare you. The cloudiness is part of its unique charm and just means it’s less processed and flavoursome. And with fewer additives, lower alcohol and less sugar, Pét Nat on the whole is actually better for you than many commercial wines!
They’re made for easy, immediate drinking, offering a playful, more approachable alternative to more traditional sparklers. It also tends to be cheaper and has a less formal, much more modern look and feel too, with some really cool labels out there. It’s really trendy right now.
Most Pét Nat will come under the banner of Natural wines because the method fits the low-intervention approach, but not all of them do. Some winemakers may use pesticides, additives or non-organic grapes so they don’t meet the strict criteria to be considered officially natural.
This is a style that’s related to Natural wine, Organic and Biodynamic Wines but is not identical. Upgrade to paid to get full access to the HelenaSips wine course!
Try these:
M&S Rosé Pét Nat Brut, £15 - M&S and Ocado
Alma 4 Phos Pét Nat, £12 Tesco
New Theory Pot Luck, £19 Amathus Wines
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Join me for some intimate conversations with well-loved creatives on their sensory memories and the rituals that bring them joy and keep them calm. Episodes so far:
Designer & Entrpreneur Cath Kidston
Actor & Winemaker Sam Neill
Chocolate author Joanne Harris
Gin Founder Alex Watson
Broadcaster & athlete Vassos Alexander
Cin cin!
Helena x
Another great piece - swap grape for apple (or pear) and you've got a good many ciders too!