What do you think of Pet Nat? Have you tried it before? This type of wine is quite polarizing, some love it and some hate it. I’ll be honest – the one’s that I’ve tried I haven’t been the biggest fan of. But Pet Nats are seriously popular at the moment, and so it’s worth understanding what on earth this term means, and what to expect when you drink it. These wines have often been called hipster bubbles, but as they gain popularity they are popping up everyone. This wine guide unpacks what is a pet nat, how they are made and what to expect when you drink them.
What is a Pet Nat?
Pet Nat (or Pét-nat if you want to be specific) is a shortened term for Petillant Naturel. This means the wine has been made using Méthode Ancestrale. But for those who don’t speak French, it is a form of Sparkling Wine that harnesses the natural gas produced in the fermentation of wine to produce bubbles, rather than a second fermentation. The result? Wines that range from lightly bubbly to fully spritzy that are always packed with personality. These wines have exploded in popularity over the last few years and are becoming increasingly popular on wine lists.
You can’t go into Pet Nat expecting it to be the same as a Champagne, Prosecco, Sparkling Wine or Cava. This wine variety offers something completely unique which some people love, and some people aren’t a fan of.
The method itself is ancient, but the term is not. It was coined by natural winemakers in the Loire Valley, and so the style has become linked to the natural wine movement.
How is it made?
So how do you make a pet nat? Winemakers make these wines by harnessing the power of the primary ferment. As the yeast eats the sugar in the grape juice, it creates alcohol but also carbon dioxide. When the wine undergoes this fermentation in the bottle and is sealed, the carbon dioxide goes back into the wine and creates bubbles.
This is where it differs from the method for producing other sparkling wines such as Champagne. Although Champagne is also produced in the bottle, it undergoes secondary fermentation in there meaning that yeast and sugar are added to the wine once primary fermentation is complete.
It can be very difficult to produce Pet Nat, even though it seems like fewer steps. If the wine is left for too long, the bottle could explode with too much pressure. On the flip side, if the wine doesn’t have enough yeast and sugar in it, it may not get fizzy enough. But winemakers are rewarded for producing this style by not needing to add sulphur to preserve the wine. The pressure in the bottle prevents the wine from oxidation and creates an ideal opportunity to not add any additions to the wine. This can create some funky flavours, however, which are often seen as a good thing in Pet Nat rather than a fault. Diversity is celebrated in these wines!
What to expect from a Pet Nat
There are a couple of key distinctions that make Pet Nat unique and could be driving its popularity:
- They are normally low alcohol (usually 10-12% abv)
- They have no added sugars unlike other Sparkling Wine, Champagne, Prosecco and Cava
- These wines have no preservatives
- They’re usually unfiltered and so is traditionally cloudy
- Their bottles normally have a crown cap rather than a cork
- These wines can be unpredictable – opening each bottle is a surprise and every one is unique
- They can be made using almost any grape, but usually are better with high acid varieties
Pet Nat wines have a lot of variety – they can be sweet or dry, aromatic or funky, but are usually textural and full of fun and unique flavours. The wines can also be brilliantly colours from white to amber, bright pink to red making for a fun glass of wine.
When it comes to food pairing, they are great for enjoying with or without food. They can easily be paired with an afternoon with friends, and are perfect on a hot summer’s day. They also are great with breakfast if you are looking for a cheeky start to your day!
In summary – what is a Pet Nat?
So now you know what a Pet Nat is and what to expect – does it sound like something you’d enjoy? These wines are seriously unique, and you never know what to expect. But they are also a great alternative if you’re after something low alcohol, low sugar and with no preservatives. They are vibrant in colour and flavour, funky and fresh. And they are certainly here to stay!