Today, you went to a small wine cellar to find a sparkling wine to bring to friends. The wine merchant who works there is obsessed with the last Pet Nat he just received. Not knowing in the least what it is, you have opted for a crémant or a champagne.
A few days later, you decide to google what Pet Nat means and you come across this article. Bravo, you made the right choice ! You will discover here that you should absolutely taste these wines.
What is a Pet Nat ?
Wine lovers, more and more open minded, rediscover certain styles of wine. This is the case of the orange wine I told you about in a previous post : « What is an orange wine ? ".
From now on, wine lovers discover more possibilities than ever before. Sparkling wines are no longer limited to a choice between Champagne or Cremant. We invite much more often on our tables Cavas and other Proseccos. The natural sparkling, also commonly known as Pet Nat, is more popular than ever.
Pet nat, or Ancestral Method, is a method of producing sparkling wine used around the world. Unlike sparkling wines like Champagne, where sugar and yeast are used in still wine to trigger a second fermentation and produce bubbles, the ancestral method consists in bottling wine which is only partially fermented.
While the first and only fermentation continues in the bottle, carbon dioxide (CO² ) resulting is trapped. After a period of rest of up to a few months, the gas is absorbed into the wine in the form of bubbles and the natural sparkling wine is ready to drink.
How natural sparkling differs from champagne ?
Pet Nat is a simple method to obtain bubbles and it was the first way to produce sparkling wine.. This is why we call this process "Ancestral Method".
It contrasts with that of Champagne… All champagnes are made using the Champagne method. Crémants and quality sparkling wines are made according to the same principle, but it is forbidden to speak of "Champagne method" outside of Champagne. We speak rather for other wines of "traditional method".
The Champagne method transforms a still wine into a sparkling wine by adding to it during its bottling, racking, after first fermentation, a dose of yeast that will finish transforming the sugar in the must into alcohol with the production of carbon dioxide (foaming).
Pet Nat elaboration method
As I announced earlier, the process is quite simple. Obviously, the first step is to squeeze the grapes to extract the juice. Then, to start an alcoholic fermentation. To stop it along the way, all you have to do is drop the temperature below 10°C / 50°F for the yeasts to stop their action and "fall asleep".
The juice can then be bottled. By increasing the temperature, sleeping yeasts return to work and alcoholic fermentation resumes. They will feed on sugar and turn it into alcohol and carbon dioxide. This last, trapped in the bottle, will dissolve in the wine. here, your natural effervescence is born !
All that remains is to disgorge the wine to remove the dead yeasts from the bottle before corking it permanently. In contrast to Champagne, it is not necessary to add dosage. The sugar in Pet Nat is the residual sugar from the grapes that has not been consumed by the yeasts.
Pet Nat is a wine for friends
Pet Nat is an accessible wine made to be drunk with friends. Here, no fuss, we forget the glasses of champagne and we relax ! It is a light wine that can be drunk on all occasions : aperitif, brunch, petanque…
Note that the ancestral method is not exclusive to Pet'Nat’ since it can be found in other sparkling wines such as Clairette de Die.
Is Pet Nat a snobbish wine ?
I clearly didn't think I'd get into this debate.… but when you do some research on the subject, you quickly realize that this question is at the center of discussions !
"While the contagion of Extra-Brut continues, snobbery now inflicts Pet Nat on us ! »Mr Bubbles
Between those who are opposed to it and those who defend the Pet Nat, everyone seems to have a very strong point of view on the subject.
Pet Nat is less pompous and generally less expensive than its cousins Champagne and Crémant. Its foam is lighter, the fruit aromas are more intense and there might be a little sugar... and a wine with a carefree spirit, more fickle.
As a matter of fact, I don't see how we end up talking about snobbery in front of Pet Nat… We are far from the desire to belong to a higher social class by drinking it ! We are far from starred restaurants or sumptuous banquets, but well by the pool to sip a wine with some friends.
It is important to have a finish
Although Pet Nat is not a snobbish wine in my opinion, however, it is aimed at a rather bobo group looking for novelty and discovery that buys its wine only in natural wine cellars. Here, we can easily see your gluten free/vegan friend showing off with the last little gem he just bought…
However, it is difficult to oppose a trend emphasizing a more natural and artisanal wine than technological and industrial. The winegrowers of this movement are experimenting and rediscovering a lost ancestral method. The winemaker who produces it often admits that he did it for fun.
Finally, make no mistake about my words… I agree, you can easily find yourself facing a clearly average Pet Nat. However, you can also make a great discovery with an affordable bottle !
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For me c’ is a discovery. We'll taste it at the first opportunity.
Cool article.