When it comes to delicious summer beverages, there’s one drink that has been taking Australians - and the rest of the world - by storm these past few years. Pét Nat Wine or Pétillant Naturel, is a sparkling wine that has existed for hundreds of years but has seen a revival thanks to its fun, quirky and interesting flavours.
But what exactly is Pét Nat Wine - and what makes it such a fun drink that sets itself apart from traditional wines? Keep reading on to find out!
What is Pét Nat Wine?
Pét Nat, short for pétillant naturel translates to ‘naturally sparkling’ in French. Although there are similarities to other sparkling wines like Champagne, their defining element is how they are made - which is with very little intervention at all. This has led to Pét Nat wines often loosely being referred to as ‘Natural Wines’.
Pét Nat vs Champagne
Pét Nat Wine involves bottling a still wine while it is still in the process of primary fermentation. Traditional Champagne involves combining one or more still-dry wines after fermentation has already taken place.
How is Pét Nat Made?
Pét Nat can be made from any grape, though grapes with higher acidity tend to work best. There is little to no regulation during the Pét Nat process, with nothing added or filtered out as well. It is made using the Méthode Ancestrale (Ancestral Method) which actually predates Champagne.
Pétillant naturel Wine is taken from the tanks while initial fermentation is still taking place, and then bottled and sealed as-is with a crown cap. It is bottled while its yeast is still consuming the sugars in the grape juice, With the small amount of carbon dioxide present, Pét Nat Wine’s bubbles, or ‘sparkle’ are made.
What Does Pét Nat Taste Like?
It’s near impossible to generalise what Pét Nat Wine tastes like, because the term refers to how the wine is made, rather than factors like taste or grapes. Pét Nat Wine can taste like the full spectrum of wine flavours because literally any grape can be used to create it. They can range from sweet and fruity, to dry and crisp. There is even more freedom in creating Pét Net Wine than sparkling wines such as Champagne which are limited by the grapes used.
With that said, if we were to highlight some common characteristics of Pét Nat Wine, you can (often) expect:
- Fruit flavours
- A gentle fizz
- They are often ‘easier’ to drink
- Slightly sweet
- Often notes similar to apple cider or kombucha
Unlike other classic sparkling wines like Champagne or Prosecco, you may find that your Pét Nat is cloudy, due to a layer of sedimentation. This isn’t anything to be put off by! In fact, if you turn or ‘roll’ your Pét Nat bottle, you can take advantage of this sedimentation and enhance the ‘foamy mouthfeel’ of your drink. With that said, make sure to not shake your Pét Nat too much, or you will end up with a foamy mess!
Pét Nat Food Pairings
Pét Nat wines are an extremely versatile wine when it comes to pairing with food. Because Pét Night Wines are so easy to drink and go well on their own, they don’t necessarily need to be paired with foods. Other sparkling wines like Champagne have fairly consistent flavours due to the grapes they use, but Pét Nat Wine is not limited to this.
With that said, the fresh, easy quality of Pét Nat Wine means it can typically go well with dishes like summer salads, cheese and cured meats and even seafood. If a dish goes well with wines like rose or Champagne, chances are a Pét Nat will pair well with it too!
How to Store Pét Nat Wines
Pét Nat wines are typically intended to be drunk while they’re young. They generally are not meant to be aged and can last a year or two if stored properly. With that said, you would store them like you would store any other wine. Use the fundamentals.
Store Pét Nat Wines:
- Somewhere cool (between 14 to 18 degrees Celsius)
- Somewhere with the right humidity
- Somewhere dark
- Somewhere away from vibrations
- Store your wine horizontally
For more information about how to store wines like a pro, check out our blog The Ultimate Guide On How to Store Wine.
When it comes to storing wine, we recommend using high-quality and reliable wine racks. Consider the classic wine rack, which is stylishly able to store wine, whether it be a few dozen to hundreds! Another great option is to invest in a wine refrigerator. These allow you to control crucial elements of wine storage, including temperature, humidity and light. A great example are Liebherr Wine Storage Cabinets.
For all the best Wine storage solutions and accessories, check out Wine Stash’s online store today.
