What is Pet Nat Wine?

Pet Nat Wine is a sparkling, bubbly wine that takes wineries, tasting galleries, wine bars, and even our homes by storm.

Colorful, rustic, and preservative-free wine is beyond our wildest imaginations! So, if you’re curious about this wine often found on the dining table, we’ve got what you’re looking for.

This blog will tackle nothing but Pet Nat Wine from its origin, production, and tastes. Plus, we’ve got some recommended Pet Nat wine bottles just for you! Are you ready? Keep on scrolling!

What is a Pet Nat Wine?

Meaning	● Petillant Naturel ● naturally sparkling
Origin	Loire Valley of France
Production method	● ‘Methode Ancestral’ ● Authentic Craftmanship ● Traditional Production Method
Fermentation	● Fermentation in the bottle ● natural yeast with no added sugar
Alcohol by volume or abv	Eight to Twelve Percent (8-12%)
Taste	Dry, Savory, with a taste of raspberries and pomegranate
Characteristics and texture	● Completely Fermented ● Dry with Unusual ● Funky Aromas
Price	Inexpensive with a price range of $20-$30

Lately dubbed by the crowd as “hipster bubbles,” Pet Nat unsurprisingly made it to the skyline of one of the best and favorite wines. Because of its naturally sweet taste, cloudy bubbles, and fuzzy texture, people love this wine. So, what precisely are these Pet Nat wines?

Pet Nat is a short term for “petillant naturel,” a French word that means naturally sparkling. An entirely natural crafted beverage, winemakers produce this wine with little intervention. Producers do not add other ingredients during the process. And also, they do not filter something in the end.

Generally speaking, nature does the magic when making Pet Nat wines, developing all by itself into a finished product. While Pet Nat wines have an impressive surge in popularity, I cannot consider them the new hype in modern trends.

Pet Nat has been with us, like other types of wines, for centuries. This sparkling wine dates back to the pre-Champagne era and has been loved and appreciated by the French for years.

Why did Pet Nat Wines Grow in Popularity?

Over the years, we’ve come to love these bubbly and sparkling Pet Nat wines. But has it ever crossed your thinking what made these wines so trendy and cool? Well, here’s the thing!

People like Pet Nat wines because they are versatile and easy to drink. But, of course, that’s not the only reason we fell in love with this bubbly wine.

Since there are many add-on values, let me first start with the most obvious one. First, Pet Nat wines have grown in popularity globally because of their lower price.

Believe it or not, these wines are an inexpensive alternative to traditional sparkling drinks dominating the world of sophisticated wines.

On top of everything, wine crafters can make Pet Nat wine out of any grapes. This phenomenon is unique since one can only produce classic sparkling wines from a narrow range of grape varietals.

Because Pet Nat wines can be born out of different grape blends, the finished product usually has exciting flavors.

In addition, since these sparkling wines are a by-product of different grapes, it would not be surprising to find them in a massive color range.

You’ll find Pet Nat wines in rose, red, white, or even orange colors. These make them super-duper easy food partners because they can go well with any meal you can think about.

Finally, winemakers craft Pet Nat wines without no additives. Since they’re low in alcohol and sugar, these lovely wines are a natural choice and the ultimate go-to for those who are health conscious.

How are Pet Nat Wines Produced?

Pet Nat wines are produced using the ancestral method or what they call “méthode ancestral.” Developed way back in the sixteenth century, the ancestral method is probably one of the oldest techniques in making sparkling wines as a product of single and continuous fermentation.

In other words, Pet Nat is put into bottles before the primary fermentation is done. Further, Pet Nat wine is produced with a low alcohol level of around ten to twelve percent alcohol by volume (ABV).

On top of everything, winemakers create this wine without adding any secondary yeast, sugars, or preservatives. Pet Nat wines are a healthy alternative to champagne and Prosecco wines.

Pet Nat Wine vs. Champagne

While Pet Nat wines are often connected with champagne because of their seemingly similar characteristics, the two are different. To set things straight, Nat wines are not a quick and dirty version of champagne, as some would say.

Instead, these sparkling wines are a crowd’s favorite, with their natural sweetness and accessible price. So, without further ado, let’s compare the two and let’s see what makes them unique from each other.

Criteria	Pet Nat Wine	Champagne
Origin	Loire Valley, France	Champagne Region of France
Fermentation	Single Fermentation (Méthode Ancestral)	Two Rounds of Fermentation (Méthode Champenoise)
Farming	Organic & Biodynamic Approach	Non-Organic Method
Bottle Age	1-3 years	Indefinite
Taste	Lightweight, Rustic & Unpolished	Refined, Yeasty & Toasty Notes
Design	Modest, Crown Cork	Characteristic Large Corks
Price	Affordable	More Pricey or Expensive

Origin

Champagne is a sparkling wine originating in the Champagne wine region in France. On the other hand, winemakers produce Pet Nat wines worldwide from France, Germany, Spain, Austria, Australia, and even Brazil.

Fermentation

Pet Nat Wines only goes through a single round of fermentation. In producing Pet Nat wines, winemakers put the Pet Nat into bottles and let its fermentation finish. On the other hand, champagne passes through a second fermentation process in which yeast and sugar are added to champagne.

Farming

Most manufacturers of Pet Nat wines use an organic and biodynamic approach. Often, those who craft Pet Nat wines see themselves as artisanal winemakers. And they only made a limited number of Pet Nat wine bottles yearly.

In contrast, wine producers of champagne usually outsource their grapes from hundreds of non-organic farmers.

Further, Pet Nat wines can be made of red or white blends. The options are endless for winemakers. However, one can only create champagne from approved grapes for production like Pinot Meunier, Pinot Noir, and Chardonnay.

Bottle Age

We can drink young Pet Nat wines around one to three years from harvest time. On the other hand, one can genuinely enjoy champagne after several years of maturity. Generally, champagne needs more time to develop its complexity and characteristics.

Taste

Once you sip Pet Nat wine, you’ll find it has a funky taste because of its different aromas. These sparkling wines are fizzy, slightly sweet, and have fruity apple, pear, and lemon undertones. On top of that, Pet Nat appears cloudy since winemakers don’t filter these wines.

When it comes to champagne, this wine showcases complex aromas. It has more bubbles since it goes through the second fermentation phase. Its taste is smoky with fruity notes of ripe fruit honey, lemon, yeast, and bread aromas.

Pet Nat wines will be more lightweight, rustic, and unpolished. In reverse, one can find champagne more refined, with yeasty and toasty notes, because of its extended contact time with the lees.

Design

In terms of design, people often find Pet Nat very unique. Young designers often put playful words and colorful designs to make the packaging of Pet Nat wines funky, just like its taste and aroma.

On the other hand, classic champagne holds the traditional, uniform, and royal design style. The things we expected, like old-school fonts, ornaments, embossing, and golden letters, are always there.

Further, Pet Nat wines are often sealed with a modest crown cork. In reverse, manufacturers filled champagne with characteristic large corks.

Price

Usually, people often consider Pet Nat wines a cheaper alternative to champagne. The truth is these sparkling, bubbly wines are incredibly budget-friendly. Its current price range is around $20-$30. On the other hand, you can expect a much higher price when looking for champagne brands.

Top Six Pet Nat Wines to Drink

Undoubtedly, Pet Nat wines dominate the market. It’s even considered one of the fastest-growing categories of different wine styles. These easy-drinking, fruit-driven wines are versatile, making them the perfect picks for brunch, hearty lunches, and fancy dinners.

Since there are tons of Pet Nat wines, you may find it overwhelming to look for the best wine bottles you can try. Luckily, we’ve pulled some strings! Here are the top six Pet Nat wines you must not miss!

Brand	Region	Tasting Notes	Alcohol	Description	Price
BICHI PET MEX	● Mexico, Baja California	● Honey ● Stone Fruit ● Raspberry	12%	● Best Overall	$40
SWICK CITY POP PET NAT	● Columbia Valley, Washington ● Willamette Valley, Oregon	● Yeast ● Orange Zest ● Mandarin	12%	● Best Orange ● Specialty Wine	$36
MIRCO MARIOTTI SMARAZEN BIANCO PET NAT	● Emilia-Romagna, Italy	● Seaspray ● Citrus Zest	11%	● Best Budget	$20
DOMAINE SAINT CYR PET-NAT GAMAY ROSE	● Beaujolais, France ●Burgundy, France	● Melon ● Nectarine ● Strawberry	12%	● Best French ● Pink Wine Fruity & Floral	$18
AGNES & RENE MOSSE MOUSSAMOUSSETTES PETILLANT ROSÉ	● Loire, France	● Raspberry ● Kirsch ● White Peach	12%	● Best Rose ● Pink Wine	$30.49
BIRICHINO PETULANT NATURAL MALVASIA BIANCA	● Santa Cruz, California	● Flowers ● Honeysuckle ● Grapefruit	13%	● Best for Beginners	$29.49

The Bottom Line

Pet Nat wines are the kind of drink that will blow your entire world. It’s nothing but natural and sweet!

So, if you’re nothing but curious about the Pet Nat wine, you’re on the right track. And next time, please don’t forget to tell us about your drinking experience with these lovely Pet Nat wines. We’d love to hear them!