Pet-Nat – what is it I hear you ask?

Pet-Nat or pétillant naturel is generally defined as a sparkling wine made using the méthode ancestrale. The wine undergoes a single fermentation, requiring the winemaker to bottle and cap the wine before it has stopped its primary ferment. The remaining sugar is converted into carbon dioxide by yeast, creating pressure and effervescence.

According to the Syndicat des Vins AOC de Limoux, in the 1500s a monk at the Benedictine abbey of Saint-Hilaire in Saint-Hilaire, France, noticed that his bottled and sealed wine had formed bubbles. The wine had most likely stopped fermenting in cold winter temperatures, been bottled, and started fermentation again when the weather warmed in the spring. In this unintentional way, the méthode ancestrale—and therefore pét-nat—was born.

Our Pet Nats 

Our process uses modern refrigeration to pause the ferment by bringing the temperature down to zero degrees for a few days. This also helps us clarify the wine a little, reducing the sediment in the bottle thus avoiding the need to disgorge.

The Soiree makes the most of the aromatics and acidity of Riesling (75%), the texture of chardonnay (20%) and the splash of colour of Dornfelder (5%).

The Dunkel Spritz is 100% Dornfelder. Utilising the intense natural colour, we simply whole bunch pressed the grapes to puncheons before transferring to a tank late in the fermentation to chill the wine.

All the fruit for these wines is grown in the cool climes of the North West at White Rock Vineyard. The high natural acidity and lower sugar levels make for great fruit for this style. Phil Dolan’s pioneering spirit seems well suited to making these adventurous wines.

 

2020 Dunkel Spritz

Fruit from White Rock vineyard in the North West, picked at 11 baume. A pétillant naturel made from whole bunch pressed Dornfelder. Bottled during primary ferment to capture the bubbles. Bottled unfined, unfiltered with no added sulphur.

Bright aromatics laced with berry fruits and hits of spice. Gently sparkling with soft bitter notes layered over vibrant fruits. Gentle acidity lends itself to a wine for all hours of the day.

2616 bottles produced without fining or filtration – Alc 11.9%

 

2020 Soirée 

Fruit from White Rock vineyard in the North West, picked between 11 and 11.5 baume. A pétillant naturel made from Riesling (75%), Chardonnay (20%) and Dornfelder (5%). Bottled during primary ferment to capture the bubbles. Bottled unfined, unfiltered with no added sulphur.

Bright aromatics with hints of floral and stone fruits. Gently sparkling with soft bitter notes layered over vibrant fruits. Crisp acidity makes for a perfect palate cleansing style.

1644 bottles produced without fining or filtration – Alc 12.5%