If you like bubbles and are looking for something a little bit different, try champagne’s hip cousin, “Pét Nat”. Short for Pétillant Naturel (roughly translating to “natural sparkling”), Pét Nat refers to wine made using the méthode ancestrale, which is actually the oldest and most rudimentary way to make sparkling wine.
The wine is bottled before primary fermentation is finished, without the dosage (a mixture of wine and sugar), unlike Champagne, which undergoes a secondary fermentation. Pét Nat is not limited to a specific region or varietal, and this bottle is a lively blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Chenin Blanc from the Bergerac region in South West France.
You’ll immediately notice a fine delicate effervescence, similar to beer, as well as a slight cloudiness, due to minimal filtration. Subtle pear and almond aromas are matched by a crisp pear and green apple vibrancy when you taste the wine, balanced by a creamy finish. This is the perfect starter wine, an approachable choice that goes well with a variety of dishes, from sushi to charcuterie!
Organically farmed, we admire this wine for its rustic roots and minimal intervention, but more importantly, there is no added sugar (dosage), which is typical for most sparkling wines. Residual sugar and alcohol tend to be low, with alcohol at around 11%.
As with many “natural wines” there can be a bit of funkiness and bottle variation, as there are no sulfites or preservatives added, and fermentation is left to do its thing, naturally in the bottle. However, drinking Pét-Nat is a hip adventure, and you can find many different variations to suit your particular taste.
It can be found at many online shops, such as Back Room Wines (where you can find other low alcohol keto-friendly wines), and is a good value for a sparkling, at around $22 a bottle.
Fun Fact: Pét Nat is often bottled with a crown cap – like a beer bottle, rather than a cork and muselet (wire cage).