Pétillant Naturel

Natural sparkling wines, often called “pét-nat,” have become increasingly popular in recent years. Much more than just a passing fad, they represent a return to an ancestral winemaking method that predates the traditional method. Produced in many wine-growing regions, they captivate with their freshness, spontaneity, and very pure expression of the grape.

Natural sparkling wine is based on a minimalist approach. Unlike other sparkling wines, it undergoes a single fermentation, which is interrupted and then completed in the bottle. This method, known as the “ancestral” method, produces fine, often softer bubbles, resulting in wines with low alcohol content that are very easy to drink.

How is natural sparkling wine made?

The wine is bottled before alcoholic fermentation is complete. The sugars still present naturally continue to convert into alcohol and carbon dioxide once in the bottle, creating the effervescence. Generally, no sugar or yeast is added, and there are often few or no sulfites.

Depending on the winemaker's choice, the wine may be disgorged or left on its lees, resulting in very different styles, ranging from crystal-clear wines to deliberately cloudy cuvées that are more textured and expressive.

A high degree of freedom of expression

"Naturally sparkling" is not a designation but a method. As a result, it can be found in many regions, made from a wide variety of grape varieties. This flexibility offers a wide range of profiles, but always with a focus on freshness, drinkability, and authenticity.

What styles and flavors are typical of naturally sparkling wines?

Pét-nat wines are characterized by delicate bubbles, low pressure, and a light mouthfeel. Aromatically, they often feature notes of fresh fruit, flowers, citrus, or white fruit, sometimes accompanied by more yeasty or brioche-like hints, depending on how long they’ve been aged on the lees.

Why choose a naturally sparkling wine?

Choosing a natural sparkling wine means discovering lively, authentic, and refreshing bubbles, the result of a minimal-intervention winemaking process. Approachable and easy to enjoy, pét-nat embodies a different way of approaching sparkling wines—one that is freer, more artisanal, and resolutely focused on immediate pleasure.