Pét-Nat Wine: What It Is, Why We Love It, and Ten of the Best in 2025
What is Pét-Nat?
Pétillant naturel, or pét-nat, is the original sparkling wine, with origins tracing back to the 16th century in the Loire Valley. Unlike Champagne, which underwent a second fermentation, early winemakers bottled fermenting wine to capture natural carbonation, often by accident.
This method, known as the méthode ancestrale, produces wines that are fresh, lightly sparkling, and mostly unfiltered. In recent decades, pét-nat has experienced a resurgence, largely due to the efforts of natural wine advocates and pioneering wine bars.
Establishments like Paris's Le Verre Volé and London's Terroir were instrumental in introducing pét-nat to a broader metropolis, giving, for the first time, access to these unique regional specialities, thereby educating the general public along the way.
Pét-nat’s comeback became part of a wider movement for wines that are honest, alive, and unmistakably rooted in their place of origin.
If you’re curious to explore, you can shop our pét-nat wine collection or keep reading to discover our ten current favourites.
Why Pét-Nat?
Light, refreshing and usually lower in alcohol, pét-nats are perfect for summer sipping. They’re more rustic and less predictable than Champagne, often unfiltered, and can range from bone dry to gently fruity. Flavours vary by region, think zippy Loire Chenin, tropical Italian Malvasia, or crisp Austrian Grüner Veltliner.
Our Picks for the Ten Best Pét-Nat Wines for Summer:
Testalonga (South Africa): Craig Hawkins is a pioneer of South Africa’s low-intervention movement, farming old-vine Chenin in the Swartland. His Saffa pét-nat brims with ripe pear, yellow apple and a faint honeycomb depth, finishing with a savoury mineral snap.
Maupertuis (Loire, France): Jean Maupertuis works old Gamay vines on volcanic soils in the Auvergne. This pale pink pét-nat is airy and bright, full of strawberry pulp, tangy redcurrant and a gentle rosewater lift.
Quarticello (Emilia-Romagna, Italy): Roberto Maestri farms organically on the Parma hills, specialising in local grapes. His Malvasia pét-nat is tropical and perfumed, with mango, guava and a heady jasmine aroma balanced by a salty, citrusy finish.
Beck-Hartweg (Alsace, France): A 400-year-old family domaine now run by Florian and Mathilde Beck-Hartweg, champions of living soils. Their Sylvaner pét-nat crackles with green apple, lemon zest and white blossom, finishing razor-clean and mineral.
Tour des Gendres (Bergerac, France): The de Conti family are organic pioneers in Bergerac, crafting wines with energy and precision. This Chenin-Sauvignon blend offers citrus peel, quince and fennel seed over a creamy bead of bubbles.
Davenport (Sussex, England): Will Davenport has been making organic English wines long before it was fashionable. His Pinot Meunier pét-nat is tangy and brisk, with raspberry, wild strawberry and a cleansing sea breeze finish.
René Mosse (Loire, France): The Mosse brothers make some of the Loire’s most soulful Chenin. Their pét-nat shows baked apple, chamomile and ginger spice, with a gentle, persistent mousse and a savoury close.
Fuchs und Hase (Austria): A collaboration between Martin Arndorfer and Alwin Jurtschitsch, this project is entirely about pét-nat. The Grüner Veltliner is brimming with pear, lime peel and white pepper, zesty and mouthwatering from first sip to last.
Valentina Passalacqua, Progetto Calcarius (Puglia, Italy): From coastal Puglia, this tiny organic estate delivers Mediterranean sunshine in a glass. The Bombino Bianco pét-nat bursts with lemon sorbet, melon and a saline lick, perfect for seafood feasts.
Camillo Donati (Emilia-Romagna, Italy): Camillo Donati makes Lambrusco the old way: bottle-fermented, unfiltered, alive. This deep purple fizz is lush with blackberry, violet and earthy spice, perfect for grilled meats or aged cheese.
Food Pairings Suggestions for Pét-Nat.
Dry styles love oysters, Scallops and sushi; fruitier ones shine with fried chicken, charcuterie and soft cheeses. For dessert, try a gently sweet pét-nat with ripe summer berries.
Whether you’re after the best pét-nat wines for a barbecue, picnic or balcony sundowner, these bottles bring freshness, flavour and fun to every occasion.