Natural wines are very trendy right now. They come in many different varieties, but our favorite – right now – is what’s called a Pet Nat.
The wines are decidedly unpredictable. They can be sweet or dry, aromatic or funky, clear or cloudy – that’s where the “natural” comes in. What all Pet Nat has in common is its effervescence.
These naturally sparkling wines are the ancestral kin of “méthode Champenoise” – a wine style that finishes its primary fermentation in the bottle, trapping carbon dioxide and a sediment of yeast lees.
Pet Nats have a huge drink-ability factor. They’re juicy and pair with just about any foods. Their special, one-of-a-kind nature also begs them to be shared with friends.
So, this season – crack a bottle or two of one of these excellent Ontario examples and share them with friends!
Gamay Noir Pét-Nat
Adamo Estate Winery
Mono, ON adamoestate.com
Made with 100% Gamay Noir, this Pét-Nat is fruit-driven, soft and textured with subtle bubbles that create a unique wine.
Pét Nat
Tawse Winery
Vineland, ON tawsewinery.ca
This classic example of the style is toasty and decidedly yeasty. It’s ever so slightly fizzy and surprisingly dry.
Ancestral
Hinterland Winery
Prince Edward County, ON hinterlandwine.com
Hinterland was making Pet Nat before Pet Nat was a trend. This beautiful example tastes like ripe raspberry & rhubarb and stands out in a crowd thanks to it’s luscious pink colour.
