Q&A: What is a pét-nat?

Q. What is a pét-nat?

A. Pét-nat is short for Pétillant-Naturel and refers to sparkling wines made by the ancestral method. The ancestral method is a type of fermentation that begins in an open tank and then finished in the bottle with no secondary fermentation, unlike most other sparkling wines such as Champagne and Prosecco. This gives pét-nats half the pressure of classic sparkling wines.

We’re not sure anyone has pet gnats, and it is not recommended to feed your pets a pét-nat, either (they do make “wine” for your favorite furry friend, though!). If you haven’t tried a pét-nat, you should—maybe you’ll love it and it’ll put a sparkle in your eye!