Unlike Champagne, there aren’t stringent rules for pét-nat that regulate which grapes can be used. Practically any grape variety can be turned into a pét-nat wine. This, combined with the fact that pét-nats don’t hail from any particular region, means that their flavors can often be surprising. In fact, many winemakers consider pét-nats a true expression of their terroir.
Pét-nats are meant to be consumed chilled and served in a traditional wine glass. They are funky, fizzy and fun, so don’t take them too seriously.
Answer their call! Grab your bottle opener, some adventurous pals, and celebrate harvest season with one of our top six Pét-nat picks below.
Cantina di Soliera NV Il Trovador (Lambrusco di Sorbara)
93 Points Wine Enthusiast
Made with the ancestral method of bottle fermentation, this has aromas of woodland berry, wildflower and a yeasty whiff of bread crust. It’s dry and savory, offering raspberry compote, orange zest and fennel alongside tangy acidity and a light mousse. It’s refreshing and delicious. Editor’s Choice —Kerin O’Keefe
$39 Wine-SearcherDelinquente 2021 Weeping Juan Pet Nat Sparkling (Riverland)
Delinquente 2021 Tuff Nutt Bianco d’Alessano Sparkling (Riverland)
92 Points Wine Enthusiast
This artisanal Riverland producer’s motto, “embrace the weirdness,” perfectly suits this cloudy pét-nat. Made from the obscure Puglian variety, Bianco d’Alessano, it opens with a heady combo of aromas like pineapple chunks, honeysuckle and ginger spice. The pithy palate is less zingy than the nose suggests but there’s prickly bubbles, crunchy acidity and a finish of citrus and pineapple rind. It makes for great porch-pounding summer sipping. —C.P.
$22 Wine-SearcherFuchs und Hase 2020 Pet Nat Rosé (Weinland Österreich)
90 Points Wine Enthusiast
This is ripe, but with a beam of acidity highlighting the pretty notes of hibiscus tea, raspberry and sea salt. It has a beautiful mousse that rolls over the palate, leaving a tactile finish. —Aleks Zecevic
$27 Wine-SearcherAlpamanta 2020 Breva Pet Nat Criolla (Mendoza)
89 Points Wine Enthusiast
Intense cranberry and cherry aromas on the nose of this pét-nat made with Criolla grapes. The palate shows concentrated red fruit flavors backed by refreshing acidity and pleasant small bubbles. It’s light-bodied and very enjoyable. —Jesica Vargas
$26 VivinoLingot Martin NV Intense Cru Cerdon Gamay (Bugey)
88 Points Wine Enthusiast
This red sparkling wine is made from what is called the ancestral method, with a single fermentation in the bottle. It is sweet and fruity, with tannins from the grape skins. Acidity and crispness save it from being cloying, leaving a bright wine that is ready to drink. —Roger Voss
$28 VivinoLast Updated: June 6, 2023
