Pet Nat White

Pet Nat White is a Slovenian sparkling wine from the hills around Rogaška Slatina in Styria, made from equal parts Chardonnay and Riesling. The grapes come from a small, hand-tended vineyard on south and southeast-facing slopes at about 300–330 metres, on calcareous loam and clay. Yields are very low – under a litre per vine – so the fruit is naturally concentrated and full of character.
The wine starts with a short overnight maceration and spontaneous fermentation. The must is gently pressed and moved by gravity, then ferments and rests for about 10 months in oak barrels. After that, it follows the traditional method with a second fermentation in the bottle. Only a small amount of yeast is added, so this fermentation can last for years, and the wine stays on its lees for at least five years, giving depth of flavour and fine, persistent bubbles.
Bottled as brut nature with minimal sulphur and no disgorgement, this is a dry, fresh and expressive pet-nat. Serve well chilled at 6–8 °C.