Your Complete Guide to Natural Sparkling Wines

Natural sparkling wines are having a major moment with wine lovers who are all about keeping things real and low-intervention. Whether you're curious about the buzz around pét-nats or just want to know how natural bubbles stack up against the classic stuff, this easy guide has you covered.

What Are Natural Sparkling Wines?

Natural sparkling wines are produced with minimal intervention, using organic or biodynamic grapes and avoiding synthetic additives. Unlike conventional sparkling wines that often contain sulfites, fining agents, and artificial yeasts, natural sparkling wines rely on indigenous yeasts and traditional fermentation methods to create their signature bubbles and complex flavors.

These wines embody the philosophy of letting the grapes and terroir speak for themselves, resulting in unique expressions that reflect their specific vineyard origins and vintage conditions.

Pétillant-Naturel (Pet-Nat): The Ancient Method Reborn

What is a Pet-Nat?

Pétillant-naturel, affectionately called "pet-nat," is the oldest method of making sparkling wine. This ancient technique involves bottling wine before primary fermentation is complete, allowing the remaining sugars to ferment in the bottle and naturally create carbonation.

The Pet-Nat Production Process

The pet-nat method is beautifully simple:

• First Fermentation: Fermentation kicks off in tanks or barrels with wild yeast from the grape skins.
  
• Bottling: Before it’s done fermenting - while there’s still a bit of natural sugar left - it gets bottled up.
  
• Secondary fermentation: Inside the bottle, the residual yeast converts the remaining sugar to alcohol and CO2. There’s no filtering or disgorging, so you end up with a bit of sediment and that signature cloudy look.
  

Pet-Nat Characteristics

Pet-nat wines are often a lighter bubbly (that's gentler or softer than Champagne,) often a little cloudy in appearance due to natural sediment. They have fresh, vibrant acidity with fruit-forward flavors, and slight variation between bottles, so no two bottles are the same - which is part of the fun.

Popular pet-nat styles include white varieties like Chenin Blanc, Riesling, and Chardonnay, rosé versions using Pinot Noir or Gamay, and increasingly popular orange pet-nats made from skin-contact white wines.

'Traditional Method' Natural Sparkling Wines

Beyond Pet-Nat: Classic Techniques with Natural Philosophy

While pet-nat gets much attention, many natural wine producers also create sparkling wines using traditional methods like Champagne's méthode champenoise or Italy's Charmat method, but with natural wine principles.

Traditional Natural Sparkling Production

These wines stick to classic sparkling methods but stay true to natural wine values—think organic or biodynamic farming, wild yeast fermentation, little to no added sulfites, no fake additives, and minimal filtering. They still go through traditional steps like riddling and disgorgement to keep things clean and crisp.

Comparing Flavor Profiles

Pet-nat wines typically offer rustic, farmhouse character with earthy, funky notes, moderate bubbles with creamy texture, and fresh, sometimes tart acidity.

Traditional natural sparkling wines provide more refined, elegant presentation, fine, persistent bubbles, and complex flavors developed through longer aging processes.

Regional Natural Sparkling Wine Styles

France: The Birthplace of Natural Bubbles

France leads natural sparkling wine production with Loire Valley pet-nats from producers like Didier Dagueneau and Mark Angeli, Champagne's natural grower-producers creating minimal-intervention bottles, and Languedoc's innovative natural sparkling experiments.

Italy: Ancestral Methods and Modern Innovation

Italy offers Lambrusco's naturally sparkling tradition in Emilia-Romagna, Prosecco producers adopting natural methods in Veneto, and Sicily's emerging natural sparkling scene.

New World Natural Sparkling

Australia, California, and other New World regions are embracing natural sparkling production, often combining local grape varieties with traditional techniques.

How to Choose Natural Sparkling Wines

Reading Natural Wine Labels

Look for key indicators like "no added sulfites" or "minimal sulfites," organic or biodynamic certification, "ancestral method" or "méthode ancestrale" for pet-nat, and producer information emphasizing natural winemaking.

Serving and Storage Tips

Natural sparklers need a bit of extra care. Store them on their side somewhere cool and dark, serve them a little warmer than your usual bubbly (around 45–50°F), and open with caution - since bubble levels can vary by bottle. 

Food Pairing Suggestions

Pet-nat wines are delicious with casual dining like charcuterie and cheese, fried foods and salty snacks, and spicy Asian cuisine.

Traditional natural sparkling wines pair beautifully with seafood and shellfish, roasted poultry, and creamy sauces.

The Natural Sparkling Wine Movement

Why Natural Sparkling Wines Matter

The rising interest for natural sparkling wines ties into a bigger shift - people want more authenticity, more transparency, eco-friendly farming, and flavor experiences you just can’t get from mass-produced bottles.

Health Considerations

A lot of natural wine fans say they get fewer headaches and reactions, likely thanks to the lower sulfite levels and lack of synthetic additives. That said, individual sensitivities vary, and natural wines aren't automatically healthier for everyone.

Finding Quality Natural Sparkling Wines

Where to Shop

Natural wine shops! 😉 Also, restaurants with thoughtful natural wine programs are a great way of trying and finding your new favorite. 

Price Expectations

Natural sparkling wines typically cost more than conventional options due to labor-intensive production methods, smaller production scales, and organic farming costs. Expect to pay $20-60 for quality bottles, with premium examples reaching higher prices.

The Future of Natural Sparkling Wine

As more people look for authentic, sustainable options, natural sparkling wine is popping up all over the world. New winemakers are playing around with local grapes and old-school techniques, while more traditional regions are giving classic methods a natural twist.

What this all means: Embracing Natural Effervescence

Natural sparkling wines let you experience bubbles the way nature intended. Whether you're into the laid-back, funky vibe of pét-nats or prefer a more classic style made with natural principles, these wines are all about honest flavors and real craftsmanship.

The best way to dive in? Check out your local natural wine shop (aka, yours truly!), hit up some tastings, and try a few different styles. Every bottle has its own story - from the vineyard to the vintage to the winemaker’s vision - and they’re worth exploring, one sip at a time.

Just keep in mind: natural wines can be a little unpredictable. That variation from bottle to bottle or year to year isn’t a flaw—it’s part of the magic. It’s what makes each pour feel like a little adventure you won’t get from the mass-produced stuff.

Ready to explore sparkling wine pairings? Browse our curated selection of pet-nat, crémant, and artisanal sparkling wines perfect for your next food pairing adventure. From casual entertaining to elegant dining, find the perfect bubbles for every occasion. >> SHOP NOW >>