What I'd Bring to a Pet Nat Party: Part Two

A definitive guide to what Pet Nat's you should/could be enjoying this festive season...

Hello there, I hope you enjoyed the first instalment of ‘What I'd Bring to a Pet Nat Party’, which you can read here. Today we are back to talk about some Pet Nat’s which have travelled a little further to get onto our dinner tables and into our glasses.

When selecting these wines, I had to remove a few choices that are unfortunately, no longer available to buy, c’est la vie. Such wines include Robin Goutallier, Facon Puzzle 2022, a beautiful Gamay Pet Nat I enjoyed for my birthday dinner at Paternoster Farm back in February, and Grandbois Weine, Hip Hopfen 2022: a hopped Riesling Pet Nat that blew my absolute socks off. But alas, maybe singing the praises of wines that are gone from this world, will have to wait for another time.

The first wine I’d like to talk about here happens to also be one of the first wines I put on a wine list when I was given the opportunity to do so. From the winemaking prowess of Craig & Carla Hawkins of Testalonga, El Bandito I wish I was a Ninja 2023 is a 100% Colombard Pet Nat. You may remember in my first article ‘Whites I’ve Liked’, I discuss seeking out Colombard wines after becoming a little enamoured with the grape. This is definitely a wine that helped me get there.

From Swartland in South Africa, this organic banger is everything I’d want pre or post dinner: sweet, silky bubbles with a fun balancing acidity that makes for super moreish sipping.

I’ve heard this wine likened to ‘lemonade for grown-ups’ but in all honestly, I’d take this over any lemonade I’ve ever had. One can definitely understand the comparison, with the wine’s lemon fresh acidity and sweet, soft, fruity quality. This fizz is serious, refined and well balanced yum.

Hand-harvested Colombard from a tiny block planted in 1994, is fermented at a low temperature in stainless steel. Racked 6 times to remove sediment, it is bottled, then left for 10 months to finish fermentation. It is then disgorged and bottles topped up with the same wine, with no sulphur added. As Testalonga’s crown caps and labels note this Pet Nacho is ‘Made from Grapes’, a little straightforward joviality that always puts a smile on my face.

I’ve yet to try the other Pet Nat that Craig makes: I am the Ninja (this one 100% old vine Chenin Blanc) but I’ve got a bottle in the cellar that is begging to be the opening number at a dinner party any day now, so who’s hosting?!

How to Find: I wish I as a Ninja 2023 is available through many online wine retailers has become devastatingly out of stock in the last few weeks since I started writing this. I’ve seen a few kicking around on a few sites, so get it while you can.

What I’d Pair: A few months back I’d have said this is solid BBQ wine. But as the colder months are dawning I’d suggest using this brilliant bottle to start or end your evening. Anything in the salty snacky category that you may be offering guests on arrival (olives, almonds, anchovies, crisps), or perhaps that cheese platter you are serving after dinner.

Next up from Weinhof Haider, an awesome Austrian biodynamic banger that I’ve enjoyed many, many times. An attractive juicy fizz called Jung & Sexy, 2022. From labelling, to bottle shape, to the stuff inside, this wine is an all around good time.

Certified biodynamic Blauburger and Rösler grapes undergo a short maceration then are bottled, ‘interruption’ style. There is no added sulphites, with the wine undergoing spontaneous fermentation, no fining or filtration.

This is a juicy dark rose / light red, with definite cherry cola vibes. Dry, refreshing and quaffable. There is an accessible quality to these wines, coming through well balanced fruit and acidity, making them an approachable option that would do well for bringing to your next dinner party.

How to Find: Weinhof Haider’s Wines are available in the UK through Pure Wines.

What I’d Pair: This wine has accompanied many a date night for me, as the talented guys over at Maneki Ramen in Worcester have had it on the wine list a while. I have enjoyed bottles of this over a bowl of Tonkotsu Pork Ramen with extra Karaage Chicken. Yum. Perfect for those rich umami flavours!

You may remember last time when we talked about the darling Lost in a Field ‘Frolic’ Pet Nat, well this wine was born from the very same brain. Astro Bunny is a bouncy, cult status Pet Nat from Mr. Tim Wildman’s Australian project.

Astro Bunny is characterised by stone fruit freshness with lively lime acidity. With a ‘hazy carrot juice orange colour’. Soft and frothy bubbles, this is fun and fresh for all: Space Juice anyone?

The Astro Bunny 2022 was a blend of Vermentino, Grüner Veltliner, Verdejo, Zibibbo, Nero d’Avola grown across South Australia: Adelaide Hills, McLaren Vale, Riverland. 2022 was a great vintage with ideal growing conditions, meaning good yields of high quality fruit. In 2022:

“Zibibbo was given 24 hours pre-ferment skin contact to extract greater aromatics, the Nero was taken from the press after just a few hours to provide colour, then co-fermented with the Grüner, Verdejo and Vermentino.” Wildman Wine

Astro Bunny 2023 marked 10 years of Bunnies and it is safe to say that after a decade of this Pet Nat, it has really become a honed and focused example of how fun and fabulous the style can be.

The 2023 blend included fruit from Adelaide Hills, McLaren Vale and Riverland. A blend of 43% Arneis, 23% Zibibbo, 21% Nero d’Avola and 13% Fiano. 2023 was cooler than the previous two years, which allowed for slow ripening of the fruit, delivering maximum flavour ripeness without losing freshness or acidity. Again the Zibibbo was given 24 hours initial skin contact for aromatics, before the rest of the fruit was co-fermented, with the Nero d’Avola giving all the colour.

To sum it up: delicious and smash-able, happiness inducing! Fleshy ripe stone fruits, pithy citrus acidity and watermelon refreshment.

While we are here, I must also give a shout to Wildman’s other Australian Pet Nat Piggy Pop. I have both 2022 and 2023 in the collection, waiting to be drank, one of which will definitely make the shortlist for drinking during the in between Christmas and New Year period!

How to Find: There are still a few Astro Bunny 2022 bottles kicking about the world wide web, however the Astro Bunny 2023 is much more widely available.

What I’d Pair: I think this is a bottle to crack open when the party is in full swing. Keep it nice and cold, shake it up and have lots of friends with glasses waiting. Share the Space Juice love.

I mentioned at the beginning of this list that I chose to remove a much adored Gamay Pet Nat, as it was no longer available. As I was driving home the other day I was struck with silent inspiration of another Gamay Pet Nat I used to love! So briefly I think its worth a mention, if you are into that kind of thing.

Introducing Yves Dupont, L’Intact Gamay NV. Biodynamic from the Bugey, a tiny appellation of 500ha that neighbours the Savoie, in a point of confluence of the Jura and Burgundy. On their website, Yves Dupont describe Bugey as a ‘patchwork of terroirs’, where they grow organically certified classic Savoie varieties, making incredible some still wines.

This wine is 100% Gamay - a fine time, pale red and a delicate dance of strawberries, raspberries and cherries. Dry, fizzy, clean and incredibly moreish. A lovely bottle to gift to a relative or friend (in the hopes that you might get to drink it toooo!).

How to Find: Available online here or here!

What I’d Pair: Boxing Day. Left over sandwiches. That’s it.

The next wine I’d like to talk about is from Grandboise Weine, with a mouthful of a name ‘When Life Gives You Lemons, Make Lemonade’ 2023 (or WLGYLML).

A 100% Riesling Pet Nat, do I need to say any more.

From the same folks that make that fantastic hopped Pet Nat I mentioned earlier. Grandbois Wines aka Tanja and Philippe, have been working organically in Mosel, Germany from 2018, with 2021 being their first harvest.

Both from hospitality backgrounds, beginning their careers as a pastry chef and sommelier respectively, the name of this Pet Nat comes from a saying they say “played a role in our earlier career in the hospitality industry.”

‘When Life Gives You Lemons, Make Lemonade’ is 100% Riesling, chosen for its “high natural lemon acidity”. The grapes where left on the skins for 10 days before being pressed and bottled. No added sulphur or filtration.

This Pet Nat is of course, full of lemonade like joy, but also a romantic sort of sun baked hay and dandelion flowers on the palate! Drink it nice and cold!

How to Find: Grandbois Wines are available to order direct from their website, or from the legends over at More Natural Wine.

What I’d Pair: Super gluggable with or without food. I’m convinced you could enjoy this with a cheeky takeaway over the holidays, or as a bottle to bring to your NYE celebrations.

Strekov 1075 Charlotte, 2022 is a beautiful bringing together of two of my favourite things: Chardonnay & Pet Nat. Zippy, slightly bitter orange-y fizz, it’s giving: grown up Mimosa. This wine is demonstrative of the wild and yet refined nature that I have come to associate with Strekov 1075.

Strekov 1075 is a family vineyard in the village of Strekov, Slovakia, Zsolt Sütő farms organically and puts out some super iconic and in-demand wines. I had my first glass of Strekov wine at Sager & Wilde, after attending my first trade wine tasting a few years ago, and the wine (Porta #7) still stands out.

Made with no fining, filtration and no sulphur, the wines made here are pure expressions of terroir and winemaking skill. Charlotte is no exception, made in collaboration with grower Peter Sroner, who grows the organic Chardonnay that is harvested by hand and undergoes direct press in the Strekov cellar.

How to Find: You can find Strekov wines here through the wonderful Roland Wines.

What I’d Pair: With the total mimosa vibe of this wine I could totally see this as breakfast/brunch wine, (its defo on my list for Christmas morning) however, it would definitely be fantastic as a more serious meal wine. From a fresh citrus salad to hearty butterbean casserole? Hell yeah.

If you are looking for something special for your NYE celebrations then I think this would be my pick, Pet Nat 2023, from Domaine Dandelion, cult organic and biodynamic producers Morgane & Christian, in the Hautes Côtes de Beaune, Burgundy.

Glorious paper labels are made with cotton, linen, hemp, and pressed flavours, at an old paper mill. Then are hand cut, stamped and labelled. The steep vineyards are worked only by horse or by hand and treated with raw milk, no sulphur sprays used. Wine making is done with an old wooden press, and wines age under their house in neutral oak. A true sense of personality and passion, expressed in the very small quantities of wine they produce.

Pet Nat 2023 is a delightful Blanc de Noirs from co-planted Gamay and Pinot Noir in one of the Domaine’s highest sites, above the commune of Volnay, surrounded by forest. The grapes are hand-harvested, direct pressed and bottled after a month to complete fermentation. The wine is not disgorged, leaving an attractive haze.

This Pet Nat is both delicate and uncompromising. With engaging texture and balance, expect a chalky minerality and a bottle that changes from the first sip to the last.

How to Find: Domaine Dandelion is available through a few good online retailers, and there seems to be a good amount of the Pet Nat 2023 still around. Or in your local wine shop, if you’re lucky!

What I’d Pair: People you love, general merriment and good times. One to throw up a glass in jubilation!

I’ve actually just picked up a few Pet Nat’s for my own festive celebrations from Les Caves de Pyrene that I thought it would be worth mentioning despite my not having drank them yet:

First we have, Mersel Wines LebNat Gold, 2022. This is a Pet Nat from the Bekaa Valley, North Lebanon, made from 50% indigenous variety Merwah and 50% Viognier. I have had my eye on for a while now, after trying Mersel Red Velvet 2022 at the beginning of this year.

For LebNat Gold, organic Viognier and Merwah grapes come from vineyards 1700m and 1600m above sea level. After a gentle press the juice begins fermentation at low temperatures for about 20 days, after which it is bottled and continues the fermentation, resting on lees for 5 months, before disgorgment in February.

I am expecting a delicious ray of sunshine here: tropical golden fruits, with a beautiful bubbles, and a cool crispness.

The next two wines I am looking forwards to trying are from Intellego Wines in Swartland, South Africa. I picked up a bottle of Sybille, a Pinotage Pet Nat and Hey Mila, a Mourvedre Pet Nat.

Sybille Pet Nat: organic Pinotage is manual harvested and whole cluster pressed into small stainless steel vessels to undergo temperature controlled fermentation with indigenous yeast. Racked off the lees every 3 days and then bottled after 3 weeks continuing fermentation and then disgorged after 7 months.

I’m expecting raspberry-ade and light dry red fruits from this one.

Hey Mila Pet Nat: organic Mourvedre is manual harvested and whole bunch pressed, ferments with native yeasts in stainless. Bottled after 3 weeks continuing fermentation and then disgorged after 7 months

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I am looking forwards to this bright and lively aperitif, with all the excitement and energy of the 2 year-old Mila that it was lovingly named for.

That, my friends is that! A few of the Pet Nat’s that you could add to your Christmas lists from across the globe (although I’m keenly aware a lot of them are just from Europe, eh).

As always let me know any recommendations… I mean it!!!

Anyway I’ll be back soon… perhaps with some hypothetical 6-pack shopping since I’ve already spent my wine budget for this year, and next.

Thank you bunches (of grapes),

Olivia

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