Fitness
Everything You Need to Know About Pét-Nat Wine
If you’ve visited a natural wine bar in your neighborhood or held up a bottle of cloudy bubbles in the “naked wine” section at the liquor store, you’ve probably thought: “What’s the deal with pét-nat wine?”
Short for pétillant naturel, which means “naturally bubbly” in French, pét-nat is a centuries-old way of making bubbles—so ancient it predates Champagne. While pét-nat has been around for a long time, it’s enjoying a resurgence as part of the broader natural wine trend that’s appealing to wine drinkers who are more conscientious about what they’re consuming, including wines that haven’t been tinkered with much.
Really, you could think of pét-nat as the quirky, funky cousin of Champagne. The bubbles are a bit more frothy and, with pét-nat, you might think of your favorite sour beer, if that beer had a bit of a creamy texture, says Bob Smith, certified specialist of wine and director of beverage at Montage Palmetto Bluff in South Carolina.
Also, the bubbles in pét-nat are gentler, says Taylor Berk, sommelier and wine director at Animae in San Diego.
“The flavor profiles are more direct and less mature,” Berk says. “You might pick up notes of pink Starburst candies with a bit of a sour edge in some of the rosés. Sometimes dry cider-esqe notes from white pét-nats, and a berry explosion in some of the reds.”
Also, since most of the wines are unfiltered (the yeast used during the fermentation is still present in the bottle), you might also get some secondary flavors of biscuit or toast, says Eric LaVoie, a WSET Level 4 and assistant wine store manager at Eataly Boston.
Wine with a fizz
Pét-nat is naturally bubbly because the winemaker captures the wine in the middle of its fermentation process, explains Troy Bowen, sommelier and co-owner of Noble Riot, a wine bar in Denver, Colorado. They don’t wait for the yeast to convert all the grape’s sugar to alcohol. Pét-nats go into bottles while they’re still fermenting. This traps the byproduct of that process—carbon dioxide—which produces the fizz, he says.
“And since all of this happens in the bottle, the yeast sediment often remains, making the wine cloudy or even chunky, depending on how much the winemaker cares about clarity,” Bowen says.
Pét-nats can also come in myriad colors, including white, pink, orange, and red, says Ian Asbury, owner and founder of Good Clean Fun, a wine bar, bottle shop, and restaurant in downtown Los Angeles.
“They’re typically, and most importantly, meant to be quaffable,” he says.
With that pét-nat primer out of the way, here are six bottles that sommeliers and wine experts recommend. A disclaimer: These sparkling wines are typically made by small producers who practice sustainable farming and production methods, so, it can be hard to track down certain bottles.
1. Wonderwerk Giorgio Riesling Pet-Nat 2020
For an endless summer type of wine, this bottle made with organically farmed Riesling grapes delivers. “It absolutely bursts with tropical fruits like pineapple and mangosteen, while still being bright and refreshing,” says Kristin Olszewski, sommelier and founder of canned wine brand Nomadica.
[$30; primalwine.com]
2. Broc Cellars Love Sparkling Chenin Blanc
The beauty of pét-nat is that it can be made with all kinds of grapes, with the CO2 trapped in the bottles giving it the “farmer fizz,” says Paola Embry, certified sommelier and CEO and wine director at Wrigley Mansion in Phoenix, Arizona. This chenin blanc from 50-year-old vines in Paso Robles, California, is one of her favorites. “It’s bone dry and on the floral side,” Embry says. “It’s also perfect for picnics and a great introductory wine for those just getting into the category.”
[$25; Coming soon to broccellars.com]
Mosse Winery’s Moussamoussettes Courtesy Image
3. Mosse Winery’s Moussamoussettes
Look to the Loire Valley in France to find examples of pét-nat with a rebellious streak. However, you’ll see they’re made with decades of practice, says Bowen. “Moussamoussettes balances tart raspberry and floral notes with savory, earthy elements like celeriac and yeast,” he says. The bottle has sour, kombucha-esque acidity but isn’t too funky.
[$30; enjoywineonline.com]
4. Domaine Lise et Bertrand Jousset Pet Nat Exile Rose 2020
Another stellar pét-nat from the Loire Valley in France, this bottle has a deep black cherry tone with a hint of black pepper and juniper, says Amy Racine, beverage director and sommelier with JF Restaurants, a New York-based hospitality group. “It’s more savory and excellent with game such as duck, turkey, or lamb. It’s also great with roasted mushrooms or nutty wild grain dishes,” Racine says.
[$22; wine-searcher.com]
5. Clos Lentiscus Gentlemant Penedès Sumoll 2016
This unique pét-nat is made from Sumoll grapes, a black variety native to Penedes, Catalonia, in Spain, explains James Beard Award nominee Karina Iglesias, the wine director at Itamae in Miami. The winemaker, Manel Avinyó (known as the bubble man), uses biodynamic and classic farming methods to produce his wines. This one has an aroma of berries with a hint of hibiscus, Iglesias says. “I love this wine because the result is a fresh and lively wine,” Iglesias says. “You’ll notice a beautiful blood orange color in the glass.”
[$36; finding-wine]
6. Jacky Blot Domaine de la Taille Aux Loups “Triple Zero” Montlouis Pétillant Brut
This natural, lightly sparkling wine is made from old vine Chenin Blanc in the Loire, which is a region known for consistent and well-made pet-nat, says Estelle Bossy, beverage director at the Panorama Room and Anything At All at the Graduate Roosevelt Island in New York City. The wine is dry and has terrific texture thanks to the 24 months aging on the lees she says. “It’s citrusy, salty, super-refreshing and the perfect juice to accompany oysters from the raw bar,” she says.
[$30; klwines.com]
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The key to 360-degree muscle: 90-degree eccentric isometrics. It might seem like we’re throwing a lot of geometry at you, but the concept behind time under tension (TUT) is simple, says Joel Seedman, PhD, owner of Advanced Human Performance: “Perform the lowering phase of a movement in a slow, controlled fashion, usually 3 to 5 seconds; pause in the stretched position, typically around 90 degrees; then perform the lifting phase in a powerful yet controlled fashion.” Believe us, a time-under-tension workout can humble even seasoned lifters…Eccentric isometrics are like the pressure cooker of training.
“Rather than mindlessly performing slow-tempo reps, you’re using the increased time under tension as a means to fine-tune your body mechanics and alignment, which requires more mental engagement and focus,” Seedman adds.
If you want to forge functional muscle mass and strength while simultaneously bulletproofing the joints and connective tissue, give this 10-move, full-body eccentric isometrics workout a go.
Directions
Perform the following moves as 90-degree eccentric isometrics following the above protocol. Use heavy weight, but not at the detriment of proper form. Rest 60 to 90 seconds between sets and 2 minutes between circuits. Perform once every 2 to 4 days for optimal results.
Best Time-Under-Tension Workout for Total-Body Strength
Circuit 1
A. Barbell Back Squat
Set a squat rack up with heavy weight, then grasp bar and step under it. Squeeze shoulder blades together, then stand to unrack bar and step back with feet shoulder-width apart. Inhale, hinge at hips and slowly bend knees to 90 degrees. Pause, keeping natural arch in low back, then extend through hips to powerfully stand. 3 x 4-6 reps
B. Renegade Row
Start in the top position of a pushup with hands shoulder-width apart on moderate-to-heavy dumbbells (shown). Explosively drive right elbow back to row dumbbell toward ribs while balancing on opposite hand and feet. Pause, then slowly lower weight, stopping a few inches above floor. Switch sides after all reps are done. 3 x 5 reps each side
Circuit 2
A. Dumbbell Bentover Row
Stand with feet hip-width apart, holding two moderate-to-heavy dumbbells in front of thighs, palms facing you. Push hips back and hinge torso forward so it’s nearly parallel to floor, soft bend in knees. Dumbbells should be near shins. Drive elbows back to row weights toward ribs. Pause, then slowly lower down for 3 to 5 seconds. 3 x 4-5 reps
B. Incline Dumbbell Chest Press with Legs Raised
Set an adjustable bench to a 30- to 45-degree angle and lie back with dumbbells in either hand. Engage core and lift legs off floor, flexing feet. Press weights overhead, palms in. Slowly lower to 90 degrees, staying tight and compact. Pause, then drive weights up directly over chest. 3 x 4-5 reps
Circuit 3
A. Dumbbell Bulgarian Squat
Stand lunge-length in front of a flat bench, holding heavy dumbbells in each hand by your sides, palms facing in. Rest the ball on top (shoe’s laces) of your right foot behind you on the bench. Slowly lower your body until your front thigh is parallel to the floor. Pause, then drive through your heel to stand. Switch sides after all reps are complete. 2 x 3-4 reps each side
B. Single-leg Romanian Deadlift
Stand with feet hip-width apart holding dumbbells or kettlebells. Drive right leg up, foot flexed, knee aligned with hip, making a 90-degree angle. Hinge at hips as you slowly lever your torso toward floor, lowering weights and driving right leg back for counterbalance. Hold, then squeeze glutes to reverse. 2 x 3-4 reps each side
Circuit 4
A. Pullup
Hang from a pullup bar using an overhand grip with legs extended and feet flexed. Engage lats and draw shoulders down your back, then pull yourself up until chin is higher than hands. Pause at the top, then slowly lower. Pause at bottom, then reset before your next rep. 2-3 x 4-5 reps
B. Kneeling Overhead Barbell Press
Hold a bar with moderate-to-heavy load at shoulder level with forearms perpendicular to floor. Kneel at end of bench with feet flexed to grip edge for support. Inhale, engage your core and glutes, then press the bar overhead, pushing your head forward so it passes your face, exhaling at the top.
Slowly lower until elbows are at 90 degrees, then hold to maintain tension. Begin your next rep from here. 2-3 x 4-5 reps
Circuit 5
A. Dumbbell Pushup
Place hands on dumbbells (this provides greater range of motion) at shoulder width and feet wider than shoulder width with just toes touching the ground. Keep head neutral and hips high to increase tension on core, chest and tris and reduce stress on spine. Slowly lower to the floor. Stop
once elbows hit 90 degrees, pause, then push up to start. 1-2 x 6-8 reps
B. Biceps Curl
Stand with feet hip-width apart with moderate-to-heavy dumbbells in each hand hanging by sides. Engage biceps to curl the weights up, keeping upper arms still. Pause at the top, then lower slowly. Don’t let arms drop all the way down to keep greater time under tension on biceps. 1-2 x 6-8 reps
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