Pet Nats are made using a different winemaking method than sparkling wines, which involves secondary fermentation in the bottle or carbon dioxide gas injection. They have an elegance that can’t be explained simply by the winemaking. What’s the difference between Pet Nat white and rosé, alcohol and residual sugar levels? We asked Mr. Nosaka, one of Japan's leading sommeliers, to introduce Pet Nats in a range of styles.“Pet-Nat”: natural sparkling wines that are attracting increasing interest‘Natural wines’ are becoming increasingly popular because they are grown with a consideration for nature, without the use of chemical fertilizers and a focus on reducing pesticides. ‘Pet Nats’, an abbreviation for ‘Pétillant Naturel'’ (Pétillant is French for lightly sparkling), have attracted interest in recent years, especially among the younger, wine-loving generation. To make a Pet Nat, the wine is bottled in the middle of the primary fermentation, and rest of the fermentation takes place in the bottle using up the remaining sugar. Generally, it is relatively low alcohol and easy to drink, with a light and fresh taste.Champagne, which undergoes secondary fermentation in the bottle, has a pressure of 6 atmospheres, but Pet Nat’s pressure is lower, resulting in a lightly foaming wine. Bottled without racking, with almost no added SO2, the pure fruit flavour of the fruit comes to the fore. Many of the labels have pop designs, and use Crown stoppers. It’s a wine that you want to enjoy freely and stylishly, without being limited by convention.It's like biting into a piece of fresh citrus12278Delatite Pet Nat 2022RRP ¥3,600Origin: Upper Goulburn, Victoria, AustraliaVarietal: Riesling 79% / Gewurztraminer 21%Alc. 14.0% Residual Sugar 7.2g/LA slightly cloudy, pale yellow. The appearance is pure and fresh with attractive fine bubbles that rise intermittently. Aromatic and lively citrus aromas, showing lemon, finger lime, star fruit, lemon balm, elderflower and cardamom notes, with prominent Bergamot notes creating a refreshing feeling. The taste is so soft that you don’t feel the higher alcohol content, with the airy texture seeming to float on the surface. From the mid-palate, a lively acidity gives a fresh feeling, and drives the long finish. Lingering bitterness gives a nice accent to the flavours, the fine bubbles and lively acidity quench the thirst and soothe the body. The juicy and pure taste is like biting into a piece of fresh citrus fruit.Serve at 7-9°C. Highlight the freshness with a small white wine glass. Serve with dishes like Vietnamese-style fresh spring rolls, ceviche, white fish tempura, with a squeeze of vinegar or citrus.New possibilities for Melon de Bourgogne (Muscadet)12535Johan Vineyards Petillant Naturel Melon de Bourgogne 2021RRP ¥5,400Locality: Van Duzer Corridor, Willamette Valley, OregonVarietal: Melon de BourgogneAlc. 10.5% Residual sugar 12.7g/LGolden yellow with straw tints. A gentle foam. The nose is expressive, with complex, mellow aromas of ripe mandarin, quince, linden, turmeric, garlic-like spices, yeast, and honey. The attack is full and fleshy with lots of yellow fruit, and a smooth texture supported by gentle acidity and discreet bubbles. The ripe fruit flavours add breadth and depth to the palate with spice flavours and a long finish. Lingering notes of white and jasmine tea create a captivating oriental touch.Serve at 9-11°C, in medium-sized white wine glasses with Asian cuisine, chicken masala, biriyani, herbal curry, naan, Hainanese chicken rice, etc. New possibilities for Melon de Bourgogne (Muscadet)New wave wine born from old Grenache bushes12579Vino Volta Methode Ancestrale Grenache 2022RRP ¥4,500Origin: Swan Valley, Western AustraliaVarietal: Grenache Alc. 12.8%Residual sugar 1.4g/LA beautiful, red sunset-like colour that evokes nostalgia. The bubbles are calm and gentle. The generous nose shows a wide range of fruit aromas, from persimmons and kumquats to passionfruit. Spice notes including chenpi and cardamom add breadth and depth. The dry, firm attack is framed by a gentle acidity that forms the backbone of thewine, creating a clear profile and a crisp taste. Lingering ginger imparts a refreshing note, the savoury garlic notes of the yeast and bubbles are beautifully integrated, with pleasant tannins and bitterness adding depth.Serve at 10-12°C, in tulip-shaped glasses. Enjoy with home-cooked dishes such as salmon fillet with garlic sauce, okonomiyaki, and ginger-grilled porkA charming and dry Pinot Pet Nat full of local character11700County Line Vineyards Orfin Lotts Beads Pet-Nat 2020RRP ¥5,800Origin: Anderson Valley, Mendocino County, CaliforniaVarietal: Pinot NoirAlc. 12.3% Residual Sugar 1.4g/LA beautiful, bright cherry pink colour, with gentle, delicate bubbles. The expressive, cute and captivating aromas show charming and gorgeous notes of sour cherry, acerola, and ripe pomegranate, intertwined with rhubarb, rose petal, and Sakura-mochi. The attack is gentle and graceful, beautiful red fruit flavours spreads through the mouth, with an approachable and pleasantly subtle sweetness. The fine bubbles give a smooth texture, while lively acidity creates a perfect balance between freshness and flavour. A pungent red ginger note lingers on the finish, giving a refreshing and cool feeling, and adding a dry and unique accen to the taste.Serve at 8-10°C, in medium-sized white wine glasses. Great for casual dining with mildly spicy Korean dishes like tteok-bokki and cheese dak-galbi, and tacos, enchiladas, and other Mexican dishes