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Only 11% of Brits know what Pet Nat is
Only one in nine (11%) Brits have an understanding of what Pet Nat is, according to a new wine report by Marks & Spencer.
The first ever wine report compiled by UK retailer M&S has revealed some confusion in Great Britain about what, exactly, Pet Nat is.
Many of those surveyed for the report mistook Pet Nat for a piece of winemaking equipment used to sort grapes.
The research also highlighted that 29% of Brits would refuse to drink or serve a wine that was cloudy, which further complicates the UK’s relationship with the hazy sparkling wine style.
Pétillant Naturel (or Pet Nat) is a natural, unfiltered sparkling wine made using a process where the yeast is left in the bottle after fermentation. Indeed, Pet Nat is bottled while it is still fermenting. While the style has long found popularity with a niche following, often perceived as “hipster bubbles”, in May 2024 Marks & Spencer caused a stir when it became the first UK supermarket to stock a Pet Nat, indicating that the fizz may be becoming more mainstream.
The fact that Pet Nat is often lower in alcohol than Champagne and other sparkling wines may also strike a chord with a younger generation of consumers which are increasingly seeking out no-and-low alternatives. If only they knew what it was.
Additionally, Pet Nats tend to be sealed with a crown cap rather than a cork, so the category has the potential to piggyback on the success of craft beer. Could there be an opportunity for a collaboration?
M&S now has two Pet Nats on its roster: Rose Pet Nat Brut for £15; and New Theory Pot Luck Pet Nat, £22. The former is produced from Pinot Noir, Meunier, Chardonnay and Pinot Gris from Heppington Vineyard in Kent, while the latter is a ‘modern take’ on the style using South African grape Pinotage, grown in Swartland.
UK wine and spirits supplier Enotria & Coe currently lists four Pet Nats on its website (price available on request), hailing from Northern Spain and Abruzzo, Italy, while North South Wines has 11 on its books from France, Italy, Australia and the UK.
In fact more and more UK vineyards are getting in on the action, with the likes of Tillingham, Davenport Vineyard, Trevviban Mill, Whinyard Rocks and Ancre Hill (the latter two both in Wales), all making their own Pet Nat expressions.
To learn how climate change is impacting the fermentation process click here.
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