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SPARKLING STYLES

What’s the difference between pét-nat and the ancestrale method? It appears to be the same process under two guises, or am I missing something?

Keith Bond, Blackburn

Natalie Earl, Regional Editor for France (except Bordeaux and Burgundy), replies: In a nutshell, méthode ancestrale is the term for a technique of making sparkling wine, while pét-nat is the name for one of the wine styles made using this method. Méthode ancestrale is an ancient way of making wine, thought to pre-date Champagne (which is made using the méthode traditionelle).

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