Solminer Winery Makes Several Sparkling Pét-Nats, or Méthode Ancestrale
Anna and David deLaski met in 2009 and fell in love with Santa Barbara wine country and each other. In 2012, they finally got their shot at farming and producing California wine, including some O.G. Bubbles.
Let’s let them explain:
“Pétillant Naturel, or Pét-Nat, for short, is produced in the Méthode Ancestral Style. This is different than Champagne production, so expect a deliciously fizzy and bright wine. This is the original method way sparkling wine was made – AKA O.G. Bubbles.
Long story short, the wine is bottled prior to fully completing its first fermentation, allowing carbon dioxide to be produced by the remaining natural yeast left in the still fermenting juice. This kind of bottle fermentation retains a small amount of yeast in the bottle which was then disgorged (removed) in a micro-bottling of only 32 cases.”
This especially describes the Rosé – enticingly colorful and fresh, this spritzy juice boasts flavors of watermelon, luxardo cherry, and rhubarb, followed by sour cherry and a delicate salinity on the finish. Enjoy with oysters, sharp cheeses, blueberry pancakes, and anything brunch.
It’s 100% Estate Syrah from the couple’s deLanda Estate vineyards. Harvested in 2018, this wine was aged for only 4 weeks from harvest to bottle!
The Sparkling Riesling is completely natural – nothing but organic grapes creating clean, fresh bubbly. We bottle before fermentation finishes thus creating naturally sparkling wine. This “Ancestrale Methode” is the oldest way to make bubbles and some say it was discovered completely by accident!
This fresh, dry sparkling Riesling has an exciting crisp grapefruit acidity, with notes of baked apple and spice, pear, chamomille, and carmelized green apple. Expect an initial snappy fizz (smaller bubbles than sparkling wines produced in the Méthode Traditionnelle) followed by a nutty, soft texture.
Pair this sparkling wine with soft cheeses, creamy butternut squash soup, buttery seafood dishes, and sauteed summer vegetables.
This one’s 100% Riesling from Coquelicot vineyard in Solvang – hand-disgorged and bottled in the “Méthode Ancestrale.”
Lear more about Solminer and these sparkling wines here.
Find more sparkling wine in Los Olivos.
