AA Badenhorst outside Malmesbury in the Swartland was one of the pioneers of South African bubbly made ‘the original way' invented by the French in the 16th Century. Vondeling of Paarl was another, their Rurale reported to be the first local wine officially recognised as having come about according to this method in 2014. Ten years later the number of cellars in the Cape with one or more of these sparkling wines to their name numbered around a dozen. Small volumes. Very artisanal!
Méthode Ancestral(e), also known as Pét Nat or Petnat (short for Pétillant Naturel), is the method of making sparkling wine by way of a single, continuous fermentation – unlike the traditional method used for Cap Classique, Cava and Champagne, which involves the addition of more yeast and sugar (dosage) to a base wine at bottling stage before a second fermentation. Pre-dating Champagne, the Ancestrale method involves bottling during the primary fermentation process – timing is critical in order to achieve the right level of pressure inside the bottle for a good sparkle; too much pressure build-up during the completion of the fermentation and the bottle could explode. Sealed with a crown cap (similar to the cap on a beer bottle) instead of a cork, the wine can be cloudy, sometimes resulting in a sediment.
The following were the Ancestrale-method SA sparklers on sale at the time of writing.
SA MÉTHODE ANCESTRALE
Blacksmith Pet Nat
Swartland producer; two versions – Barebones and Bloodline – from Chenin Blanc
Bruwer Vintners Methode Ancestrale
Stellenbosch producer (Raats); Pinotage
Daschbosch Méthode Ancestrale
Rawsonville-Breedekloof producer; Verdelho
Deep Rooted Free the Bubble
Stanford producer; blend of Chardonnay (50%) and Pinotage (50%)
Ken Forrester Stained Glass
Helderberg-Stellenbosch producer; one version from Grenache Noir, one version from Chenin Blanc
Leeuwenkuil Méthode Ancestrale
Paarl/Swartland producer; white from Chenin Blanc, Rosé from Cinsault
Maanschijn Brunch Club Méthode Ancestrale
Hermanus producer; Sauvignon Blanc
Metzer Petnat
Somerset West producer; Chenin Blanc
Mother Rock Force Celeste Cuvée PN
Swartland producer; blend of Chenin Blanc (78%) and Pinotage (22%)
Scali Ancestor
Paarl producer; Merlot
Thorne & Daughters Menagerie Chenin Blanc Méthode Ancestrale
Bot River producer, Chenin Blanc
Vondeling Rurale
Voor Paardeberg-Paarl producer; blend of Chardonnay (80%) and Pinotage (20%)
