Pétillant naturel (pét-nat), or méthode ancestrale sparkling wines, are our favourite style of sparkling to toast the spring season with. The lively, delicate spritz and fresh fruit flavours exude the joyful nature of spring.

This small lot bottling is our first release from the 2023 growing season and another first for us here at Lightfoot & Wolfville. Since 2018, we’ve been making a pét-nat sparkling from Riesling for our wine club members, experimenting with slightly different techniques over the years. This is the first iteration using the Geisenheim grape variety, and we are delighted with the results.

Geisenheim is a German hybrid variety derived from Riesling and Chancellor. It produces aromatic white wines that tend to have white flower and light spice notes. Hybrid varieties such as Geisenheim were the stars of the 2023 growing season given their resiliency following the historic polar vortex event in February, which decimated the crop of the more cold sensitive varieties.

This is a single-vineyard wine with all grapes sourced from the organic Raven Hill Vineyard in Wolfville. Bottling took place prior to the completion of the wild primary fermentation, continuing in bottle to create a gentle, natural effervescence without the addition of any secondary yeasts or sugar. A partial disgorgement has left a bit of a natural, light sediment haze in the bottle, typical of the style. Certified Organic by Ecocert Canada. 

Technical Details 

Composition

100% Geisenheim 318

Alcohol

10%

pH

2.85

Total Acidity

10.68 g/L

Residual Sweetness

10.3 g/L

Production

874 bottles (750 mL) 

Tasting Notes

Cloudy yellow hue with a light, lively spritz in the glass. On the nose, notes of grapefruit zest, apricot and pear blossom with hints of fresh cut herbs. Juicy stone fruit notes carry through to the palate, which is balanced with crisp lemon-lime flavours. A light, lively and refreshing natural sparkling, perfect for a spring day.

Pairing suggestions include crab dip with salty crackers, pear and blue cheese salad, brunch spreads and smoked fish dishes.

Service Temperature: 7-9°C

Recommended Drinking: 2024-2027