Pétillent Natural of Chardonnay
Sta. Rita hills (2024)
$28
the winemaking
Pét-nat, short for pétillant naturel (French for “naturally sparkling”), is a sparkling wine made using the méthode ancestrale — one of the oldest winemaking techniques. Instead of completing fermentation in a tank and then triggering a second fermentation in the bottle like Champagne (méthode traditionnelle) or adding carbonation like Prosecco (Charmat method), we bottled our pét-nat while the wine was still fermenting. The remaining natural sugars and yeast finish their work inside the bottle, creating gentle, naturally occurring bubbles.
We disgorged our Pet Nat to keep it clean and crisp in April 2025, and it’s super fresh and expressive of Sta Rita Hills Chardonnay, where it comes from. This is as natural as wine gets, with nothing added - no yeast, no oak, and no sulfur.
VOON’s 2024 Pet Nat of Chardonnay is a little wild and beautifully alive. Naturally bubbly with bright energy and coastal charm.
The Sta. Rita Hills AVA
The Sta. Rita Hills (pronounced “Santa Rita Hills”) is an incredible AVA right off the Pacific Ocean near Santa Barbara, California.
Very young by wine standards, the Sta Rita Hills were first planted ~50 years ago, and only became an official AVA (American Viticultural Area) in 2001. However, it is very quickly gaining international recognition as one of the most exciting wine AVAs in the United States, which is why we chose it for VOON.
The region is so unique because it is framed by two transverse (east to west) mountain ranges that end at the Pacific Ocean. Cold air blows directly off the ocean and is funneled inland between the two ranges, dramatically cooling what would otherwise be a very warm mediterranean climate. The Sta Rita Hills AVA is the closest that grapes will grow to the ocean.
The soil is also perfect for wine, and very unique. Called diotomaceous earth, the soil in the Sta Rita Hills AVA is a marine soil with very little nutrients for wines, and elevated calcium levels (not unlike the limestone soils of other famous wine regions).
The combination of the moderating influence of the ocean climate, the poor nutrition of the marine soils, and the warm California sun which extends the growing period are what make the Sta Rita Hills the perfect AVA for cool-climate varietals like Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.
Introducing wine drinkers to lesser-known wine regions that are making world-class wines is one of the raisons d’être for VOON, and we’re very excited to share this Chardonnay Pet Nat with you.
The vineyard
Located only 9 miles off of the Pacific Ocean on Santa Rosa Road, Donnachadh Vineyards farms 40 acres of grapes organically on a 285 acre property.
The Chardonnay is planted on riverside blocks off the Santa Ynez River on well-drained sandy loam and river gravel deposits.