Petillant Naturel "Et Vie Danse" (Sp.) 2018

This is a serious Pétillant Naturel, with aromas of toasted brioche and orchard fruits. It is 100% Orbois, the local name for Menu Pineau, an indigenous variety to this part of the Loire. This is a pét nat that is more like Champagne in style, but with a lively vibrancy. Notes of green apple and a hint of celery. It is indeed a wine that makes you want to enjoy life and dance!

Domaine de Veilloux is a small estate in a quiet part to the Loire Valley near Cheverny. It has been a family owned the estate since the French Revolution, and was taken over by Michel and Sylviane Quenioux in 1994. Michel, a firm believer in the health and environmental benefits of organic and biodynamic farming, implemented these practices from the start and obtained their certification in 1998. The domaine now includes just over 25 hectares, all of which are grown using sustainable, organic methods. Most of their wines are blends, this wine is one of only two single-varietal cuvées. When using only natural yeasts it is difficult to make a pet net from more than one grape, so Michel uses only Orbois for this wine, and the result is exceptional.

Vinification: Twenty-five year-old Orbois vines planted in soils of silty sandstone over calcareous rock. Grapes are handpicked, gently pressed and fermentation starts in barrels. Fermentation is stopped early by a cooling process and the wine is bottled. The fermentation finishes in the bottle, creating fine bubbles. The wine is then rests a further 1.5 to 2 years in the bottle, then is disgorged to remove sediments, but resealed with no dosage added.

Match it with: Shellfish, goat cheese, smoked salmon, dancing!