Oyster River Winegrowers 'Morphos' Pet Nat 2024

The vibe: Cloudy pét nat party juice from Maine! The heck?! A blend of two hybrid varietals, Cayuga and Seyval, this wine is very much a product of its place. These varietals were developed to ripen early and remain rot resistant, perfect for a cold, wet climate like Maine. And because of this cool climate, less acid converts to sugar on the vine, lending higher acid in bottle as well as a crushably-low ABV. This drinks like our favorite Alsatian white wines, with its acid, flinty minerality and touch of floral, peachy notes. 

The winemaker: Brian Smith makes pre-industrial wines and considers himself “nature’s assistant’ rather than winemaker. There is no refrigeration use during the winemaking process, and most fermentations are spontaneous, playing out over the course of several months. In addition to French-American hybrid varietals, they also have apple orchards which they harvest to make natural ciders.

The geeky details: A blend of Cayuga and Seyval grapes from Fingerlakes region in New York. Certified Organic farming, white clay and limestone soil with a lot of flint. 50-year old vines, hand harvested, no added S02. Bottled during the end of active fermentation, this wine continues to ferment in the bottle leaving it dry, cloudy, yeasty, and full of life, with a natural effervescence. 

Serve: With a chill. 

Food pairing: Refreshing and tart like an apple, the zingy acidity here will cut through fat and would be amazing with seafood, soft cheeses or practically anything fried. 

Album pairing: Reykjavik606 - Divorce From New York Presents This Ain’t Jazz No More