Region: Rivera (Cerro Chapeu), Uruguay
Grapes: 80% Trebbiano, 20% Malvasia
Body: Light
Notes: Zesty lime peel, green apple, crisp white peach, wild lemongrass, crushed flint, and yeast-driven brioche, with a vibrant persistent bubble, electric, laser-focused acidity, and a bone-dry, mouthwatering, salty-mineral finish
Pairing: Continuous charcuterie boards, fresh oysters, ceviche, grilled prawns, empanadas de queso, or goat cheese crostini
The Producer
Castel Pujol is the flagship label of Bodega Cerro Chapeu, an pioneering winery situated in the high-altitude continental region of Rivera in northern Uruguay, directly along the Brazilian border. Directed by ninth-generation winemaker Francisco Carrau—one of South America's foremost figures in low-intervention viticulture—the estate focuses on low-impact, gravity-fed winemaking inside a cellar built right into the volcanic hill. Farmed sustainably on deep, sandy-red, gravel soils at over 1,000 feet elevation, Carrau’s vineyards benefit from dramatic diurnal temperature swings and constant wind, allowing native Mediterranean and Italian grape varieties to thrive organically with minimal disease pressure.
The Wine
Part of their low-intervention "Folklore" series—a project dedicated to showcasing raw, native ancestral wines bottled in collaboration with local Uruguayan artists—this Pét-Nat is a bone-dry, refreshing sparkler made from co-fermented Trebbiano and aromatic Malvasia. The hand-harvested grapes are gently pressed and begin spontaneous fermentation with wild yeasts in gravity-fed stainless steel tanks. The wine is bottled before primary fermentation completes, trapping the natural carbon dioxide under crown cap (Ancestral Method) without disgorgement, fining, or filtration. The 2025 vintage bursts with citrus oil, orchard fruit, and sea-spray salinity, framed by a lively effervescence and razor-sharp acidity.
Region: Rivera (Cerro Chapeu), Uruguay
Grapes: 80% Trebbiano, 20% Malvasia
Body: Light
Notes: Zesty lime peel, green apple, crisp white peach, wild lemongrass, crushed flint, and yeast-driven brioche, with a vibrant persistent bubble, electric, laser-focused acidity, and a bone-dry, mouthwatering, salty-mineral finish
Pairing: Continuous charcuterie boards, fresh oysters, ceviche, grilled prawns, empanadas de queso, or goat cheese crostini
The Producer
Castel Pujol is the flagship label of Bodega Cerro Chapeu, an pioneering winery situated in the high-altitude continental region of Rivera in northern Uruguay, directly along the Brazilian border. Directed by ninth-generation winemaker Francisco Carrau—one of South America's foremost figures in low-intervention viticulture—the estate focuses on low-impact, gravity-fed winemaking inside a cellar built right into the volcanic hill. Farmed sustainably on deep, sandy-red, gravel soils at over 1,000 feet elevation, Carrau’s vineyards benefit from dramatic diurnal temperature swings and constant wind, allowing native Mediterranean and Italian grape varieties to thrive organically with minimal disease pressure.
The Wine
Part of their low-intervention "Folklore" series—a project dedicated to showcasing raw, native ancestral wines bottled in collaboration with local Uruguayan artists—this Pét-Nat is a bone-dry, refreshing sparkler made from co-fermented Trebbiano and aromatic Malvasia. The hand-harvested grapes are gently pressed and begin spontaneous fermentation with wild yeasts in gravity-fed stainless steel tanks. The wine is bottled before primary fermentation completes, trapping the natural carbon dioxide under crown cap (Ancestral Method) without disgorgement, fining, or filtration. The 2025 vintage bursts with citrus oil, orchard fruit, and sea-spray salinity, framed by a lively effervescence and razor-sharp acidity.
What is natural wine?
Natural wine is wine made with minimal intervention from the winemaker, using organically or biodynamically grown grapes and without the addition of chemicals or additives such as sulfites. The result is a wine that is unique, expressive, and often has a more complex and nuanced flavor profile than conventional wines. Natural wine is also often associated with sustainable and ethical farming practices, making it a popular choice for those interested in environmentally friendly and socially responsible products.