Contracena Pet Nat Rosé

Tejo, Portugal
100% Castelão

A rare sparkling expression of Castelão from Portugal’s Tejo region — made as a Pétillant Naturel (Pet Nat*) and bottled with its natural lees.

Harvested by hand in early August, the grapes were picked specifically for sparkling wine production, capturing freshness and natural acidity at lower ripeness levels.

Fermentation began in tank using indigenous yeasts at cool temperatures (14–16°C). Before fermentation was complete, the wine was bottled unfiltered, allowing it to finish fermenting in bottle — creating its natural sparkle and leaving behind fine lees.

This is a traditional, minimal-intervention sparkling wine — raw, lively, and full of character.

* Pet Nat (Pétillant Naturel): A naturally sparkling wine bottled before primary fermentation is complete. The remaining sugars finish fermenting in bottle, creating carbonation without added yeast or sugar. Often unfiltered, with natural lees present.

Only about * bottles were made.

Why Try It?

Because Castelão isn’t supposed to taste like this.

Naturally cloudy with an opalescent pale pink hue, this Pet Nat opens with vibrant red fruit — wild strawberry and fresh berries — layered with a subtle vegetal edge that lifts the wine and keeps it sharp and refreshing.

The mousse is soft and integrated, while the fine lees add texture and structure, giving the wine both energy and depth.

Unfiltered and expressive, this is sparkling wine in its most honest form — less about polish, more about personality.

Why Buy It?

• Rare Pet Nat made from 100% Castelão
• Naturally sparkling, bottled unfiltered with fine lees
• Indigenous yeast fermentation
• Only * bottles produced
• Fresh, early-harvest sparkling style from Tejo
• Combines bright fruit with savory, textured depth

A compelling bottle for those exploring beyond Champagne and Prosecco.

Cellar & Serving Notes

Drink now for maximum freshness.

Serve well chilled at 45–50°F (10°C).

Gently invert before opening if you want to incorporate the lees, or pour carefully for a clearer glass.

Excellent as an aperitif or with appetizers, salads, and light pasta dishes.

Wine Details

Region: Tejo, Portugal
Grapes: 100% Castelão
Style: Pétillant Naturel (Pet Nat) Rosé
Body: Medium-light
Acidity: Fresh and lively
Alcohol:
Sugar:
Farming:
Production: * bottles
Filtration: Unfiltered (contains fine lees)
Fermentation: Indigenous yeasts, bottled before completion

A Short Note on Tejo

Located just northeast of Lisbon, Tejo is one of Portugal’s most versatile wine regions. Historically known for easy-drinking wines from its warm, fertile plains, a new generation of producers is redefining the area through fresher styles, earlier harvesting, and more precise winemaking.

Today, Tejo offers some of Portugal’s most compelling value wines — where tradition meets a growing focus on balance, freshness, and drinkability.

Proposition 65 Warning:
Alcohol and Cancer | Alcohol and Pregnancy