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Pascal Poteri, Architect of Modern Pet-Nat
Pascal Poteri, who died in July, is widely regarded as one of the architects of modern Pétillant Naturel.
Pascal Poteri, Pét-Nat’s principal creative force
Pascal Poteri, who died in July, is widely regarded as one of the architects of modern Pétillant Naturel (Pét-Nat): he introduced practical technical advances, and his work changed the category globally. In 2005 he founded Les Capriades. His core philosophy was no filtration and no added sulfites, and a mentorship network spread his methods beyond France.
Early work and philosophy
Poteri organised his practice around a single question: could Pét-Nat be as refined, clean and long-lived as top Champagne and classic still wines? To pursue that, he insisted the wine be defined only by the grapes, natural fermentation and the winemaker’s craft: no filtration and no added sulfites. He founded Les Capriades in 2005. Mozes Dedushi later joined the estate as a partner, and it became a laboratory proving the idea could be executed at consistent quality.
Les Capriades was founded in 2005 as a practical laboratory for natural sparkling wine.
Technical contributions
Poteri’s most consequential contribution was technical. He developed ways to achieve wine stability without filtration and without added sulfites. Those innovations removed the most common objections to Pét-Nat as a serious category. Earlier Pét-Nats were often cloudy, unstable and short-lived. Poteri demonstrated methods of harvest timing, cellar handling, and attention to natural fermentation kinetics that produced clean, elegant bottles with impressive finish and persistence. His techniques did not rely on a single miracle ingredient but on process control and experienced sensory judgement.
Poteri made wine stability possible without filtration and sulfites.
Mentorship and influence
Poteri was not a public fashion figure in the 2010s trend cycle. Instead he became the first adviser winemakers consulted when they chose to take Pét-Nat seriously. Notable winemakers who sought his counsel include Paul Esteve of Domaine des Miquettes; he also mentored Noella Moranten, Laurent Saiar and Marie Rosher. Many successful natural sparkling projects trace technical lineage back to Poteri’s workshops and tastings.
Later years and legacy
Les Capriades closed in 2023. Poteri continued working and argued that Pét-Nat, cider, and poiré will grow in importance under climate change because they retain natural acidity. In one of his last interviews he said, “If one day they took my work away from me, I would die. I want to continue, because I am not ready to stop. I still have many ideas.” Today Pét-Nat is produced in almost every wine region worldwide. Poteri’s knowledge, work, and ideas remain embedded in the style’s foundations.
His methods changed how producers approach natural sparkling wine stability.
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