bar

English · unit of pressure

The bar is the unit of pressure used in EU definitions: sparkling wine needs at least 3 bar, quality sparkling wine at least 3.5 bar, and semi-sparkling wine 1 to 2.5 bar, all at 20 °C.1

Thresholds

CategoryPressure at 20 °C
Semi-sparkling wine1-2.5 bar
Sparkling wineat least 3 bar
Quality sparkling wineat least 3.5 bar

Source for the table: EU Regulation 1308/2013.1 The OIV defines sparkling wine by at least 3.5 bar (3 bar for bottles under 0.25 L).2 Champagne reaches about 6 bar.3,4 Older texts use atm or kg/cm². See pressure.

See also

CO2 and pressure in the bottleScienceEU categories of sparkling wineMethodssparkling wineGlossarysemi-sparkling wineGlossaryatm (atmosphere)Glossarykg/cm²Glossary

Sources

  1. legislation.gov.uk (copy of EU OJ text). Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013, Annex VII Part II (categories of grapevine products), original version as adopted (2013-12-17)
  2. OIV International Code of Oenological Practices, I.4.4 Sparkling wines
  3. Comité Champagne (champagne.education). Fiche Élaboration du Champagne (FR) (2024-05)
  4. Union des Maisons de Champagne. Tirage or bottling the blended wine

Facts checked on 2026-10-19