brut

French · dry (raw)

Under EU rules, brut means a sugar content of less than 12 g/L; equivalents include German herb and Spanish and Portuguese bruto.1

The band includes the drier extra brut (0-6 g/L) and brut nature (under 3 g/L); where two terms fit, only one may be chosen.2 Above it comes extra dry, 12-17 g/L.1 The sweetness is set by the dosage added after disgorgement.3,4 Some appellations limit themselves to brut: Franciacorta Satèn may be marketed only as brut, and Cava Gran Reserva only as Brut Nature, Extra Brut or Brut.5,6 See sugar scale and herb.

See also

The sugar scale of sparkling wineDosageextra brutGlossaryextra dryGlossaryDosage and liqueur d’expéditionMethods

Sources

  1. legislation.gov.uk (copy of EU OJ text). Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/33, Annex III Part A (sugar-content terms for sparkling wines), original version as adopted (2018-10-17)
  2. EUR-Lex. Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/33 (consolidated text), Articles 47, 48, 49, 53, 54 and Annex III Part A (2023-12-08)
  3. OIV International Code of Oenological Practices, II.4.1 Definitions common to all sparkling wines (II.4.1.1-II.4.1.10)
  4. Union des Maisons de Champagne. Dosage
  5. Associazione Italiana Sommelier (reproduction of the official disciplinare). Disciplinare di produzione della DOCG Franciacorta (text as amended by DM 7.05.2024, GU n. 114 of 17.05.2024), reproduced by AIS (2024-05-17)
  6. Consejo Regulador DO Cava. Pliego de condiciones DOP Cava

Facts checked on 2026-10-19