dolce

Italian · sweet

Dolce is the Italian term that EU law lists as the equivalent of doux: sparkling wine with more than 50 g/L of sugar.1 Moscato d'Asti is made dolce.2

Moscato d'Asti

The Moscato d'Asti rules set its sweetness as dolce, its pressure at no more than 2.5 bar at 20 °C and its developed alcohol at 4.5-6.5% vol.2 Asti spumante may range from pas dosé to dolce.2

On the scale

One step drier is abboccato (32-50 g/L).1 Other forms of the same band include doux, mild, sweet and dulce.1

Where the sugar comes from

After disgorgement the wine receives the liqueur d'expédition, cane sugar dissolved in wine; UMC gives 0 to 5-6 cl per bottle.3,4 Its amount decides which sweetness term the label may carry.

See also

douxGlossaryMoscato d'AstiStylesAsti (Asti spumante)StylesAstiRegionsabboccatoGlossarySweet sparkling: demi-sec and douxStyles

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. Regione Piemonte. Disciplinare di produzione DOCG Asti (2025-01)
  3. Union des Maisons de Champagne. Dosage
  4. Comité Champagne (champagne.education). Fiche Élaboration du Champagne (FR) (2024-05)

Facts checked on 2026-10-19