potential alcoholic strength

English · potential alcoholic strength

Potential alcoholic strength is the number of volumes of alcohol at 20 °C that total fermentation of the sugars in 100 volumes of the product could produce.1

How it fits

Added to the actual alcoholic strength, it gives the total alcoholic strength.1 The measure matters for sweet wines that keep part of their grape sugar: Moscato d'Asti has a developed alcohol of only 4.5-6.5% vol but a total of at least 11% vol.2

Before any enrichment, the total is called natural alcoholic strength.1 See EU categories and the Asti method.

In EU categories

The EU sets minimum total alcoholic strength for the cuvée: 8.5% vol for sparkling wine and 9% vol for quality sparkling wine.3

See also

total alcoholic strengthGlossary% vol (ABV)Glossarynatural alcoholic strengthGlossaryMoscato d'AstiStylesAsti methodMethods

Sources

  1. legislation.gov.uk (copy of EU OJ text). Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013, Annex II Part IV (terms used in the wine sector), original version as adopted (2013-12-17)
  2. Regione Piemonte. Disciplinare di produzione DOCG Asti (2025-01)
  3. 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)

Facts checked on 2026-10-19