semi seco

Spanish · half-dry

Semi seco is the Spanish term that EU law lists as the equivalent of demi-sec for sparkling wine: 32 to 50 g/L of sugar.1 It is used for Cava.2

On the scale

Semi seco sits above seco (17-32 g/L) and below dulce (over 50 g/L).1 The same band is called meio seco in Portuguese, abboccato in Italian and halbtrocken in German.1

In Cava

The sweeter terms are not open to every category: Cava Gran Reserva may be only Brut Nature, Extra Brut or Brut.3,2 See Cava, demi-sec and sweet sparkling wine.

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.4,5 Its amount decides which sweetness term the label may carry.

See also

demi-secGlossaryCavaRegionsextra secoGlossarydulceGlossarySweet sparkling: demi-sec and douxStylesThe sugar scale of sparkling wineDosage

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. Consejo Regulador DO Cava. Categories and types
  3. Consejo Regulador DO Cava. Pliego de condiciones DOP Cava
  4. Union des Maisons de Champagne. Dosage
  5. Comité Champagne (champagne.education). Fiche Élaboration du Champagne (FR) (2024-05)

Facts checked on 2026-10-19