semi-sparkling wine

English · EU wine category 8

In EU law, semi-sparkling wine (category 8) has an endogenous CO2 pressure of 1 to 2.5 bar at 20 °C, actual alcohol of at least 7% vol, and is sold in containers of 60 L or less; the OIV defines it by a CO2 content of 3 to 5 g/L.1,2

Endogenous means the gas comes from the wine's own fermentation. National names for the category include Italian frizzante and German Perlwein.3,4 Moscato d'Asti, with a pressure not above 2.5 bar at 20 °C, corresponds to this category.5,1 Below the OIV range lies still wine. If the CO2 is wholly or partly added, the wine is aerated semi-sparkling wine instead.1 The German version with protected origin is Qualitätsperlwein b.A..4 See also Moscato d'Asti and EU categories.

See also

EU categories of sparkling wineMethodsfrizzanteGlossaryPerlweinGlossaryMoscato d'AstiStyles

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.3.3 Complementary definitions relating to carbon dioxide content
  3. UK Government (assets.publishing.service.gov.uk) hosting the consorzio's English text. Conegliano Valdobbiadene - Prosecco DOCG production regulations, English version 12.2018 (2018-12)
  4. Bundesministerium der Justiz (gesetze-im-internet.de). Weinverordnung § 32 (Bezeichnungen für Weinarten; Rotling, Blanc de Noirs, Weißherbst)
  5. Regione Piemonte. Disciplinare di produzione DOCG Asti (2025-01)

Facts checked on 2026-10-19