still wine

English · OIV CO2 threshold

According to the OIV, a wine is still when its carbon dioxide content is below 4 g/L at 20 °C.1

The threshold marks where effervescent categories begin. The OIV places semi-sparkling wine at 3 to 5 g/L of CO2, and reserves the name sparkling wine for an overpressure of at least 3.5 bar at 20 °C.1,2 In Champagne, the still base wine before blending and second fermentation is called vin clair.3 Still wines also appear in sparkling regions: Moscato d'Asti vendemmia tardiva, for example, is a still wine aged at least one year.4 See also effervescence and pressure.

See also

CO2 and pressure in the bottleSciencesemi-sparkling wineGlossaryVin clairGlossary

Sources

  1. OIV International Code of Oenological Practices, I.3.3 Complementary definitions relating to carbon dioxide content
  2. OIV International Code of Oenological Practices, I.4.4 Sparkling wines
  3. Comité Champagne (champagne.education). Fiche Élaboration du Champagne (FR) (2024-05)
  4. Regione Piemonte. Disciplinare di produzione DOCG Asti (2025-01)

Facts checked on 2026-10-19