Brut nature (zero dosage)

Under 3 g/L sugar, nothing added after the second fermentation

Brut nature is the EU sweetness term for sparkling wine with less than 3 g/L of sugar and no sugar added after the second fermentation.1 The EU lists equivalent terms in several languages, including pas dosé, dosage zéro, dosaggio zero and брют натюр.1

The legal rule

Annex III of Regulation (EU) 2019/33 sets the sweetness terms for sparkling wine. "Brut nature" may be used when the sugar content is less than 3 g/L, and only for products with no sugar added after the secondary fermentation.1 The actual sugar may not differ by more than 3 g/L from the labelled term.2 The full scale is on sugar scale.

EU termSugar
Brut natureless than 3 g/L, no added sugar
Extra brut0-6 g/L
Brutless than 12 g/L

Source: Regulation (EU) 2019/33, Annex III.1

The second condition matters. A wine may have little sugar and still not qualify as brut nature if any liqueur with sugar was added at dosage.

Names on the label

The EU treats several words as the same term: pas dosé, dosage zéro, dosaggio zero, naturherb, bruto natural, brut natur and брют натюр among them.1 In Champagne, the Union des Maisons de Champagne notes that wines without dosage may be labelled "Zero Dosage", "Brut 100%", "Brut Intégral" or "Brut Sauvage". After disgorgement the space in the bottle is filled with the same wine instead of a sugar liqueur.3

In Cava, Brut Nature means 0-3 g/L with no added sugar.4

See also

The sugar scale of sparkling wineDosageDosage and liqueur d’expéditionMethodsPas doséStylesextra brutGlossarysugar toleranceGlossaryLabel terms in EU lawMethods

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. EUR-Lex. Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/33 (consolidated text), Articles 47, 48, 49, 53, 54 and Annex III Part A (2023-12-08)
  3. Union des Maisons de Champagne. Dosage
  4. Consejo Regulador DO Cava. Categories and types

Facts checked on 2026-10-19