Sweet sparkling: demi-sec and doux

Demi-sec 32-50 g/L, doux above 50 g/L

In EU law a sparkling wine is demi-sec when it holds 32-50 g/L of sugar and doux (sweet) when it holds more than 50 g/L.1 The OIV uses the same bands.2

The upper part of the scale

EU termSome equivalentsSugar
Extra dryextra trocken, extra seco12-17 g/L
Sectrocken, secco, asciutto, dry, seco17-32 g/L
Demi-sechalbtrocken, abboccato, medium dry, semi seco, meio seco32-50 g/L
Douxmild, dolce, sweet, dulce, docemore than 50 g/L

Source: Regulation (EU) 2019/33, Annex III.1 The OIV International Code uses the same bands, with demi-sec at 32-50 g/L and sweet above 50 g/L.2

Note the order of the words. "Sec" and "dry" sound dry, but on a sparkling wine they mean noticeable sweetness, more than a brut.

How the rules work

The actual sugar may not differ from the labelled term by more than 3 g/L.3 When the sugar content fits two terms, only one of them may be chosen.3 The whole scale, from brut nature to doux, is on sugar scale.

Where the sugar comes from

In traditional-method wine the sweetness usually comes from the dosage added after disgorgement. Some sweet sparkling wines keep sugar from the grape instead, because the fermentation is stopped early: see Asti, Moscato d'Asti and the Asti method.

See also

The sugar scale of sparkling wineDosagedemi-secGlossarydouxGlossaryAsti (Asti spumante)StylesMoscato d'AstiStylesDosage and liqueur d’expéditionMethodsLabel 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. OIV International Code of Oenological Practices, I.4.4 Sparkling wines
  3. EUR-Lex. Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/33 (consolidated text), Articles 47, 48, 49, 53, 54 and Annex III Part A (2023-12-08)

Facts checked on 2026-10-19