What Is Dry Sparkling Wine? Brut, Extra Dry and Sec Explained
By Bordeaux Brian for Pair It & Share It · Published
BOTTOM LINE
For a dry sparkling wine, look for "Brut" (under 12 g of sugar per litre in Champagne), or "Extra Brut" and "Brut Nature" for even drier. "Extra Dry" and "Sec" sound dry but are actually sweeter than Brut.
Quick decision
- As dry as possible→ Brut Nature / Zero Dosage
- Dry, the classic style→ Brut
- A touch of softness→ Extra Dry
- Sweet, for dessert→ Demi-Sec or Doux
Why the words are confusing
Sparkling wine sweetness comes mostly from the dosage — a little sugar dissolved in wine that's added just before the cork goes in. The label word tells you how much was added.
The scale grew up when most Champagne was sweet, so "dry" words were relative. That's why "Extra Dry" ended up sweeter than "Brut".
Does this apply to Prosecco and Cava?
Many other sparkling wines use similar label words, but each region sets its own rules. The table below is Champagne's official scale; check the producer's own information for other wines.
| Label word | Sugar | Tastes |
|---|---|---|
| Brut Nature / Zero Dosage | Under 3 g, no added sugar | Bone dry |
| Extra Brut | Under 6 g | Very dry |
| Brut | Under 12 g | Dry |
| Extra Dry | 12–17 g | Off-dry |
| Sec | 17–32 g | Lightly sweet |
| Demi-Sec | 32–50 g | Sweet |
| Doux | Over 50 g | Very sweet |
Choosing a glass? See the Champagne and sparkling wine glasses its makers document, in the free Wine Glass Finder.
Sources
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About the author. Bordeaux Brian brings more than 30 years of wine experience and firsthand experience in vineyards and wine regions around the world. His focus is practical: helping people make better wine decisions without the intimidation.