Brut vs extra dry: This subtle difference changes everything in your glass of prosecco
August 13th is National Prosecco Day, when we raise a glass to the final days of summer. Let’s investigate this classic Italian wine.
If you’re not familiar with prosecco, here’s the scoop: it’s a light, refreshing, and aromatic sparkling wine produced in Italy that’s quickly become a favorite across the US—especially for brunches, celebrations, and easy summer sipping.
Understanding prosecco labeling
Buying Prosecco can sometimes be tricky as the different types are usually labelled in Italian. The wine comes in two varieties: white and rosé, and can be either sparkling or semi-sparkling (spumante or frizzante). Then, just to add to the confusion, there is Brut and Extra Dry. So let’s take a closer look.
Brut Nature refers to a specific level of dryness in sparkling wines, especially those made using the traditional method like Champagne and Crémant (the second fermentation, responsible for the bubbles, takes place inside the bottle). These wines contain less than 3 grams of residual sugar per liter, meaning they’re extremely dry with little to no added sugar.
Brut Nature is ideal for those who prefer a clean, bone-dry taste and want to savor the wine in its purest form.
The difference between ‘Brut’ and ‘Extra Dry’
But most prosecco wines are actually 'Extra Dry’, which means they are slightly sweeter. They are made using grape varieties with naturally higher sugar content (Glera) and contain a moderate level of residual sugar (between 12 and 28 grams per liter), which gives them a noticeable but not overpowering sweetness—less than dessert wines, but more than fully dry ‘Brut’ ones.
One last thing to look out for on the bottle are the acronyms: DOC and DOCG on the label - both are Italian wine classifications. DOC stands for Denominazione di Origine Controllata which translates as ‘Controlled designation of origin’. DOCG (Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita) is one step above – controlled and guaranteed designation of origin’ the highest quality grade given to Italy’s wines.
National Prosecco Day has been celebrated on August 13 since 2016. So why not put some extra fizz into your social life by throwing a Prosecco party for your friends or family!
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