🍷 Extra dry
A sparkling wine slightly sweeter than brut, despite the word dry in its name.
Extra dry is a sweetness term for sparkling wine, meaning 12 to 17 g of sugar per litre. Despite the name, such wine is slightly sweeter than brut and drier than sec. The confusion is historical: in the 19th century sparkling wines were much sweeter, and 12–17 g seemed dry by comparison.
The sweetness of sparkling wine is set by dosage, a small addition of sugar or liqueur before corking. The scale runs brut nature, extra brut, brut, extra dry, sec, demi-sec and doux.
Extra dry is especially common for prosecco: many producers make it mainly in this version. The term is also used for champagne and other sparkling wines, in French wine and Italian wine alike. It tastes softer and suits aperitifs, light snacks and fruit.
Links
- Part of
- 🍷 Dosage
- Where it is made
- 🗺️ French wine, 🗺️ Italian wine
- Similar and different
- 🍷 Brut, 🍷 Sec, 🍷 Prosecco
Frequently asked questions
Is extra dry sweeter than brut?
Yes. Brut has up to 12 g of sugar per litre, extra dry 12 to 17 g.
Why is it called dry if it is sweetish?
The name dates from the 19th century, when sparkling wines were far sweeter.
Is prosecco often extra dry?
Yes, extra dry is one of the most popular versions of prosecco.
Similar
🍷 Brut nature · 🍷 Extra brut · 🍷 Demi-sec · 🍷 Sec · 🍷 Doux · 🍷 Brut
⚠️ Wine contains alcohol: adults only, drink in moderation. Wine usually contains sulphites; egg white or milk proteins are sometimes used for fining — important for allergies and for vegans.
Sources
- Wikipedia (en)
- EU Delegated Regulation 2019/33 (labelling, sugar terms)
- Encyclopaedia Britannica: Wine