{"id":37005,"date":"2022-03-17T16:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-03-17T15:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.xtrawine.com\/?p=37005"},"modified":"2022-03-23T11:51:23","modified_gmt":"2022-03-23T10:51:23","slug":"everything-you-need-to-know-about-white-sparkling-brut-wine","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.xtrawine.com\/en\/everything-you-need-to-know-about-white-sparkling-brut-wine\/","title":{"rendered":"Everything You Need to Know About White Sparkling Brut Wine"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

As you shop for Italian sparkling wine, you may have come across the term \u201cBrut\u201d a few times. Seemingly randomly applied to some bottles and not to others, Brut seems like the term we\u2019d use for a wine that is of exceptional quality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That can be the case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, it\u2019s not the full story.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Brut actually has a very specific in the world of wine. Understanding that meaning helps you get closer to finding the sparkling wine that suits your palate best. So, in this article, we\u2019re going to dive into what it means for a wine to be Brut.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Does Brut Mean?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Anybody who is familiar with Champagne knows that the Brut style is the most popular in the world. It\u2019s this fact that likely leads to the misconception that Brut is a signature of quality. We assume that the Brut label being on the most popular types of sparkling wine must mean that the wine is of exceptional quality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But what Brut really refers to is the dryness of the wine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sparkling wines are generally referred to as either sweet or dry, though there are many gradients in between those two hard and fast ratings. These aren\u2019t signifiers of quality. Instead, the sweet and dry labels simply tell you a little more about what you can expect from the wine you\u2019re purchasing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If a wine is sweet, you can expect it to have stronger fruity flavours, making it ideal for pairing with desserts or even for drinking as a dessert wine itself. Dry wines are typically a little more acidic, in addition to containing less sugar than their sweet contemporaries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And that brings us back to the word Brut.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We use Brut to signify the driest of sparkling wines. In fact, the word can translate from the original French to mean \u201cdry\u201d \u201craw\u201d and even \u201cunrefined\u201d. That last one is a bit of a misnomer as there are many Brut wines that are remarkably refined.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But to simplify things, if you\u2019re buying a Brut wine, that means you\u2019re getting a dry wine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Other Ratings to Be Aware of<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

While we use Brut to signify that a wine is dry, there are actually several variations of the term.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Starting with Brut, this means that the wine contains no more than 12 grams of sugar per litre. You\u2019ll notice this upon drinking, as the wine\u2019s fruitier notes will be a bit more mellow than they would be in a sweeter equivalent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Then, we have Extra Brut.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As the name implies, this type of wine is a little dryer than standard Brut. The wine\u2019s acidity will really start to stand out with an Extra Brut wine. You should also find that the wine makes your mouth water more when you drink it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Next up is Brut Nature, which can also be referred to as Brut Zero.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the world of sparkling white wines, these are the most intense and acidic that you will find. Remarkably refreshing, Brut Nature wines pack a lot of flavour into a package that is designed to make your mouth water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

All three types of these wines are dry wines. It\u2019s just the measure of dryness that changes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For the sake of clarity, we should also look at the opposite end of the spectrum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The term for a wine that contains more than 12 grams of sugar per litre while still having a hint of acidity is \u201cSec\u201d. Extra Sec means that the wine is a touch dry but has more sweetness than you would expect from a Brut wine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Then, we have Demi-Sec, which means the wine is even sweeter. It\u2019s these wines that tend to emphasise their fruitier notes. Finally, we have Doux, which means the wine is as sweet as can be. These wines contain so much sugar that they can give a can of Coca-Cola a run for its money.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, you\u2019re looking for Brut if you want a dry wine and Sec if sweetness if your thing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How Are Brut Sparkling Wines Made<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are three methods that a producer can use to make a Brut sparkling wine. They are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n