Sparkling Wine Guide: Pas Dosé

The sweetening of sparkling wines is an important part in the production process. Sparkling wines range from bone dry (Pas Dosé) to very sweet. The translation of Pas Dosé from French to English means no dosage / without dosage. See also Brut Nature, Zero Dosage, Dosage Zéro.

Dosage translates as the added sugar in a final sparkling wine. So Sans Dosage or Pas Dosé quite literally means no added sugar. This results in a pure and dry tasting experience. Many people will prefer this style of sparkling wine where a better understanding of and an honest terroir expression is shared.

The final touch!

Dosage is the final touch added to the wine before corking. A mixture of cane sugar dissolved in wine, known as "liqueur de dosage", is added: approximately 1cl for a 75cl bottle for a Champagne Brut. The quantity of liqueur used will depend on the style of sparkling wine.

A  Doux contains more than 50 grams of sugar per litre, and less than 12 grams per litre for a Champagne / Sparkling Brut. If there is less than 3 grams of sugar per litre of wine and no extra sugar is added, this is called a "Brut Nature". This stage can also play a role in developing the style of the wine depending on what we have in mind: if we want to keep as much of the wine’s personality and integrity as possible, a very neutral liqueur will be used. If, on the other hand, we want to elevate the wine with other aromas, a liqueur containing a reserve wine for example, a great Sparkling wine set aside for long ageing, will be used.

• Brut Nature / Zero Dosage / Dosage Zéro / Pas Dosé: 0 to 3 g/L,
• Extra Brut: 0 to 6 g/L,
• Brut: 0 to 12 g/L,
• Extra Dry: 12 to 17 g/L,
• Dry / Sec: 17 to 33 g/L,
• Medium Dry / Demi-Sec: 33 to 50 g/L
• Doux / Sweet: more than 50 g/L 

Why choose Sans Dosage?

There are plenty of reasons that a sparkling wine with no added sugars is a good choice including:

• Lower sugar thus less calories,
• A better understanding of the terroir of the wine region without added sugars to disturb the aromas and flavours,
• Better crispness and refreshing character especially for those preferring their citrus / grapefruit / mineral / saline style of wine,
• Ideal for certain food pairings especially fatty pastry foods and spicy dishes.
   

Midalidare Pas Dosé is our Brut nature style of sparkling wine.