Brut Champagne

Brut is the most common style of Champagne produced today. The term refers to the level of sweetness, which is determined by the dosage, or the amount of sugar-and-wine mixture the winemaker chooses to add to the final wine before corking. The less dosage, the drier the Champagne. And while the Brut category allows for between 0 and 12 grams per liter of residual sugar, even wines at the high end of the spectrum taste perceivably dry. That's because of the naturally high acidity of grapes grown in the cool climate and chalk-laced soils of the Champagne region. Those on the low end of the spectrum (between 0 and 6 grams per liter of residual sugar) may also be labeled Extra-Brut, indicating an even drier, racier style.