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Created page with "'''Still wine''' is wine that does not contain significant dissolved carbon dioxide and therefore lacks effervescence. It represents the dominant category of wine produced globally and encompasses the full range of red, white and rosé styles made without intentional secondary carbonation.<ref>Robinson (ed.), ''The Oxford Companion to Wine'', Oxford University Press, 2015, ISBN 978-0198705383.</ref> == Definition == From a regu..."
 
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'''Still wine''' is wine that does not contain significant dissolved carbon dioxide and therefore lacks effervescence. It represents the dominant category of wine produced globally and encompasses the full range of [[red wine|red]], [[white wine|white]] and [[rosé wine|rosé]] styles made without intentional secondary carbonation.<ref>Robinson (ed.), ''The Oxford Companion to Wine'', Oxford University Press, 2015, ISBN 978-0198705383.</ref>
'''Still wine''' is wine that does not contain significant dissolved carbon dioxide and therefore lacks effervescence. It represents the dominant category of wine produced globally and encompasses the full range of [[red wine|red]], [[white wine|white]] and [[rosé wine|rosé]] styles made without intentional secondary carbonation.<ref>Jancis Robinson, ''Oxford Companion to Wine'', Oxford University Press, 17 Sept. 2015. ISBN 9780198705383.</ref>


== Definition ==
== Definition ==
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== Production ==
== Production ==
Still wines are produced through primary alcoholic fermentation, during which yeast converts grape sugars into alcohol and carbon dioxide. In contrast to sparkling wine production, the carbon dioxide generated during fermentation is allowed to escape rather than being retained or reintroduced.<ref>Jackson, ''Wine Science'', Academic Press, 2020, ISBN 978-0128161180.</ref>
Still wines are produced through primary alcoholic fermentation, during which yeast converts grape sugars into alcohol and carbon dioxide. In contrast to sparkling wine production, the carbon dioxide generated during fermentation is allowed to escape rather than being retained or reintroduced.<ref>PhD Jackson, Ronald S., ''Wine Science: Principles and Applications'', Academic Press Inc, 14 April 2020. ISBN 9780128161180.</ref>


Winemaking techniques for still wines vary widely depending on style and colour, but may include maceration, pressing, clarification, maturation and stabilisation. The absence of pressure-related constraints allows for greater flexibility in vessel choice, closure type and ageing regime.<ref>Ribéreau-Gayon et al., ''Handbook of Enology, Vol. 1'', Wiley, 2006, ISBN 978-0470010372.</ref>
[[[[Winemaking]] techniques]] for still wines vary widely depending on style and colour, but may include maceration, pressing, clarification, maturation and stabilisation. The absence of pressure-related constraints allows for greater flexibility in vessel choice, closure type and ageing regime.<ref>Pascal Ribéreau-Gayon, Yves Glories, Alain Maujean, Denis Dubourdieu, & 1 more, ''Handbook of Enology, Volume 2: The Chemistry of Wine - Stabilization and Treatments'', Wiley, 31 Mar. 2006. ISBN 9780470010372.</ref>


== Styles and diversity ==
== Styles and diversity ==
Still wines account for the majority of wines produced worldwide and display extensive diversity in terms of grape variety, alcohol level, sweetness, acidity and ageing potential. They may range from light, early-drinking wines to structured styles capable of long-term bottle ageing.<ref>Johnson & Robinson, ''The World Atlas of Wine'', Mitchell Beazley, 2019, ISBN 978-1784724030.</ref>
Still wines account for the majority of wines produced worldwide and display extensive diversity in terms of grape variety, alcohol level, sweetness, acidity and ageing potential. They may range from light, early-drinking wines to structured styles capable of long-term bottle ageing.<ref>Hugh Johnson, Jancis Robinson, ''World Atlas of Wine: 8th edition'', Mitchell Beazley, 1 Oct. 2019. ISBN 9781784724030.</ref>


Sweet still wines, including those made from [[late harvest]] or [[botrytised wine|botrytised grapes]], are also included within this category, provided no effervescence is present.
Sweet still wines, including those made from [[late harvest]] or [[botrytised wine|botrytised grapes]], are also included within this category, provided no effervescence is present.

Latest revision as of 23:00, 16 January 2026

Still wine is wine that does not contain significant dissolved carbon dioxide and therefore lacks effervescence. It represents the dominant category of wine produced globally and encompasses the full range of red, white and rosé styles made without intentional secondary carbonation.[1]

Definition

From a regulatory and technical perspective, still wine is defined as wine in which carbon dioxide is either absent or present only in residual amounts resulting from alcoholic fermentation, below the threshold required to create perceptible bubbles.[2] This distinguishes still wines from sparkling wine, semi-sparkling wine and other carbonated wine products.

International standards, including those set by the OIV and national authorities, use pressure limits to classify wines as still, typically below 1 bar at 20 °C.

Production

Still wines are produced through primary alcoholic fermentation, during which yeast converts grape sugars into alcohol and carbon dioxide. In contrast to sparkling wine production, the carbon dioxide generated during fermentation is allowed to escape rather than being retained or reintroduced.[3]

[[Winemaking techniques]] for still wines vary widely depending on style and colour, but may include maceration, pressing, clarification, maturation and stabilisation. The absence of pressure-related constraints allows for greater flexibility in vessel choice, closure type and ageing regime.[4]

Styles and diversity

Still wines account for the majority of wines produced worldwide and display extensive diversity in terms of grape variety, alcohol level, sweetness, acidity and ageing potential. They may range from light, early-drinking wines to structured styles capable of long-term bottle ageing.[5]

Sweet still wines, including those made from late harvest or botrytised grapes, are also included within this category, provided no effervescence is present.

Regulatory context

In most wine-producing countries, still wine forms the baseline category within wine legislation and classification systems. Distinctions between still and sparkling wines affect labelling requirements, taxation, permitted production methods and transport regulations.[6]

Statistical reporting by international bodies such as the FAO and OIV typically separates still wines from sparkling and fortified categories when analysing production and trade volumes.[7]

See also

References

  1. Jancis Robinson, Oxford Companion to Wine, Oxford University Press, 17 Sept. 2015. ISBN 9780198705383.
  2. OIV, “Definitions of wine categories”.
  3. PhD Jackson, Ronald S., Wine Science: Principles and Applications, Academic Press Inc, 14 April 2020. ISBN 9780128161180.
  4. Pascal Ribéreau-Gayon, Yves Glories, Alain Maujean, Denis Dubourdieu, & 1 more, Handbook of Enology, Volume 2: The Chemistry of Wine - Stabilization and Treatments, Wiley, 31 Mar. 2006. ISBN 9780470010372.
  5. Hugh Johnson, Jancis Robinson, World Atlas of Wine: 8th edition, Mitchell Beazley, 1 Oct. 2019. ISBN 9781784724030.
  6. Peynaud, Knowing and Making Wine, Wiley, 1984, ISBN 978-0471881491.
  7. FAO, “Wine production categories”.