What carbonation level (g/L) should RTD sparkling spirits target to match prosecco or sparkling wine?

Members recommend targeting **5–5.2 g/L** for pasteurised RTD sparkling spirits, though this falls slightly short of true sparkling wine levels.

**Key guidance:** - **Sparkling wine legal minimum** — must be over 6 g/L to be classed as sparkling; prosecco and similar typically sit at **6–7.5 g/L** - **Pasteurised product ceiling** — members report that **5.2 g/L is approximately the maximum** achievable when pasteurising, due to carbonation loss during the heat process - **5 g/L as practical compromise** — members suggest **around 5 g/L is sufficient** for an RTD sparkling spirit, acknowledging it won't quite match prosecco but will feel appropriately carbonated for the category - **Bottles vs. cans** — better carbonation retention is possible in glass bottles versus cans, and post-pasteurisation carbonation injection can help, but pasteurisation itself remains the limiting factor - **Non-pasteurised option** — if pasteurisation can be avoided, higher levels (6–7.5 g/L) become achievable, but this requires different preservation methods

**Caveat:** The gap between achievable (5–5.2 g/L) and aspirational (6–7.5 g/L) is a known trade-off when pasteurising. Members accepted 5 g/L as workable rather than pursuing the full prosecco experience.