How to Measure Wine Sweetness
Every winemaker knows the importance of the direct relationship of the amount of sugar present in the pressing of your grapes and how the wine at the end of the process will taste, smell and look. To measure the sweetness, the sugar content, you will need a winemaker's hydrometer. They can be found at local brew stores and from online specialty retailers. The hydrometer will allow you to predict and adjust a recipe depending upon the specific gravity (SG) of your wine. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Sanitize the wine thief, test cylinder and hydrometer. When they are dry, use the wine thief to pull a sample of must, the technical name for your pressings or mixture of juices, from the fermentor. Place the test cylinder on a flat surface and fill it to the 80 percent level. Allow the sample to settle for five minutes.
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When the sample has settled, you should see some of the grape skins on the bottom. Gently lower the hydrometer into the test jar. As you release it, give the upper part of the hydrometer a slight twist. This will cause the instrument to spin and release any bubbles that might be stuck to the bottom.
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Make sure the hydrometer is not touching the sides of the test jar and is floating free. Then record the number at the bottom of the meniscus---that's the bottom of the curved surface of the liquid. The higher the SG reading, the sweeter your wine will be.
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Tips & Warnings
When buying your hydrometer, make sure it measures SG, potential alcohol (PA) and sugar content.
Store the instrument carefully. Hydrometers are fragile.
