Wine Fermentationwine fermentation, home distillation, distillery instruments and alcohol based essences HYDROMETER Checking Wine Fermentation Basic facts: 1 litre of water weighs 1 kg (1.000 grammes) 1 litre of alcohol weighs 0,8 kg (800 grammes) 1 litre dissolved sugar weighs 1,59 kg When the must begins to ferment it has a high sugar content. The hydrometer reading is 1080 degrees, and as the sugar ferments out the hydrometer sinks lower and lower. Take readings of the must. If the lock is "plopping" it is fermenting. If the lock is silent, take a reading again after at least 24 hours. If the hydrometer reading is lower, the wine is fermenting. If the reading has not fallen, check the wine to see if it ready. Refer to the relevant table. If fermentation has not started (takes 24-48 hours), contact your nearest home brew shop. Red wine dry light dry full bodied 990 - 999 1000 - 1001 - 1004 Rose wine light dry light sweet 998 - 1000 1000 - 1003 White wine very dry light dry light sweet 996 - 998 998 - 1001 1002 - 1005 Cherry fresh, not sweet sweet, full bodied 1020 - 1030 1035 - 1040 Port/Maderia light sweet full bodied 1020 - 1030 1030 - 1040 Sherry dry medium dry sweet 1008 - 1015 1015 - 1020 1025 - 1030 Kir light dry sweet, full bodied 1010 - 1020 1020 - 1025 White Vermouth dry medium dry 1005 - 1015 1015 - 1025 Red Vermouth dry sweet 1015 - 1020 1020 - 1030 Capri bitter medium dry 1035 - 1040 Capri can be fortified, with advantage with 75 cl Vodka. Sweetness should then be increased to: 1040 - 1050 Black currant as required 1030 - 1040 Blackcurrant can be fortified, with advantage, with 35 cl of white rum of good quality. Bowle wine (approx. 20 litre) dry medium light sweet chaptalise with 400 grammes sugar chaptalise with 500 grammes sugar chaptalise with 600 grammes sugar Even better than sugar, is to add Liqueur Base, 3 ml equals 1 hydrometer degree in 1 litre of wine. Grape juice is excellent for adding sweetness and imparts a more fruity flavour. 3 ml of grape juice adds 1 hydrometer degree in 1 litre of wine. Example: 20 litres of red wine is to be corrected from 990 degrees to 1000. 10 hydrometer degrees x 3 ml grape juice x 20 litres = 600 ml. 1 kilogram of grape juice is approx. 750 ml. |
