How many degrees are in homemade wine: how to check the strength in simple conditions

For the manufacture of wine drinks use different varieties of grapes. The addition of fruits, spices or spices makes the bouquet of wines unusual and memorable. The strength of wine is expressed as a percentage of alcohol. When answering the question of how many degrees wines contain, how to determine the fortress at home, they take into account the amount of added sugar, as well as indicators of sugar content and acidity of raw materials.

Fortress of various types of wine

The traditional way of making wine involves the use of a specific grape variety. Often, the criterion for choosing a drink for a homemade feast is the strength indicator.

Calculation of the strength index directly depends on the variety and variety of grapes:

• wine varieties are used to make classic drinks. Wine grapes are small and sweet and contain a seed;
• table grape variety large, pitted, it is suitable for making a table drink without specifying the area of growth of raw materials;
• for varietal wines use grapes of the same variety;
• non-vintage wines are made by mixing berries from different vintages;
• blended wines are made by blending several grape varieties.

Canteen

The direct purpose of a table drink is drinking at a meal. It is distinguished by the simplicity of the bouquet, the absence of memorable flavors, a certain strength, from 9 percent. Only table grape varieties are used to make table wine.

Manufacturer and geographical place of collection of raw materials may vary significantly. For example, a French vineyard can become a supplier for the production of Argentinean table wine. Table wine can be white or red, it is served at the table while taking second courses of meat, fish or poultry.

Special

The amount of ethyl alcohol in speci alty wine ranges from 15 to 22 percent. This drink is obtained as a result of an incomplete fermentation process. It differs from the table one in its strength indicator, since due to the increased sugar content, this mark tends to increase.

A classic example of a special variety is Cahors red wine.

Flavored

Alcohol produced on the basis of grape wine, with the addition of sugar color or herbal extracts, can reach a strength of 25 percent or more. Vermouth, which belongs to this type of alcoholic beverage, has a strength index of about 40 degrees.

Sparkling

Sparkling wine is prepared according to a special technology of champagne, which includes several stages. To obtain a special effect that is inherent in these types of alcoholic beverages, wine and gas are combined in special containers under a set pressure. The fortress indicator is on the border between 9 and 13 percent.

Help! Sparkling drinks are an attribute of the celebration of significant events. Bottles with sparkling drinks are stoppered with special corks, which, when the bottle is opened, produce the effect of a shot.

Soda

Carbonated alcoholic drinks are often referred to as sparkling. To obtain the desired result, carbon dioxide is artificially introduced to the drink under pressure. The percentage of alcohol in carbonated wine is lower than the same indicator in a sparkling drink.It is on the border of 7 to 12 percent.

Methods of measuring strength

You can measure the strength index using special devices. In each case, it will take some time to analyze the result.

Capillary vinometer

A capillary wine meter is a device with which you can find out the strength of dry wine at home. Using the wine meter is quite simple, you must follow a few rules when using:

• wine is poured into the funnel, half filling the container;
• after 2-3 drops are released from the bottom of the flask, the funnel is quickly turned upside down;
• base placed on a flat surface;
• a certain amount of liquid may spill out of the base, but the main amount will remain in the flask and stop at a certain level;
• strength is determined by the mark on the measured scale.

Hydroometer

To measure the alcohol content, the drink is poured into a cylindrical hydrometer and immersed in water with the wide side down. The main condition during the procedure is that the temperature of the liquid in which the meter is immersed should not be lower than 20 degrees Celsius.

Refractometer

This device helps to determine the strength by determining the refractive index of the liquid. One drop of fermented raw material is enough to work. To measure the indicators, a drink is applied to the glass and the angle of refraction is read.

This method is suitable for those who understand the calculations using various coefficients, and has a table of the relationship between the angle of refraction and the percentage of alcohol.

The old way

The old way of determining the strength of wine is a subjective assessment of the quality of the drink. To check the alcohol content was traditionally trusted to one of the tasters. Light intoxication, taking into account the analysis of the taste shades of the proposed drink, was considered a kind of strength indicator. This technique had no theoretical basis and could only be based on the individual feelings of the taster.

Analytical Method

An analytical method that allows you to measure the strength at home without using any type of alcohol meter, based on the simplest mathematical calculations.

To use calculations, you must have input data and adhere to the calculation plan:

• 1 percent alcohol is obtained by using 22 grams of sugar per 1 liter of wort;
• The sugar content of the grape variety determines further indicators of the sugar content of the must;
• having information about the acidity and sugar content of raw materials, you can calculate the amount of added sugar.

1 percent sugar for the final product will be about 0.6 degrees or percent alcohol content.

How to make wine stronger

Grape wine of any strength can be made stronger. To do this, use special methods that qualitatively affect the percentage of ethyl alcohol.

Chemicals

Chemical elements are added to homemade drink in order to increase the shelf life. Sulfurous acid, which is most often used at home, performs several functions at the same time:

• kills acetic bacteria;
• discolors wine;
• prevents liquid from darkening.

Sulfurous acid is represented by 1-gram tablets of potassium pyrosulfite. For every 10 liters of alcohol, 3 grams of sulfurous acid is added. This method is suitable for fixing dry wines, the total strength of which before the procedure is from 12 to 14 degrees.

After adding the chemical, the alcohol is thoroughly mixed, filtered, and then poured into containers for further storage.

Increased alcohol content

Alcohol acts as a preservative that can fix any kind of wine. Alcohol prevents acetic bacteria, prolongs shelf life and prevents fermentation.

For each liter of drink, add 12 milliliters of alcohol. After adding alcohol, the wine is stirred and then poured into prepared bottles.

Pasteurization

Pasteurization is one of the home canning methods. In the case of applying the pasteurization method to alcohol, it is necessary to take into account some features. Pasteurization is applicable to increase the shelf life of homemade wine and kill pathogenic bacteria.

Basic home pasteurization rules:

• bottles are placed at the bottom of a wide pan, which should be covered with a special grill or lined with a cloth;
• leave some space between the bottles so that the walls of the bottles do not touch each other, otherwise they may burst;
• boiling only uncorked bottles is permissible, since when heated, water tends to expand and push out excess vapors;
• after boiling, the bottles must be closed immediately.

Determining the strength of wine involves the use of proven methods. To accurately measure the percentage of ethyl alcohol in an alcoholic beverage, you need to know which grape variety is used in the preparation of wine, its acidity and sugar content.

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