Vinometers -vs- Hydrometer

[stephen sauchinitz]

I've been backing down on the sugar trying to get a alcohol around 10-11%. I
make mostly fruit wines and generaly start the crushed berries and sugar
juiced around 1.070-1.075SG. I don't like the finished wine real sugar
sweet, usually around 1.025- 1.030 which is sweet to some but I don't like
the alcohol after taste.. Most my wines finish around 11-12% Vino after
initial ferment. But Potential Alcohol with the hydrometer says it should be
around 10 %. Example: I started Strawberry at 1.070SG with Hydrometer and
ended up with 12% Vino. It's got a good strawberry taste , but I got the
alcohol aftertaste in the end which i'm trying to get away from. I always
get a alcohol aftertaste from the Peach and Strawberry wines, Why??

[Luc Volders]

Stephen,

You state that you start fermentation at 1070 to 1075.
Is there any chance that you add sugar during the process ???

It could be that your alcohol is higher due to adding sugar later.

The vinometer is not an accurate measuring device.
It actually does not work in sweet wines. It only works in dry wines
and even then it is doubtfull.

Better is to work with the hydrometer and take measurements
during the process.
Note how the SG drops, add sugar, measure, then wait until the SG drops
again and then take measurements again. The total figures give you
the alcohol.

Even better is the method the wine-weigher uses.
Wait until the wine is finished.
Take an SG reading.
Boil the wine until alcohol has evaporated, fill up to the original
amount and measure the SG again.
Then compare the difference to a table which will give you the accurate
alcohol percentage.

There was a discussion on this over here a few months ago
in which I published the table. If there is demand for it I will
publish it again.

Luc
http://www.wijnmaker.blogspot.com/

Post by stephen sauchinitz
I've been backing down on the sugar trying to get a alcohol around 10-11%.
I make mostly fruit wines and generaly start the crushed berries and sugar
juiced around 1.070-1.075SG. I don't like the finished wine real sugar
sweet, usually around 1.025- 1.030 which is sweet to some but I don't like
the alcohol after taste.. Most my wines finish around 11-12% Vino after
initial ferment. But Potential Alcohol with the hydrometer says it should
be around 10 %. Example: I started Strawberry at 1.070SG with Hydrometer
and ended up with 12% Vino. It's got a good strawberry taste , but I got
the alcohol aftertaste in the end which i'm trying to get away from. I
always get a alcohol aftertaste from the Peach and Strawberry wines, Why??

[c***@cogeco.ca]

I always get a alcohol aftertaste from the Peach and Strawberry wines, Why??

Alcohol can be balanced with acid or tannin.

Since you probably don't want tannins in a fruit/country wine, maybe
your acid can be brought up a bit ?

Note that acid also balances sugar, so if you bring up the acidity
then you also might find they taste less sweet despite having the same
amount of residual sugar.

All strawberry wine recipes I've seen call for 1 or 2 teaspoons of
acid per 3 to 4 pounds of fruit. If you are not making this addition,
that could be the problem.

Never made peach wine, but the recipe on Jack Keller's website calls
for a lemon, so it seems you need to add some acid to peach wines as
well.

If you are adding enough acid then perhaps the solution is simply to
make your wine 7 or 8% alcohol instead of 10% +.

[Steve Sauchinitz]

Chris
You might have something there, I never added acid blend to any of
my wines. I'll have to give it a shot with Peach when they come in.

Post by c***@cogeco.ca

I always get a alcohol aftertaste from the Peach and Strawberry wines, Why??

Alcohol can be balanced with acid or tannin.
Since you probably don't want tannins in a fruit/country wine, maybe
your acid can be brought up a bit ?
Note that acid also balances sugar, so if you bring up the acidity
then you also might find they taste less sweet despite having the same
amount of residual sugar.
All strawberry wine recipes I've seen call for 1 or 2 teaspoons of
acid per 3 to 4 pounds of fruit. If you are not making this addition,
that could be the problem.
Never made peach wine, but the recipe on Jack Keller's website calls
for a lemon, so it seems you need to add some acid to peach wines as
well.
If you are adding enough acid then perhaps the solution is simply to
make your wine 7 or 8% alcohol instead of 10% +.

[spud]

Not enough fruit maybe?

Steve
Oregon

Post by stephen sauchinitz
I always
get a alcohol aftertaste from the Peach and Strawberry wines, Why??