The HI96811 Digital Wine Refractometer is rugged, lightweight and waterproof for measurements in the lab or field.

This optical instrument employs the measurement of the refractive index to determine parameters pertinent to the wine industry.

The actual measurement of the refractive index is simple and quick and provides the vintner a standard accepted method for sugar content analysis. Samples are measured after a simple user calibration with deionized or distilled water. Within seconds, the instrument measures the refractive index of the grape must. These digital refractometers eliminate the uncertainty associated with mechanical refractometers and are ideal for fast, reliable measurements in the field.

The HI96813 allows the user to tailor the instrument to their specific needs based on their experience, since no fixed conversion factor is universally applicable. The first conversion is based on the %Brix value and an adjustable conversion factor between 0.50 and 0.70 (0.55 is a common value).

Potential alcohol (% v/v) = (0.50 to 0.70) x % Brix

One drawback of the above equation is that it does not take into account the nonfermentable sugars and extract.

A second equation was also added that takes these factors into account and can give a more accurate estimate of the alcohol content in the finished wine. This conversion is named “C1” on the meter, and uses the following equation:

Potential Alcohol (%v/v) = 0.059 x [(2.66 x °Oe) – 30] (C1)