[chefjamba]

Does anyone know how to accuratly calculate the ending alcohol % of the wine with the added water used to top off the wine in between rackings?

I usally don't label my wines with an alcohol %, but after my last racking (1 gallon tester batch) I had to leave behind about 1/8 to 1/4 gallon behind and top that off with water.

I know recipes usually acount for the additional water, however I was wondering if this amount of addition was more than usual or if it is going to throw off my calculations?

[Minnesotamaker]

Originally Posted by chefjamba

Does anyone know how to accuratly calculate the ending alcohol % of the wine with the added water used to top off the wine in between rackings?

I usally don't label my wines with an alcohol %, but after my last racking (1 gallon tester batch) I had to leave behind about 1/8 to 1/4 gallon behind and top that off with water.

I know recipes usually acount for the additional water, however I was wondering if this amount of addition was more than usual or if it is going to throw off my calculations?

I'm no mathmatical whiz, but this is what I would do.

If you know the alcohol % prior to the water addition you should be able to do a weighted average.

So for instance, if you added 1/8 gallon of water to 7/8 gallon of wine to make it a full gallon, and the wine is at 12% alcohol and we assume the water is at 0% alcohol; then you would take the 7/8 (or .875) times 12 to give you 10.5 and the water contributes zero to the alcohol content. Then add the two values together, 10.5 + 0 = 10.5% as the new alcohol content.

[JohnT]

Just as a side note.

I would stongly recommend that you do NOT top off with water.

Water not only dilutes the alcohol level, but also the Acid level and genteral flavor of the wine. Topping off with water will simply make your wine taste "watered down". you should top off with a simular wine (store bought if all else fails)

If you are still determined to top off with water, then you should make it a point to re-measure and re-adjust your acid level.

[Dufresne11]

Up here in MA you can get a 4 liter jug of Gallo in any varietal you want (within reason) for like 13 -14 bucks. I top off with the closest thing I can get so that at least I am not watering out the flavor of my wine. I put a lot of work into making good wine and I don't want to water it out to save a couple of bucks per 6 gallons. Just my two cents

[RedNeckWino]

Dufresne11 said it. I second it. Even Boons Farm tastes better than water. And the ABV is printed on its label. Just use the formula that Lon laid out to calculate. Jeff

[Tom]

Originally Posted by JohnT

Just as a side note.

I would stongly recommend that you do NOT top off with water.

Water not only dilutes the alcohol level, but also the Acid level and genteral flavor of the wine. Topping off with water will simply make your wine taste "watered down". you should top off with a simular wine (store bought if all else fails)

If you are still determined to top off with water, then you should make it a point to re-measure and re-adjust your acid level.

I agree with John. Just how much have you used to top off the wine?
I rarely need more than 750ml of WINE to top off with. If you are adding more than that you are racking to much and leaving to much behind.

[BobF]

I always make 1 or 2 quarts extra in my batches. When I rack from the primary, the extra goes into a smaller bottle (w/airlock) and gets used for topping after future rackings.

[Wade E]

I agree as to not use H20 to top off and I rarely top up my wines as I always make more then needed and if I run low I always rack down and put the extra in a bottle like BobF does.

[abefroman]

I've been buying the 1.5L bottles, barefoot or turning leaf.

They are like $8, and my local wine store charges like $3 something just for a 1.5 empty bottle, so it figure its only costing me <$2.50 for a 750ml bottle's worth, plus these are better than the gallon jugs of wine as well as the boxed wine.

Adding water will either best case scenario take away from the taste, or worst case scenario ruin the batch.