Fermentation - Strong Cap but Brix is 0

[Amberkis]

9 days in Cab Franc and Merlot 5 gallons each the cap is strong, but the refractometer reads 0 time to press?

 

[cmason1957]

I generally wait until the cap drops or at least stops forming as strongly before I press. Your wine is giving off quite a bit of CO2 and is protected, somewhat. Give it a day or so, maybe until the weekend.

 

[winemaker81]

9 days in Cab Franc and Merlot 5 gallons each the cap is strong, but the refractometer reads 0 time to press?

Welcome to WMT!

A refractometer is great for measuring brix in grapes and juice, but once fermentation starts, the alcohol skews the reading and you have to use a table to get a correct SG reading.

When to press is subjective and depends on both your goal and the situation. What is your goal? Making full-bodied reds? Then follow Craig's (@cmason1957) and give it another couple of days. If you want a lighter bodied red, press immediately.

 

[Jim Welch]

… the refractometer reads 0…

I’m wondering how you get a 0 (Zero) reading on a refractometer unless it’s pure water or the refractometer is faulty.
I use a refractometer all the time to monitor fermentation progress and my wines, all reds and starting at 24.5-25.5 BRIX and all of them are finished at an APPARENT refractometer reading of around 9.0 +/- IIRC, which converts to an SG of around 0.996 +/-
Of course I use a hydrometer to determine true FG but in my experience the conversion calculator is very accurate.
This makes me think you are not getting an accurate reading on your refractometer.

 

[Hazelemere]

9 days in Cab Franc and Merlot 5 gallons each the cap is strong, but the refractometer reads 0 time to press?

yes

 

[Amberkis]

I’m wondering how you get a 0 (Zero) reading on a refractometer unless it’s pure water or the refractometer is faulty.
I use a refractometer all the time to monitor fermentation progress and my wines, all reds and starting at 24.5-25.5 BRIX and all of them are finished at an APPARENT refractometer reading of around 9.0 +/- IIRC, which converts to an SG of around 0.996 +/-
Of course I use a hydrometer to determine true FG but in my experience the conversion calculator is very accurate.
This makes me think you are not getting an accurate reading on your refractometer.

Yes conversion rate on refractometer 10.5 equates to 0 brix. Therefore the original question of still strong cap but Brix at 0. Merlot 5 gallons

 

[Amberkis]

I’m wondering how you get a 0 (Zero) reading on a refractometer unless it’s pure water or the refractometer is faulty.
I use a refractometer all the time to monitor fermentation progress and my wines, all reds and starting at 24.5-25.5 BRIX and all of them are finished at an APPARENT refractometer reading of around 9.0 +/- IIRC, which converts to an SG of around 0.996 +/-
Of course I use a hydrometer to determine true FG but in my experience the conversion calculator is very accurate.
This makes me think you are not getting an accurate reading on your refractometer.

Yes conversion rate on refractometer 10.5 equates to 0 brix. Therefore the original question of still strong cap but Brix at 0. To press after 10 days or wait a few more. Melot 5 gallons.

 

[Amberkis]

I generally wait until the cap drops or at least stops forming as strongly before I press. Your wine is giving off quite a bit of CO2 and is protected, somewhat. Give it a day or so, maybe until the weekend.

Thank you for your help!

 

[Rice_Guy]

welcome to WMT

 

[crushday]

Of course I use a hydrometer to determine true FG but in my experience the conversion calculator is very accurate

Jim, can you post the conversion calculator?

 

[Jim Welch]

Jim, can you post the conversion calculator?

I use a spreadsheet I downloaded from morewine and open in Excel

https://morewinemaking.com/web_files/morebeer.com/files/Manuals/Wine_refract.xls