What am I missing?

[projectman]

Hydrometer vs refractometer: I'm making a kit Chilean Malbec and checked to see if it's ready for stabilizing. The hydrometer said .994 and my refractometer said 7.8 Brix which I read as 1.032. What am I doing wrong? I would expect both readings to be much closer than this.

 

[Julie]

Refractometers can only read juice prior to fermentation, once fermentation is complete it cannot give you an accurate reading, there is a calculation you need to do to get the correct reading.

 

[JohnT]

+1 on what julie said... the math is way more than just a simple calculation. use a hydrometer, its cheep and simple to use.

 

[sour_grapes]

The others are correct. The reason is that alcohol has a different index of refraction than water does. Here is a page that explains this a bit more: http://valleyvintner.com/Refrac_Hydro/Refract_Hydro.htm

 

[salcoco]

go with the spread sheet on the web site referred to by sour grapes . It Works! I have verified it a number of times. I think it is better to use one drop of wine to check sg rather than the hydrometer jar. Les contamination also. Your measurement of 7.8 brix usually means the fermentation is done as your hydrometer measurement verifies.

 

[projectman]

Awesome! Thanks folks - this old dog has learned another new trick. Thanks again.