Determining Alcohol Content

[Sam]

How does one determine alcohol content in wine? I purchased a bottle last week and there appears to be nothing there (after two glasses).

[grapeadmin]

The least expensive way is to use a vinometer. A couple of drops are added to the funnel end and then allowed to run through the opposite end. The unit is then inverted and then a line can be seen running down a scale. Whereever the line stops, a reading is taken relative to the scale. We have one model that sells for under $5 and another that sells for around $20. The more expensive one is easier to read and can also do sweet wines. Here is a link

http://www.thegrape.net/browse.cfm/4,9781.htm

The other inexpensive way is to use a wine hydrometer but you need a reading before ferementation begins and another after fermentation. By the wording of your post I am guessing you don't have a specific gravity reading before fermentation. If you did, you could calculate alcohol content by volume thus:

Starting Specific Gravity - Ending Specific Gravity
------------------------------------------------------------- = alc by volume
7.5


john

[Sam]

Thanks for the reply...you are correct, I do not have a 'before' reading therefore I would have to rely on the vinometer.

Your last comment insinuates that alcohol content could actually be missing from my bottle of wine. True?

[grapeadmin]

If it was fermented as a normal wine it would have to have some level of alchol. If it is a low amount it may seem that there is no alchol but some (probably 6%) or more would be present.

john