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How To Use A Refractometer in Winemaking

It's important for winemakers to know how to use a refractometer, because it is used to measure the
amount of sugar (actually, the percentage Brix) in the juice of grapes or other fresh fruit. Winemakers
know there is a direct correlation between the amount of sugar present and the ability to make wine. This
portable instrument (it'll fit in your pocket) allows the winemaker to assess the ripeness of fruit by
measuring Brix in the field or vineyard so he or she can decide the proper harvest time depending upon
the readings taken.

This page explains what a refractometer does, how it works, how to calibrate and use it, tips for buying
the best model, and how to take care of it.

What Is A Refractometer?
A refractometer is a relatively
inexpensive yet essential piece of test
equipment used by vineyard managers
and winemakers. The rugged exterior
of metal, rubber and plastic protects
the highly polished optical glass,
mirrors and prisms that are contained
within. Once the sample is in place
underneath the daylight plate, the
winemaker can see the percentage Brix reading by looking through the monocular / eyepiece and
reading the scale that is seen when he or she holds the refractometer in natural light.

What Does A Refractometer Do, and How Does It Work?

As previously stated, a refractometer allows the winemaker to figure the percentage Brix (the relative
"sugar weight" of a sample compared to distilled water) of the juice of grapes or other fresh fruit. Brix is
sometimes referred to as Balling - don't worry, the terms are interchangeable. Depending upon the
readings observed, a winemaker can monitor the progress of ripening and adjust his/her plans for
harvest, if necessary.

In simplest terms, the refractometer works much like a prism. Remember how, as a child, you could use
a prism to separate out the different wavelengths of light (red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet)
when a source of light was shone on the prism at the correct angle? Well, the modern refractometer
works on the same principle - it reacts differently to light (by giving a reading on a scale) depending upon
the amount of sugar that is available in the liquid sample held between the daylight plate and the main

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prism assembly.

How to Calibrate and Use Your Refractometer

Before you start taking readings, it's very important to calibrate the refractometer. Some refractometers
require the use of a special calibration liquid to perform this task, while others (like the ones sold at
grapestompers.com) are calibrated with distilled water.

Let's get to it!

Begin the calibration of your

refractometer by lifting up the daylight
plate and placing 2-3 drops of
distilled water on top of the prism
assembly. Close the daylight plate so
the water spreads across the entire
surface of the prism without any air
bubbles or dry spots.

Allow the test sample to sit on the prism for approximately 30 seconds before you attempt
calibration in the next step. This allows the sample to adjust to the ambient temperature of the
refractometer.

Hold the refractometer in the direction of a natural light

source and look into the eyepiece. You will see a
circular field with graduations down the center. You may
have to focus the eyepiece to clearly see the
graduations. Figure 1 (below) shows what you would
see if you looked through the refractometer without any
sample present.

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Turn the calibration screw (see photo

at left) until the boundary between
the upper blue field and the lower
white field meet exactly at ZERO on

the scale.

See example (Figure 2, shown

below) of the interior view you'll see
when you look through the eyepiece
of the refractometer.

Once the refractometer has been properly calibrated, you are ready to take readings of grape
juice or whatever else you want to sample. Put away the calibration screwdriver. Clean the
instrument (both the daylight plate and the top of the main prism assembly) using a soft, damp
cloth, then place 2-3 drops of the desired sample on top of the prism. Close the daylight plate
and take your reading as before.
Figure 3 (see below) illustrates what you might see at this point.

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FIGURE 1
The image to the left illustrates
what the winemaker would see if
he looked through the
refractometer without any sample
at all.

Notice how the entire scale is

colored blue; no white at all.

When looking through the

monocular, be sure you are using
natural light to view the readings;
you should not read a
refractometer in the presence of
fluorescent light.

FIGURE 2
This is what the winemaker sees
once he has properly calibrated
the refractometer.

Notice that the reading is taken

where the blue and the white
meet. Calibrate to ZERO using
distilled water as the sample.

If your refractometer does not

automatically compensate for the
temperature of the sample, you
must take this into account or your
readings will be off.

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FIGURE 3
Finally, we get to sample some
real grapes! Don't fall into the trap
of sampling only one or two grapes
- select a group of grapes at
random from across your vineyard
and combine their juice to get a
good cross section sample of your
crop.

As you can see, this sample is

reading 23% Brix. Looks like it's
time to make wine!

Be sure to cleanse and dry the

refractometer before putting it
away in storage.

Warnings and Maintenance of Your Refractometer

Accurate measurement depends on careful calibration. Follow the instructions above closely. A
reminder: Differences between the ambient room temperature of the prism and the temperature of the
sample will throw off the accuracy of your reading. Remember to allow the sample to rest on the prism
assembly for 30 seconds before taking a reading.

Do not expose the refractometer to damp working conditions. Do not immerse the instrument in water. If
the instrument becomes foggy, water has entered the body. Call a qualified service technician or contact
your dealer to purchase a new refractometer.

Do not measure abrasive or corrosive chemicals with this instrument, because they can damage the
prism's coating.

Clean the instrument between each measurement using a soft, damp cloth. Failure to clean the prism on
a regular basis will lead to inaccurate results and damage to the prism's coating.

The refractometer is an optical instrument. It requires careful handling and storage. Failure to do so can
result in damage to the optical components and its basic structure. With care, this instrument will provide
years of reliable service.

Buying Tips
When you purchase a refractometer, you'll need to know:

The range of readings (highest to lowest), to make sure it will suit your purpose. A standard
range for home brewers is 0 to 32% Brix. For example, in order to achieve a 13% wine, you'll

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want to start your wine at a Brix of 23.

The ease with which the refractometer can be read and understood. Some less expensive
refractometers are difficult to read, either due to a lack of a focus adjustment, inferior optics, or
the eyepiece lacks a rubber seal and will not fit snugly over your eye.
The calibration temperature of the refractometer. The most common calibration temp is 20° C or
68° F. If your sample is not exactly 68° F, you will need to make mathematical corrections to
compensate for the temperature difference. Luckily, many modern models of refractometers (like
the ones stocked by grapestompers) are sold with ATC (automatic temperature compensation),
so you never have to worry about the temperature of your sample.
How easy it is to calibrate. Must you purchase a calibration liquid, or can you calibrate with
distilled water? Does it calibrate with a set screw or a dial or knob?
How easy it is to clean.
If it comes with a protective case (they're pretty fragile) and instruction manual.

Conclusion
There are many reasons why a winemaker might want to use a refractometer:

To measure the percentage Brix of grapes or other fresh fruit

To determine progress of crop ripening
To measure progress of fermentation
To measure the amount of sugar present in grapes or other fruit
To allow the winemaker to determine when fruit is at its peak of ripeness and should be
harvested

Here's some other refractometer pages we recommend:

Refraction of Light - the first part of this page explains the principles of refractometry.
How a refractometer works - the bottom half of this page has a great explanation of how the
refractometer works, as well as a diagram of its internal construction.

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