Vinometer

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Commercially available vinometer (above matchbox for size comparison); on the left of the vinometer the funnel, on the right the reservoir, in between the scaled capillary tube
Reading the measurement result from a vinometer: The clear column of liquid in the vinometer extends from the bottom to just under 14 (arrow), so the measured wine has a good 14% alcohol by volume.

With a vinometer ( Latin for "wine meter") the alcohol content of wine and wine-like beverages such as fruit wine can be measured and usually displayed as a percentage by volume .

A vinometer consists of a small tube made of blown glass with a scale and open at both ends. The measurement accuracy is approx. 0.5 % by volume at 20 ° C; the measuring range extends to around 25 percent by volume. Its mode of operation is based on the lowering of the surface tension of the water by alcohol and the capillary effect : According to this, the higher the alcohol content, the less the water-alcohol mixture is held against gravity in the capillary (= lower surface tension). The influence of the density of the liquid (e.g. due to different sugar contents) is neglected.

For use, a little wine is poured into the funnel of the vinometer. After the capillary has filled without bubbles - a vinometer is therefore unsuitable for sparkling wines - the vinometer is turned over. The capillary force now holds some liquid in the capillary tube. The less that is, the higher the displayed alcohol content. If pure water is poured in, it remains quite high in the capillary and the displayed alcohol content is zero.

This method is tailored to a pure water-alcohol mixture; therefore, the more the liquid to be tested resembles this ideal mixture, the more accurate the result. In the case of wine, fermentation must be fully completed and the residual sugar content as low as possible. In addition, it must not contain any suspended particles ( sediment ). The method can no longer accurately measure alcohol contents greater than approx. 25% by volume and is therefore not suitable for distillates .

Vinometers allow the rough determination of alcohol content with cheap equipment in a quick and easy way. They are therefore also referred to as "alcohol measuring devices". However, exact measurements to a tenth of a percent are not possible.

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  • Wolfgang Vogel: Wine from our own cellar. Grape, apple and berry wines. 7th revised and improved edition. Ulmer, Stuttgart 2004, ISBN 3-8001-4684-3 , p. 37.

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