Must weight

Refractometer

Saccharometer

Must weight is a term used in the winemaking and viticulture industries to measure the amount of sugar present in grape juice or must, which is the freshly pressed fruit juice (usually grape juice) that contains the skins, seeds, and stems of the fruit. The sugar content of must is a critical factor in determining the potential alcohol content of the wine that will be produced. As yeast ferments the sugar into alcohol, knowing the must weight allows winemakers to predict the alcohol level of the finished wine and make adjustments as necessary for the desired outcome.

Measurement

Must weight is typically measured in degrees Brix, Baumé, or Oechsle, depending on the country or region.

• Degrees Brix (symbol °Bx) measures the sugar content of an aqueous solution, where one degree Brix is equivalent to 1 gram of sucrose in 100 grams of solution and represents the strength of the solution as percentage by mass. It is widely used in the United States and many other wine-producing countries.
• Baumé (symbol °Bé) is another scale used to measure the density of various liquids. It is used to measure the density of grape must and is commonly used in France and Australia. The scale gives winemakers an indirect measure of sugar content.
• Oechsle (symbol °Oe) scale measures the must weight in terms of the specific gravity of the must. It is primarily used in Germany, Switzerland, and Luxembourg. The scale indicates the density of the must compared to water, allowing winemakers to estimate the potential alcohol content of the wine.

Importance in Winemaking

The measurement of must weight is crucial for several reasons in winemaking:

1. Predicting Alcohol Content: By knowing the sugar content of the must, winemakers can estimate the potential alcohol level of the wine. This helps in making decisions about yeast selection, fermentation processes, and whether sugar needs to be added (chaptalization) or removed to achieve the desired alcohol content. 2. Legal Requirements: In many wine-producing regions, there are legal standards for must weight to classify wines. These standards often relate to quality designations, where higher must weights can indicate higher quality levels or specific styles of wine, such as late harvest wines. 3. Harvest Timing: Measuring the must weight helps determine the optimal time for harvest. Grapes with higher sugar content can produce wines with higher alcohol levels, which is desirable for certain styles of wine. 4. Adjustments During Winemaking: Understanding the must weight allows winemakers to make informed decisions about adjusting the sugar level, either by concentrating the must, diluting it, or adding sugar, to influence the wine's body, sweetness, and alcohol content.