Product Review: HI96811 Refractometer For Sugar In Wine, % Of Brix

Calling all winemakers – with the 2021 grape harvest is fast approaching, you won’t want to miss this review!

The Instrument Choice Team of Scientists regularly reviews new and popular products, so when searching for the perfect scientific instrument for your application, you can make more informed decisions.

This edition reviews the HI96811 Refractometer, an accurate and robust meter specifically designed for measuring Brix levels in wine.

What is Brix

Brix is the measurement of sugar content within an aqueous solution. One degree Brix is 1 gram of sucrose in 100 grams of solution and indicates the solution strength as the percentage by mass.

Note: If the solution contains dissolved solids other than pure sucrose, then the Brix level will only approximate the dissolved solid content.

Why Measure Brix in Wine?

Brix meters are indispensable tools for determining sugar content across all aspects of the winemaking process and the reasons you should measure Brix include:

1. Measuring Brix percentage before picking grapes makes it possible to determine ideal harvesting times and indicates if the grapes are suitable for subsequent vinification.
2. By roughly multiplying Brix by 0.55, you obtain an estimate of a wine sample’s ultimate alcohol content (if fermented to dryness).
3. Measuring Brix during fermentation is an excellent way to track and monitor the fermentation progress. As the yeast consumes the available sugars during fermentation, Brix readings will decrease.
4. Measuring Brix will indicate the sweetness and final sugar content of your end product.

About the HI96811 Refractometer

The Hanna Instruments HI96811 Refractometer is a tough, portable refractometer for measuring the sugar content of wine, juice and must. The HI96811 is suitable for all winemaking standards, meeting the budgetary requirements of hobby winemakers and yet sufficiently accurate to satisfy professional vintners.

The HI96811 rapidly measures the refractive index of any wine sample applied to the prism. The instrument converts results to a sucrose concentration, which displays as Brix percentage.

Scientist’s Tip #1: The HI96811 Refractometer references the ICUMSA Methods Book (International Commission for Uniform Methods of Sugar Analysis) to perform conversions.

Scientist’s Tip #2: Most of the sugar content in grape juice is fructose and glucose - not sucrose. Therefore, you should interpret the reading from a Brix refractometer as “Apparent Brix”.

HI96811 Refractometer Features & Benefits

Here are some of the reasons we consider this meter worthy of review:

1. Easy to use: A simple two-button operation makes the HI96811 Refractometer easy to operate.
2. Fast Results: You don’t have to wait long for results - accurate readings display on the large LCD within a mere 1.5 seconds.
3. User Calibration: You can perform single-point calibration using deionised or distilled water.
4. Small Sample Size: Forget waste! You can obtain accurate Brix wine sample measurements from as little as two drops.
5. Temperature Compensation: Automatic temperature compensation removes sample temperature as a source of error, helping you ensure precise measurements.
6. Extra Large LCD: The extra-large dual-level LCD shows the measurement and temperature readings simultaneously – you can interpret results at a glance.
7. Hygenic: The stainless steel sample well is easy-to-clean and corrosion-resistant.
8. Rugged: The construction of the HI96811’s outer casing tough ABS thermoplastic. The meter is IP65 rated water and dustproof.
9. BEPS: The device is fitted with an alert to warn you when the battery power is low enough to affect measurements significantly.

HI96811 Refractometer Specifications

HI96811 Refractometer Applications

We recommend the HI96811 for any aspect of the winemaking process, such as:

• In the vineyard: Use the HI96811 Refractometer to measure the Brix levels in grapes to determine whether they are ready to be harvested.
• In the winery: Brix levels can be collected during pressing, processing and to analyse the final sugar content.

Conclusion

What is our scientists' verdict of the HI96811 Refractometer?

“The HI96811 Refractometer is an accurate and easy-to-use tool for all facets of the winemaking process. It gets 10/10 from us thanks to its precision, two-button operation and durability”.

If you like the look of the HI96811 Refractometer but need your results displayed in other common wine measuring units, check out the following instruments:

• Digital Refractometer For Sugar In Wine, Baume Product code: HI96812 (Baume)
• Refractometer For sugar, %Brix And %v V Product code: HI96813 (Brix and Potential Alcohol)
• Refractometer for Sugar In Wine,%brix,Oechsle & Kmw Product code: HI96814 (Brix, Oechsle and KMW)

Want more information about the HI96811 Refractometer? Speak with an Instrument Choice Scientist! We’re here to help! Call 1300 737 871 or email [email protected].