In this three-minute video, we discuss how to properly use a hydrometer, the science behind how it works, and what some of the common scales listed on the hydrometer are (Specific Gravity, Potential Alcohol, and the Brix scale).

If you are serious about winemaking, you will want to get serious about SO2 management. In this 17-minute video, we will be performing a Free SO2 testing on several wines. To make the test much easier, I am using the Vinmetrica SC-300, which also tests pH, TA as well as SO2.

Malolactic fermentation (MLF) is a winemaking process involving a special bacterial strain that metabolizes the malic acid naturally found in grapes into lactic acid. Lactic acid is a weaker acid than malic acid so the effect of this conversion is a decrease in the wine’s acidity along with a corresponding raise in the wine’s pH. As an additional benefit, the bacteria also add mouthfeel and complexity to the wine.