Baumé [Bé]

Baumé & Brix are unit of measurement for the amount of sugar in grape juice and fermenting wine.

Chief Wine Hacker

« Back to Wine Words Index

Baumé, pronounced Boh-May, & Brix are units of measurement for the amount of sugar in grape juice and fermenting wine.

1°Bé = 1.8°Brix = 18 grams per litre sugar.

Depending on the efficiency of the yeast in converting sugar to alcohol 1°Bé will produce 1-1.1% alcohol. So fruit picked at 12°Bé will result in a wine with 12-13.5% Alcohol.

We measure Baumé & Brix using hydrometers that float in juice and wine.

On the left is a hydrometer and thermometer just about to measure the Baumé and temperature of the fermenting wine. On the right a hydrometer measuring the Baumé of a juice sample to check the sugar levels before picking. You can see it is at about 12.4°Bé. Enough sugar to make a wine with somewhere between 12.4-13.5% alcohol.

The Mega Technical Bit

The reading needs to be adjusted for the temperature of the liquid. We’re measuring the density of the liquid which will be more dense at lower temperatures and less dense at higher temperatures. As fermentation progresses alcohol production reduces the density of the liquid. By the end of fermentation, a hydrometer will need to read negative to indicate all the sugar has been consumed.

A hydrometer can not accurately measure very low levels of sugar. Other tests have to be used to determine precisely how many grams per litre of sugar remain in the wine.

 

Synonyms:
Brix
« Back to Wine Words Index

Feeling Thirsty?

Àlvaro Palacios ‘Gratallops’ 2019

Red Blend | Spain, Catalunya

Excellent. So fine and long, great persistence, harmony and intrigue. Poise, balance, complexity and personality. Bright fruits with mineral acid. Slatey, earthy, savour with some darker fruits. Inredible vitality, such sublte energetic fruit. Paul Kaan Initially quite a mineral nose with a blend of earth and gun smoke, this gives way to concentrated layers of red and black cherry, blueberry yoghurt and liquorice spice. The palate is bright and full-bodied, with firm savoury tannins an
$160
$153ea in any 3+
$146ea in any 6+
Add to cart
More Info
This is relatively firmly reduced so if you’re tempted to try a bottle young, be sure to give it some air first. Otherwise, there is good power and underlying tension to the medium weight plus flavors that retain solid delineation on the impressively long finish. This will need to add depth with time in bottle, but the material is present for that to occur. 2028+ (from 3 separate parcels that aggregate only .2 ha) Allen Meadows, Burghound
$750
$730ea in any 3+
$710ea in any 6+
Add to cart
More Info

Giuseppe Quintarelli Rosso di Bepi 2016

Red Blend | Veneto, Valpolicella

It's no surprise that Giuseppe is considered the Maestro. Only Quintarelli would declassify a wine like this, the difference between Amarone and Rosso is a very fine line here. Exotic nose of sweet spice potpourri, dried and fresh red fruit notes . The palate is powerful and rich with crushed bitter chocolate notes, dark red fruit, and a pomegranate /orange peel note . A fine mineral and tannin line gives the wine structure and even though this is a big wine, it is always elegant. Grapes
$413
$398ea in any 3+
$383ea in any 6+
Add to cart
More Info
DUE FEB 2023
"There is a vague hint of the exotic suffusing the aromas of essence of pear, passion fruit and citrus confit. There is again a really lovely texture to the vibrant middle weight flavors that exude much more obvious mineral nuances on the bone-dry, slightly austere and lingering finale." Allen Meadows, Burghound 90-92 Points
$165
$158ea in any 3+
$151ea in any 6+
Add to cart
More Info