1

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?

Domaine Patrick Javillier Meursault 'Clos du Cromin' 2018
Stepping up from the Bourgogne level wines in a big way. Building tension length and depth. Again excellent composure, tighter now as it should be. Give this 12 months and you’ll be in a very happy place. Entrancing nice white flowers on grapefruit. A little more energy. Excellent texture, chalky phenolic acid complex that works brilliantly. An edge of grapefruit esque bitterness. A wonderful fine example. The mid-palate depth is the thing that demonstrates the step up in quality here.
$215
$208ea in any 3+
$201ea in any 6+
Add to cart
More Info
Sottimano Barbaresco 'Basarin' 2021

Sottimano Barbaresco ‘Basarin’ 2021

Nebbiolo | Piedmont, Barbaresco

An elegance and grace from a perfumed savoury cherry laden aroma. Showing complexity and seamless harmony. Flowing fine and exceptionally developed. Earthy with anise, garrigue, tar and liquorice all wrapping a long even core of pure fruit with ripe and layered tannins, a little black tea woven in. This will be quite some wine in years to come.Paul Kaan, Wine Decoded Feb 2025The 2021 Barbaresco Basarin is fabulous. Rich, ample and seductive, the Basarin marries the charm that is so t
$180
$173ea in any 3+
$166ea in any 6+
Add to cart
More Info
Vincent Dauvissat Chablis 1er Cru 'La Forest' 2018
"Like the Montée de Tonnerre this is overtly floral in character on the lightly spiced nose that displays additional aromas of mineral reduction, iodine, lemon peel and pear. There is a really lovely sense of verve suffusing the powerful yet reasonably refined larger-scaled flavors that culminate in an almost chewy finish thanks to the abundance of sappy dry extract. This isn't as refined as the Montée de Tonnerre but it's just as complex and persistent. Drink 2030+ ♥"Allen Meadows, Burg
$500
More Info
Sabon Châteauneuf-du-Pape 'Le Secret des Sabon' 2017

Sabon Châteauneuf-du-Pape ‘Le Secret des Sabon’ 2017

Rhône Blend | Châteauneuf du Pape, France

“On another level, the 2017 Châteauneuf Du Pape Le Secret Des Sabon is stacked and packed and ranks with the top 2-3 wines in this great vintage. A huge nose of blackcurrants, melted licorice, graphite, garrigue and pepper gives way to an uber-full-bodied, concentrated, massively endowed wine that has an insane level of opulence and decadent, sweet tannins, and a huge finish. This is a tour de force in wine that readers need to taste to believe. Given its wealth of fruit and texture, it’s a
$495
$480ea in any 3+
$465ea in any 6+
Add to cart
More Info