MISCO Digital Handheld Refractometer

Refractometer for Testing Wine, Grapes, and Must

“The MISCO Digital Refractometer is unequaled with regard to precision and ruggedness in the vineyard and winery.”

Simply and accurately test the sugar content of grapes and grape must during winemaking. The MISCO Digital Refractometer is unequaled with regard to precision and ruggedness in the vineyard and winery.

For more than 100 years, refractometers have proven to be essential tools for the vineyard manager or winemaker. Refractometers have proven valuable for measuring the maturity and sugar content of grapes in the vineyard, the concentration of must before fermentation, for predicting final alcohol concentration, for monitoring fermentation, and as a gauge for determining the final alcohol content and residual solids in the finished wine.

Pre-Configured Refractometers for Testing Wine and Grapes

Easy Order: Here are a few of the most popular Wine Refractometer scale combinations and refractometer models. If you require different programming, you can mix and match scales through the Flexible Custom Programming section below, or call customer service for assistance:

Flexible Custom Programming Options

MISCO Palm Abbe Digital Refractometers can be custom-programmed with up to 5 scales to your exact specifications. There are two easy online options to create your customized units from hundreds of measurement scales:

“Build Your Own” Tool

  1. Use the Industry, Application and Fluid filters to quickly find your scales.
  2. Click scale boxes to add scales to your device.
  3. Select Accessories
  4. Add To Cart

Order Refractometer by Scale#

  1. Browse the refractometer scale options in the dropdown tabs below and record the scale numbers you want.
  2. Type in your scale numbers on the Order by Scale# page.
  3. Select Accessories
  4. Add To Cart

BRIX

Scale# 003
UoM: BRIX
Range: 0 to 85
Resolution: 0.1
Precision: 0.1

BRIX

Scale# 004
UoM: BRIX
Range: 0 to 56
Resolution: 0.1
Precision: 0.1

Ethanol - Wine (D20/20)

Scale# 195
UoM: Specific Gravity (D20/20)
Range: 1.000 to 0.9640
Resolution: 0.0001
Precision: 0.00029

Ethanol % v/v @ 60 °F <

Scale# 680
UoM: % v/v @ 60 °F <
Range: 0 to 77
Resolution: 0.1
Precision: 0.2 / 0.2 / 1.0

Ethanol % v/v @ 60 °F >

Scale# 684
UoM: % v/v @ 60 °F >
Range: 94 to 100
Resolution: 0.1
Precision: .25

Ethanol % v/v 20°C <

Scale# 031
UoM: % v/v @ 20 °C <
Range: 0 to 76
Resolution: 0.1
Precision: 0.2 / 0.2 / 1.0

Ethanol % w/w <

Scale# 032
UoM: % w/w <
Range: 0 to 70
Resolution: 0.1
Precision: 0.2 / 0.2 / 1.0

Ethanol (D20/20) <

Scale# 033
UoM: Specific Gravity (D20/20) <
Range: 1.000 to 0.869
Resolution: 0.001
Precision: 0.001

Ethanol (D60/60) <

Scale# 681
UoM: Specific Gravity (D60/60) <
Range: 1.000 to 0.871
Resolution: 0.001
Precision: .001

Ethanol (D60/60) °F >

Scale# 683
UoM: Specific Gravity (D60/60) >
Range: 0.794 to 0.820
Resolution: 0.001
Precision: .001

Ethanol g/cm3 >

Scale# 687
UoM: Density g/cm3 >
Range: 0.789 to 0.818
Resolution: 0.001
Precision: .001

Ethanol Proof @ 60 °F <

Scale# 682
UoM: Proof @ 60 °F <
Range: 0 to 155
Resolution: 1
Precision: .5

Ethanol Proof @ 60 °F >

Scale# 685
UoM: Proof @ 60 °F >
Range: 186 to 200
Resolution: 1
Precision: .5

Ethanol Proof 20°C <

Scale# 034
UoM: Proof @ 20 °C <
Range: 0 to 153
Resolution: 1
Precision: 0.5

Ethanol Proof 20°C >

Scale# 038
UoM: Proof @ 20 °C >
Range: 186 to 200
Resolution: 1
Precision: 0.5

Sucrose (g/cm3)

Scale# 437
UoM: Density (g/cm3)
Range: 0.998 to 1.4119
Resolution: 0.0001
Precision: .0004

Sucrose Baume (20°C)

Scale# 441
UoM: Baume (20°C)
Range: 0 to 42.5
Resolution: 0.01
Precision: .05

Sucrose Plato

Scale# 440
UoM: Plato
Range: 0 to 30
Resolution: 0.1
Precision: .1

Wine - ABV % v/v (OIV)

Scale# 194
UoM: % v/v
Range: 0 to 30
Resolution: 0.1
Precision: 0.25

Wine (D20/20)

Scale# 122
UoM: Specific Gravity (D20/20)
Range: 1.000 to 1.130
Resolution: 0.001
Precision: 0.0005

Wine (Mass Fraction) % m/m

Scale# 196
UoM: % m/m
Range: 0 to 85
Resolution: 0.1
Precision: 0.1

Wine Babo

Scale# 127
UoM: Babo
Range: 0 to 25.2
Resolution: 0.1
Precision: 0.1

Wine Balling

Scale# 120
UoM: Balling
Range: 0 to 30
Resolution: 0.1
Precision: 0.1

Wine Baume (20°C)

Scale# 124
UoM: Baume (20°C)
Range: 0 to 16
Resolution: 0.1
Precision: 0.1

Wine Grape Must (kg/L)

Scale# 123
UoM: Grape Must Density (kg/L)
Range: 0.998 to 1.129
Resolution: 0.001
Precision: 0.0005

Wine KMW

Scale# 126
UoM: KMW
Range: 0 to 25.2
Resolution: 0.1
Precision: 0.1

Wine Oechsle

Scale# 125
UoM: Oechsle
Range: 0 to 129
Resolution: 1
Precision: 0.5

Wine Plato

Scale# 121
UoM: Plato
Range: 0 to 30
Resolution: 0.1
Precision: 0.1

Wine Potential Alcohol (% v/v)

Scale# 128
UoM: Potential Alcohol (% v/v)
Range: 0 to 18
Resolution: 0.1
Precision: 0.1

Wine Sugar Content g/kg

Scale# 130
UoM: Sugar Content g/kg
Range: 0 to 273
Resolution: 1
Precision: 1

Wine Sugar Content g/L

Scale# 129
UoM: Sugar Content g/L
Range: 0 to 308
Resolution: 1
Precision: 1

BRIX

Scale# 003
UoM: BRIX
Range: 0 to 85
Resolution: 0.1
Precision: 0.1

BRIX

Scale# 004
UoM: BRIX
Range: 0 to 56
Resolution: 0.1
Precision: 0.1

Beer (Brix/Sucrose)

Scale# 799
UoM: Brix (Beer)
Range: 0 to 30
Resolution: 0.1
Precision: 0.1

Beer (Wort) (D20/20 °C)

Scale# 802
UoM: Specific Gravity (D20/20)
Range: 1.000 to 1.127
Resolution: 0.001
Precision: 0.001

Beer (Wort) (D60/60 °F)

Scale# 803
UoM: Specific Gravity (D60/60)
Range: 1.000 to 1.128
Resolution: 0.001
Precision: 0.001

Beer (Wort) Brewer's Points

Scale# 804
UoM: Brewer's Points
Range: 0 to 127
Resolution: 0.1
Precision: 0.5

Beer (Wort) Dissolved Solids

Scale# 800
UoM: Dissolved Solids (Sugars)
Range: 0 to 30
Resolution: 0.1
Precision: 0.1

Beer (Wort) Plato

Scale# 801
UoM: Plato
Range: 0 to 30
Resolution: 0.1
Precision: 0.1

Ethanol % v/v @ 60 °F <

Scale# 680
UoM: % v/v @ 60 °F <
Range: 0 to 77
Resolution: 0.1
Precision: 0.2 / 0.2 / 1.0

Ethanol % v/v @ 60 °F >

Scale# 684
UoM: % v/v @ 60 °F >
Range: 94 to 100
Resolution: 0.1
Precision: .25

Ethanol % v/v 20°C <

Scale# 031
UoM: % v/v @ 20 °C <
Range: 0 to 76
Resolution: 0.1
Precision: 0.2 / 0.2 / 1.0

Ethanol % w/w <

Scale# 032
UoM: % w/w <
Range: 0 to 70
Resolution: 0.1
Precision: 0.2 / 0.2 / 1.0

Ethanol (Beer) % v/v @ 20°C

Scale# 805
UoM: % v/v @ 20°C
Range: 0 to 30
Resolution: 0.1
Precision: 0.2

Ethanol (Beer) % v/v @ 60°F

Scale# 807
UoM: % v/v @ 60°F
Range: 0 to 30
Resolution: 0.1
Precision: 0.2

Ethanol (D20/20) <

Scale# 033
UoM: Specific Gravity (D20/20) <
Range: 1.000 to 0.869
Resolution: 0.001
Precision: 0.001

Ethanol (D60/60) <

Scale# 681
UoM: Specific Gravity (D60/60) <
Range: 1.000 to 0.871
Resolution: 0.001
Precision: .001

Ethanol (D60/60) °F >

Scale# 683
UoM: Specific Gravity (D60/60) >
Range: 0.794 to 0.820
Resolution: 0.001
Precision: .001

Ethanol g/cm3 >

Scale# 687
UoM: Density g/cm3 >
Range: 0.789 to 0.818
Resolution: 0.001
Precision: .001

Ethanol Proof @ 60 °F <

Scale# 682
UoM: Proof @ 60 °F <
Range: 0 to 155
Resolution: 1
Precision: .5

Ethanol Proof @ 60 °F >

Scale# 685
UoM: Proof @ 60 °F >
Range: 186 to 200
Resolution: 1
Precision: .5

Ethanol Proof 20°C <

Scale# 034
UoM: Proof @ 20 °C <
Range: 0 to 153
Resolution: 1
Precision: 0.5

Ethanol Proof 20°C >

Scale# 038
UoM: Proof @ 20 °C >
Range: 186 to 200
Resolution: 1
Precision: 0.5

Sucrose (g/cm3)

Scale# 437
UoM: Density (g/cm3)
Range: 0.998 to 1.4119
Resolution: 0.0001
Precision: .0004

Sucrose Plato

Scale# 440
UoM: Plato
Range: 0 to 30
Resolution: 0.1
Precision: .1

PG Freeze °C (GEN)

Scale# 909
UoM: Freeze Point °C
Range: 0 to -51
Resolution: 1
Precision: 1

Propylene Glycol % v/v

Scale# 006
UoM: % v/v
Range: 0 to 100
Resolution: 0.1
Precision: 0.1

Propylene Glycol % w/w

Scale# 007
UoM: % w/w
Range: 0 to 100
Resolution: 0.1
Precision: 0.1

Propylene Glycol % w/w (GEN)

Scale# 907
UoM: % w/w
Range: 0 to 100
Resolution: 0.1
Precision: 0.1

Propylene Glycol (D20/20)

Scale# 010
UoM: Specific Gravity (D20/20)
Range: 1.0000 - 1.0460
Resolution: 0.0001
Precision: 0.0001

Propylene Glycol Freeze °C

Scale# 009
UoM: Freeze Point ºC
Range: 0 to -51
Resolution: 1
Precision: 1

Propylene Glycol Freeze °F

Scale# 008
UoM: Freeze Point °F
Range: +32 to -60
Resolution: 1
Precision: 2

MISCO Wine Refractometer

The MISCO Digital Refractometer is unequaled with regard to precision and ruggedness in the vineyard and winery.

Download our FREE Guide

Refractometer Platform Choices

Inline-Process Refractometer:

The above scales are also available on any MISCO inline process refractometer or concentration sensors. They are made for continuous concentration measurement of process fluids.

MISCO Handheld Digital Refractometer:

MISCO has the most extensive refractometer scale library on the planet. Don't see what you want? Browse by handheld refractometer model or by refractometer application. Or give us a call. We can help!

From our Q&A Forum

Wine (4)

Hi, I just bought the Palm Abbe refractometer with 5 scales from you. I have tried it at our office but I cannot get it come to the right results. We are only going to measure total sugar content and alcohol in wines (finished wines). I have calibrated it with distilled water and it seems to measure water to 0.0 every time which is ok. As soon as i measure alcohol in red wine it always shows too high digits – up to 18-20% ABV and the sugar is always too high. What may the problem be in this case?

The problem is that you cannot directly measure the alcohol content in finished wine using a refractometer. Once fermentation begins ethanol and the residual sugar interfere with each other and prevent an accurate reading of either sugar content or alcohol content. The best method for determining the alcohol content in the wine is distillation. There are also some good methods of estimating alcohol and sugar content during fermentation and later in the finished wine. For more information, download a copy of our free guide, “Using Refractometers to Increase the Efficiency of Vineyard Management and Winemaking “Using Refractometers to Increase the Efficiency of Vineyard Management and Winemaking.”

We are a small winery on premise in Michigan and we make our wines from Must and kits only, we don’t crush the grapes. Is there a refractometer you could recommend for our purposes which could tell us actual specific gravity and Actual Alcohol readings of finished wine?

A refractometer is very useful at nearly all stages of wine production. It can be used to help assess the ripeness of grapes before harvest, predict alcohol content from the must, measure the sugar content of must, monitor the fermentation process, and determine the alcohol by volume (ABV) of the finished wine. A refractometer with the Brix scale is the best method of determining the sugar concentration of the grapes and must. Scales are available that can predict the alcohol content of the finished wine based on must measurements. Once fermentation begins ethanol will interfere with sugar readings and you will not be able to take direct readings of either alcohol content or sugar content, without using special techniques. Once the wine is finished, the same refractometer, with an ethanol scale, can be used to measure the distillate of the wine to accurately determine alcohol content.
Click the following link to download a copy of our technical bulletin on “Using Refractometers to Increase the Efficiency of Vineyard Management and Winemaking.”

I am interested in the VIN06 refractometer for the determination of alcohol in fortified wines. What is the process for determining the alcohol – it appears you have to distil the wine before measuring it with the refractometer. How would I do this?

You cannot directly measure the alcohol content in a finished wine with a refractometer. However, you can distil the wine and then use the alcohol scale on the Palm Abbe digital refractometer to measure the ethanol content of the distillate. More information can be found in our technical bulletin  “Using Refractometers to Increase the Efficiency of Vineyard Management and Winemaking.

How accurate is your refractometer when alcohol is present? Can I measure R.S. [residual sugar] in wine? thanks

Alcohol and sugar interferes with each other when measuring finished wine with a refractometer. You cannot measure the alcohol content in a finished wine directly using a refractometer, nor can you directly measure the residual sugar content. There are however, a couple of tricks that you can use to determine alcohol content and residual sugar content using a refractometer. These methods and more are discussed in detail in our technical bulletin, “Using Refractometers to Increase the Efficiency of Vineyard Management and Winemaking.