Residual Sugar Test Using CLINITEST Tablets
Dextrocheck: Residual Sugar Test Kits for wine are no longer produced

Clinitest Kits used by diabetics use the same technology so that you can perform the same test. If you have the dropper and test tube from a Dextrocheck Kit, you will only need Clinitest Tablets and this sheet of directions.  Refill tabs come with a new color sheet.

A. FOR WINES WITH LESS THAN 1% RESIDUAL SUGAR – ‘the 10 drop method':

1)    Place 10 drops  (0.5 ml) of wine in the test tube.  Hold the test tube over a piece of unlined white paper for better visibility. 

2)    Drop one reagent tablet in the test tube. Watch the reaction while shaking the tube to make sure the color change does not pass through the orange color and turn slightly brownish. If this occurs you have more than 1% residual and you will need to follow the secondary procedure, the 2 drop method in paragraph B below.

3)    If the color change does not go to or pass through orange, wait until the boiling reaction is finished, then match the color to the color chart for the 2 Drop Method on the Clinitest instructions.  Read the amount of residual sugar from the below chart for the 10 drop method.

4)    If you get a color that appears to be between any two of the color slabs you can assume an intermediate value, but be certain that the wine never passed through to the orange color and then to a brown color. If this occurs or if you are unsure, try the 2 drop procedure in paragraph B below. 

 The actual amount of sugar in the wine is not that which is shown on the Clinitest chart, but the following:                       

                                    

Clinitest Color Chart  Clinitest results	“10 drop method” less than 1% residual sugar (10 drops of wine in the test tube)	“2 drop method” 1 to 5% residual sugar (2 drops of wine + 8 drops of water in the test tube)	“1 drop method” more than 5% residual sugar   (1 drop of wine + 9 drops of water in the test tube)
Blue (color on left side) Negative	None	None	None
Dark Green ( 2nd color slab from left) Trace	0.05%	0.25%	0.5%
Medium Green ( 3rd color slab from left)	0.1%	0.5%	1.0%
Light Green (4th color slab from left)	0.2%	1.0%	2.0%
Dark Brown (5th color slab from left)	0.4%	2.0%	4.0%
Light Orange (2nd color slab from right)	0.6%	3.0%	6.0%
Orange (color slab at right side)	1.0%	5.0%	10.0%

 

B. FOR WINES CONTAINING FROM 1 TO 5% RESIDUAL SUGAR – ‘the 2 drop method':

1)    Place 2 drops (0.1ml) of wine into the sample tube and add 8 drops (0.4ml) of water.

2)   Drop one reagent tablet into the tube and watch the reaction to be certain it does not go all the way to the orange color. If it does, you have more than 5% residual sugar and should follow the procedure paragraph C for the one drop method.

3)    If the color change does not go to or pass through orange, wait until the boiling reaction is finished, then match the color to the color chart for the 2 Drop Method on the Clinitest instructions.  Read the amount of residual sugar from the above chart for 2 drop method.

 

C. FOR WINES CONTAINING MORE THAN 5% RESIDUAL SUGAR – ‘the 1 drop method':

1)    Add 1 drop (0.05ml) of wine and 9 drops (0.45ml) of water to the test tube and proceed as above. If you pass through the orange color and go to a brown you have more than 10% residual sugar and cannot get a measurement with this test.

2)    If the color change does not pass through orange, wait until the boiling reaction is finished, then match the color to the color chart for the 2 Drop Method on the Clinitest instructions.  Read the amount of residual sugar from the above chart for 1 drop method.

3)    Be aware that your accuracy is greatly reduced when using a single drop of wine for your test. The result would only indicate an approximate range.

 

www.fallbright.com             www.101winemaking.com                            winemaking@fallbright.com

Fall Bright, The Winemakers Shoppe, 10110 Hyatt Hill, Dundee, NY 14837                                607-292-3995            

SEE TOXICITY PAGE

   We have put together our own "kit" in an attempt to reduce cost.  It contains a vial of Clinitest tablets (36) which includes a color chart, a glass test tube 
and a syringe, plus overall instructions.