Grape Juice(Must) Testing

Testing grape juice, also known as grape must, plays a vital role in producing high-quality wines by offering critical insights into the composition of grape juice before fermentation begins. By understanding the juice’s chemical profile, winemakers can make informed decisions that enhance flavor, aroma, and overall wine quality. 

Why is grape juice testing important in the winemaking process? 

Through the analysis of key components, such as sugar content, acidity, pH, and nutrient levels, winemakers can fine-tune fermentation conditions to achieve desired outcomes. Accurate testing helps winemakers to enhance flavor, aroma, and overall wine quality. Accurate chemistry testing helps prevent potential issues such as undesirable fermentation byproducts or imbalanced flavor profiles. 

What is included in the Basic Juice Panel? 

The Basic Juice Panel focuses on essential chemical parameters but does not detect microorganisms.  This panel equips winemakers with the data needed to manage fermentation proactively and produce wines of consistently high quality. The comprehensive overview of juice composition includes:  

  • Brix – Measures sugar content, indicating potential alcohol levels. 
  • pH – Affects microbial stability and fermentation dynamics. 
  • Titratable Acidity (TA) – Reflects the total acid concentration, influencing taste and balance. 
  • Yeast Assimilable Nitrogen (YAN) – Critical for healthy yeast activity during fermentation. 
  • Malic Acid – Important for flavor development and potential malolactic fermentation. 

Speak to the team to learn moreDownload the Wine and Alcoholic Beverage information sheetDownload the Analysis Request form

What our customers have to say

"We've always found them to be responsive in getting results back and giving advice on problems we might be facing."

Andrew Hutchinson, Technical Manager, Turners & Growers

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Nick Walker, Technical Manager, Egmont Honey

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Accreditations

As a New Zealand accredited laboratory by International Accreditation New Zealand (IANZ), Hill Labs' commitment to quality is tantamount to our overall operating philosophy. We pride ourselves on the quality of our work.