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Story: Viticulture

Using a refractometer

Using a refractometer

Chris Lintz of Lintz Estate winery, near Martinborough in the Wairarapa, squints into a refractometer, in 1992. Growers can check if grapes are ripe for harvesting by squeezing a drop or two of grape juice onto this instrument. Light is refracted (bent) by the juice to a degree proportional to the amount of sugar in the juice.

About this item

Alexander Turnbull Library, Dominion Post Collection (PAColl-7327)
Reference: EP/1992/2065a/10
Photograph by Ray Pigney

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Matauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

How to cite this page:

Maggy Wassilieff. 'Viticulture', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, updated 1-Mar-09
URL: http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/viticulture/4/4