"frederick ploegman" > wrote in message >...
> I wish to plan a country wine. I would like it to finish bone dry with
> exactly 12%abv in the finished wine. Where should I set my original
> (pre-pitch) SG ??

Set it at 1.000 then add enough alcohol to bring it up to 12% ABV.
It's the only way to hit 12% exactly. I worked this out to about 18.5
US fl. oz of Everclear to 1 US gallon of wine (well really distilled
water to get a starting SG of 1.000).

There is no way you will hit exactly 12% ABV when working with yeast,
the best you can do is a ball park estimate. There are just way to
many variables that are out of your control.

I think a must with an original SG = 1.090 - 1.093 (brix 21.5 - 22 )
should get you in the ball park of 12% ABV.

Andy