As an experienced sommelier and brewer, I can provide you with some guidance on how much sugar to put in 5 gallons of wine. The amount of sugar you need will depend on the desired sweetness level of your wine and the current sugar content of the grapes or juice you are using.
To start, it's important to determine the sugar content of your wine must, which is the mixture of grape juice and other ingredients before fermentation. This can be measured using a hydrometer, which measures the specific gravity of the liquid. The specific gravity will give you an idea of the sugar concentration in the must.
In this case, you mentioned that you do not have a hydrometer available. Don't worry! I can provide an approximate amount of sugar to add based on my experience. For a 5-gallon batch of wine, adding around 1 pound of sugar should give you a decent starting point. However, keep in mind that this is just an estimate, and the actual sugar content may vary.
If you do have a hydrometer, it's best to use it to determine the specific gravity of your must. The specific gravity will help you calculate the potential alcohol content and sweetness of your wine. Typically, most table wines have a specific gravity between 1.080 and 1.100 before fermentation.
Assuming you have a specific gravity reading, you can calculate the amount of sugar needed to reach your desired sweetness level. For every 0.01 increase in specific gravity, you will need to add approximately 2.5 ounces of sugar per gallon. In this case, with a 5-gallon batch, you would need around 12-13 ounces of sugar.
Once you have determined the amount of sugar needed, it's important to mix it thoroughly into the wine must. This ensures that the sugar is evenly distributed and will ferment properly. Use a sanitized spoon or paddle to stir the mixture until the sugar is completely dissolved.
After adding the sugar, it's a good idea to recheck the specific gravity with your hydrometer. This will help you ensure that you have reached the desired sugar level. If the specific gravity is not where you want it to be, you can adjust by adding more sugar in small increments and rechecking until you are satisfied.
In summary, to determine how much sugar to put in 5 gallons of wine, you can either estimate around 1 pound of sugar if you don't have a hydrometer, or use a hydrometer to measure the specific gravity and calculate the amount of sugar needed based on the desired sweetness level. Remember to mix the sugar thoroughly and recheck the specific gravity after adding the sugar to ensure the desired sugar level is reached. Happy brewing!