How can I tell if homemade wine contains only ethanol, rather than poisonous methanol?

Answer 1

All naturally fermented liquor contains both ethanol and methanol, but fortunately the amount of ethanol is far greater than the amount of methanol by volume so you don't need to worry about the methanol for all intents and purposes.

The only time that the methanol content might become an issue is if you distilled the homemade wine into a spirit (which, in most jurisdictions is illegal so you won't be thinking of doing that) when it's possible that you may inadvertantly concentrate the methanol in the mixture.

Pure methanol is very toxic and can cause blindness in quantities as small as 5 ml and eventually death.

Having said that, it's not the methanol you need to worry about in homemade wine; the ethanol content will be sufficient to make you unconscious before the methanol has any toxic effect.

Incidentaly, the antitode for treating methanol poisoning is actually to administer ethanol as the toxic effects of methanol are caused by its breakdown to the toxic compound formalin by the enzyme alcohol dehydrogenase, for which ethanol has a higher affinity.

Answer 2

You can't.
That said, as previously mentioned, there is a negligible amount present due to the natural fermentation process. It is nowhere near the necessary quantity to be toxic.

Interestingly enough, you'll find on the MSDS link in section 4 (first aid) that the consumption of ethanol (booze) will slow/reduce the effects. By drinking the wine, you've got that covered in advance :)

You're perfectly safe drinking the wine...but if it tastes nasty, that's another story.

Answer 3

If you think there may be something poisonous in it, don't drink it.

Answer 4

by drinking it or sending it to a lab

Answer 5

Wow, thanks! Exactly what I was looking for. I looked for the answer on the internet but I couldn't find them.

Answer 6

This puzzles me too