Question for the Colour Scientists

Al B. · Post by **Al B.** » Sun Sep 10, 2006 11:39 pm

Over the years I have rinsed out a number of port bottles. When I do, the process I follow is:

1) empty out the remains of the bottle into the sink - usually a deep red colour with lots of bits in the liquid.

2) Fill the bottle with water and shake vigorously.

3) Empty the water from the bottle into the sink or into a container we are using to collect water for the garden.

One thing I have consistently noted is that when I empty out the water from the bottle, the colour of the water is not pale red but is pale blue. Am I going mad, has anyone else seen this effect.

And even more importantly, does anyone have any idea why very diluted port should be blue and not red?

Thanks,

Alex

Derek T. · Post by **Derek T.** » Mon Sep 11, 2006 12:19 am

Alex,

Can you please let us know if you rinse out the bottle before you have consumed the port or afterwards? This may explain what you are seeing

If memory serves me the colour purple is a combination of red and blue. To my eye, young port starts life with a deep purple colour. As time goes by the colour turns to red and eventually brown. Could it be that whatever it is in the wine that gives it the purple colour is what mostly ends up in the crust? If it is, then whatever it is, it is probably blue.

Derek

Frederick Blais · Post by **Frederick Blais** » Mon Sep 11, 2006 12:52 am

What could be possible is the PH of the liquid. Some molecules do have different pigmentation in different PH environment. Red Cabbage juice and beats juice are 2 good exemple. Same goes for the colors of the leafs of the trees in Fall, the color is determined by the PH of the soil.

Al B. · Post by **Al B.** » Mon Sep 11, 2006 1:30 am

Now that could be an answer. We do have very hard water - lots of calcium carbonate dissolved in it. I wonder if this makes it more alkaline that the port being rinsed out.

Alex

Post by **Andy Velebil** » Mon Sep 11, 2006 5:05 am

Derek Turnbull wrote:Alex,

Can you please let us know if you rinse out the bottle before you have consumed the port or afterwards? This may explain what you are seeing

Derek

I was thinking the same thing.

I do the same thing and to me the water comes out a very light shade of purple, which I guess could look blue if other factors that Fred mentioned come into play.

Frederick Blais · Post by **Frederick Blais** » Mon Sep 11, 2006 4:44 pm

Port PH should be around 3,4-4 I'd guess as your water should be more around 6-7, so definitively it is enough to change.