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New Capabilities New Capabilities Wine color plays a significant role in the perception of quality. Color is also a useful indicator for a range of issues related to wine development. ETS Laboratories has developed a tool that allows winemakers to precisely monitor and record wine color for purposes of research, product consistency and quality control. When used regularly, as part of the wine making process, the Wine Color Analysis can help winemakers confirm and document their own impressions of color and build a valuable database for long-term reference. Quality Assurance For many wineries, it's important to maintain lot-to-lot and vintage-to-vintage color consistency. ETS Wine Color Analysis helps to set quality control parameters for acceptable color variation. Color Monitoring Color analysis helps wineries document the effects of fermentation variables on wine color. Once a control or reference value has been determined, future analysis can compare the results of one program to another. Problem Solving By running a Wine Color Analysis at crush and regular intervals thereafter, wineries with on-going color problems can begin to document variation and identify when changes occur. The Wine Spectra Winemakers traditionally rely on a narrow spectrum to quantify wine color - specifically the amount of light that wine absorbs at two key wavelengths: 420 nm and 520 nm. Using these values, winemakers can develop an impression of a wine's redness, brownness or yellowness. ETS Wine Color Report includes these familiar values along with their sum and ratio-estimates of hue and total color. Since the color of wine is determined by the absorbance of light in the entire visible spectrum, the report also includes an easy-to-read representation of the wine's full spectra. By visually documenting the entire visible spectrum, winemakers can immediately evaluate 420/520 measurements in the context of other wavelengths that may significantly influence color nuance. CIELab Coordinates Color-sensitive industries have long relied on the accuracy of CIELab Tri-Coordinate Color Descriptions. The ETS Wine Color Analysis applies these precision color measurements to wine. The report presents CIELab coordinates via a color plot map and a numeric table. The CIELab system describes color with three parameters and two ratios. The parameters are L°= degree of lightness, a°= red (+) to green (-), b°= yellow (+) to blue (-). Standard calculations are Hue Angle° = a ratio expressed as degrees in an arc range from 90° (yellow) to 270° (blue), and Chroma = the measurement of hue intensity. In addition, the Wine Color Report shows the difference between two samples at several key points of comparison. ![]() The CIELab Plot map serves as a quick visual presentation of results. The L° (lightness) coordinate, shown as a separate bar on the left, describes dark (0) to light (100). The colored, curved perimeter of the CIELab plot offers a quick indication of the difference in hue between two samples. Hue defines the category of color- (red, blue, orange, etc.); chroma establishes how much of a particular hue is present, that is, its intensity or saturation. ![]() This document is a compilation of information and views from various sources provided for the convenience of our clients. Information in this document is provided "as is" without warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied, including but not limited to the warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose and freedom from infringement. User assumes the entire risk as to the accuracy and the use of this document. This document may be copied and distributed subject to the following conditions: 1) All text must be copied without modification and all pages must be included; 2) All copies must contain ETS's copyright notice and any other notices provided therein; and 3) This document may not be distributed for profit. All trademarks are acknowledged. Copyright ETS Laboratories 2001-2010.
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