A copper-sulphur compound (formerly copper vitriol) that occurs as intensely blue-coloured crystals. In anhydrous form, copper sulphate appears whitish to grey; on contact with water it takes on the characteristic blue colour.

Copper sulphate is used in winemaking - often in combination with copper citrate and silver chloride - to specifically eliminate reductive wine defects such as bocks and chalkiness. These off-flavours are caused by sulphur-containing compounds such as hydrogen sulphide, which are produced during fermentation or maturation and can lead to unpleasant odours or flavours. Copper reacts with these sulphur compounds and forms insoluble copper compounds, which then have to be removed from the wine using physical processes such as filtration. It is only used as a corrective measure after the occurrence of reductive off-flavours and not as a prophylactic measure.
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Markus J. Eser
Weinakademiker und Herausgeber „Der Weinkalender“