Non Conventional Yeast In The Wine Industry

Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains that exhibit high ethanol tolerance and excellent fermentative ability are extensively used in winemaking as selected starters. However, a side-effect of the widespread use of these commercial starter cultures is the elimination of native microbiota, which might result in wines with similar analytical and sensory properties, depriving them from the variability, complexity and personality that define the typicality of a wine. Nonetheless, a way of balancing control and yeast population diversity during wine fermentation is the selection of non-Saccharomyces yeasts with optimal oenological traits. Therefore, a current trend in enology is the implementation of mixed- or multi-starters cultures, combining S. cerevisiae that remains the yeast species required for the completion of fermentation and non-Saccharomyces yeasts isolated from the native flora of grape juices. This research topic mainly deals with possible applications of different non-Saccharomyces yeast to wine production such as aroma production, ethanol reduction or biocontrol.Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains that exhibit high ethanol tolerance and excellent fermentative ability are extensively used in winemaking as selected starters. However, a side-effect of the widespread use of these commercial starter cultures is the elimination of native microbiota, which might result in wines with similar analytical and sensory properties, depriving them from the variability, complexity and personality that define the typicality of a wine. Nonetheless, a way of balancing control and yeast population diversity during wine fermentation is the selection of non-Saccharomyces yeasts with optimal oenological traits. Therefore, a current trend in enology is the implementation of mixed- or multi-starters cultures, combining S. cerevisiae that remains the yeast species required for the completion of fermentation and non-Saccharomyces yeasts isolated from the native flora of grape juices. This research topic mainly deals with possible applications of different non-Saccharomyces yeast to wine production such as aroma production, ethanol reduction or biocontrol.

It is well established that certain strains of yeasts are suitable for transforming grape sugars into alcohol, while other yeast strains are not suitable for grape fermentations. Recent progress has clearly demonstrated that the sensory profile of a wine is characteristic of each vine cultivated, and the quality and technological characteristics of the final product varies considerably due to the strains which have performed and/or dominated the fermentation process. Because of their technological properties, wine yeast strains differ significantly in their fermentation performance and in their contribution to the final bouquet and quality of wine, such as useful enzymatic activities and production of secondary compounds related both to wine organoleptic quality and human health. The wine industry is greatly interested in wine yeast strains with a range of specialized properties, but as the expression of these properties differs with the type and style of wine to be made, the actual trend is in the use of selected strains, which are more appropriate to optimize grape quality. Additionally, wine quality can be influenced by the potential growth and activity of undesirable yeast species, considered spoilage yeasts, which cause sluggish and stuck fermentation and detrimental taste and aroma in the wine.

This volume scopes several aspects of non-conventional yeast research prepared by the leading specialists in the field. An introduction on taxonomy and systematics enhances the reader’s knowledge on yeasts beyond established ones such as Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Biotechnological approaches that involve fungal utilization of unusual substrates, production of biofuels and useful chemicals as citric acid, glutathione or erythritol are discussed. Further, strategies for metabolic engineering based on knowledge on regulation of gene expression as well as sensing and signaling pathways are presented. The book targets researchers and advanced students working in Microbiology, Microbial Biotechnology and Biochemistry.

Advances in Grape and Wine Biotechnology is a collection of fifteen chapters that addresses different issues related to the technological and biotechnological management of vineyards and winemaking. It focuses on recent advances in the field of viticulture with interesting topics such as the development of a microvine model for research purposes, the mechanisms of cultivar adaptation and evolution in a climate change scenario, and the consequences of vine water deficit on yield components. Other topics include the metabolic profiling of different Saccharomyces and non-Saccharomyces yeast species and their contribution in modulating the sensory quality of wines produced in warm regions, the use of new natural and sustainable fining agents, and available physical methods to reduce alcohol content. This volume will be of great interest to researchers and vine or wine professionals.

During spontaneous food/beverage fermentations, the microbiota associated with the raw material has a considerable importance: this microbial consortium evolves in reason of the nutrient content and of the physical, chemical, and biological determinants present in the food matrix, shaping fermentation dynamics with significant impacts on the ‘qualities’ of final productions. The selection from the indigenous micro-biodiversity of ‘virtuous’ ecotypes that coupled pro-technological and biotechnological aptitudes provide the basis for the formulation of ‘tailored’ starter cultures. In the fermenting food and beverage arena, the wine sector is generally characterized by the generation of a high added value. Together with a pronounced seasonality, this feature strongly contributes to the selection of a large group of starter cultures. In the last years, several studies contributed to describe the complexity of grapevine-associated microbiota using both culture-dependent and culture-independent approaches. The grape-associated microbial communities continuously change during the wine-making process, with different dominances that correspond to the main biotechnological steps that take place in wine. In order to simplify, following a time trend, four major dominances can be mainly considered: non-Saccharomyces, Saccharomyces, lactic acid bacteria (LAB), and spoilage microbes. The first two dominances come in succession during the alcoholic fermentation: the impact of Saccharomyces (that are responsible of key enological step of ethanol production) can be complemented/integrated by the contributions of compatible non-Saccharomyces strains. Lactic acid bacteria constitute the malolactic consortium responsible of malolactic fermentation, a microbial bioconversion often desired in wine (especially in red wine production). Finally, the fourth dominance, the undesired microbiota, represents a panel of microorganisms that, coupling spoilage potential to the resistance to the harsh conditions typical of wine environment, can cause important economic losses. In each of these four dominances a complex microbial biodiversity has been described. The studies on the enological significance of the micro-biodiversity connected with each of the four dominances highlighted the presence of a dichotomy: in each consortia there are species/strains that, in reason of their metabolisms, are able to improve wine ‘qualities’ (resource of interest in starter cultures design), and species/strains that with their metabolism are responsible of depreciation of wine. Articles describing new oenological impacts of yeasts and bacteria belonging to the four main categories above mentioned (non-Saccharomyces, Saccharomycetes, lactic acid bacteria, and spoilage microbes) are welcome. Moreover, in this Research Topic, we encourage mini-review submissions on topics of immediate interest in wine microbiology that link microbial biodiversity with positive/negative effects in wine.

The use of non-Saccharomyces yeast species is currently a biotechnology trend in enology for which they are being broadly used to improve the sensory profile of wines because they affect aroma, color, and mouthfeel. They have become a powerful biotool to modulate the influence of global warming on grape varieties, helping to maintain the acidity, decrease the alcoholic degree, stabilize wine color, and increase freshness. In cool climates, some non-Saccharomyces can promote demalication or color stability by the formation of stable derived pigments. Additionally, non-Saccharomyces yeasts open new possibilities in biocontrol for removing spoilage yeast and bacteria or molds that can produce and release mycotoxins and, thereby, help in reducing applied SO2 levels.

Wineries are facing new challenges due to actual market demands for the creation of products exhibiting more particular flavors. In addition, climate change has lead to the requirement for grape varieties with specific features, such as convenient maturation times, enhanced tolerance towards dryness, osmotic stress, and resistance against plant-pathogens. The next generation of yeast starter cultures should produce wines with an appealing sensory profile and less alcohol. This Special Issue comprises actual studies addressing some of the problems and solutions for the environmental, technical, and consumer challenges of wine making today: Development of sophisticated mass spectroscopic methods enable the identification of the major metabolite spectrum of grapes/wine and deliver detailed insights in terroir and yeast-specific traits;Knowledge of the origin and reactions of reductive sulphur compounds facilitates the avoidance of unpleasant wine odors;Innovative physical–chemical treatments support effective and sustainable color extraction from red grape varieties;Enological enzymes from yeasts used directly or in the form of starter cultures are promising tools to increase the juice yields, color intensity, and aroma of wine;Natural and artificial Saccharomyces hybrids as well as collections of adapted wild isolates from various ecological niches will extend winemakers repertoire, allowing individual fermentations;Exact process control of wine fermentations by convenient computer programs will guarantee consistently high product quality.