Mitochondrial DNA restriction enzyme analysis and evaluation of the enological characteristics of Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains isolated from grapes of the wine-producing area of Collio (Italy).

A total of 70 strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae were isolated from different grapes from the Collio Region. Chemical parameters and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) restriction patterns were determined. Higher alcohols were the main parameter useful for differentiating between strains, whereas the mtDNA analysis demonstrated a high genetic variability between strains. A weak correlation was observed when the dendrograms obtained from the chemical and genetic results were compared.