Characterization of flocculent Saccharomyces interspecific hybrids for the production of sparkling wines.

Interspecific hybrids obtained from flocculent Saccharomyces cerevisiae and non-flocculent Saccharomyces uvarum (S. bayanus var. uvarum) are flocculent to a higher degree and have the capacity to ferment well at both low and high temperatures, from 6 to 36 degrees C. These interspecific hybrids generate minor compounds of fermentation in intermediate quantities with respect to the parent strains and produce high-quality sparkling wines, which are not inferior to those of the parent strains. For these reasons, interspecific strains are particularly adapted to production of sparkling wines that are re-fermented in bottles.