Influence of Candida pulcherrima Patagonian strain on alcoholic fermentation behaviour and wine aroma.

The use of selected Saccharomyces and non-Saccharomyces strains as mixed starters in winemaking would have advantages over the traditional spontaneous fermentation, producing wines with predictable and desirable characteristics. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of metabolic interactions between Patagonian indigenous Saccharomyces cerevisiae MMf9 and beta-glucosidase producer Candida pulcherrima V(6) strains on alcoholic fermentation behaviour and wine aroma Three inoculation strategies, simultaneous, sequential and final, were assayed at laboratory-scale fermentations using Muscat d'Alexandrie grape juice as substrate. The fermentation and yeast growth kinetics as well as the physicochemical and the sensory quality of wine were evaluated. Results evidenced that the sequential inoculation is the most adequate strategy of strains combination. The kinetic behaviour of sequential fermentation was similar to a successful spontaneous fermentation and its wine showed differential aromatic quality as evidenced through PC analysis using physicochemical and aromatic composition data. This wine presented the highest total concentration of higher alcohol, esters and terpenols and the strongest fruity and floral aroma. Copyright 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.