WINE LEES AS A SOURCE OF NITROGEN FOR OENOCOCCUS OENI TO IMPROVE MALOLACTIC FERMENTATION PERFORMANCE
Abstract
Malolactic fermentation (MLF) is a desired process in red and acidic white wines, after alcoholic fermentation (AF), carried out by the lactic acid bacterium (LAB) Oenococcus oeni. The advantages are an increase of pH, microbiological stabilization and organoleptic improvement of the final wine. However, the presence of stress factors such as ethanol, low pH, high total SO2, lack of nutrients and presence of inhibitors, could affect the successful completion of MLF [1]. Changes in amino acid composition and deficiencies in peptides after AF, showed that MLF can be delayed, signaling its importance for bacterial growth and L-malic acid degradation during MLF [2].
Wine lees accumulated after fermentation, contain approximately 25% of dried matter, that consists of 25 to 35% tartrate salts, 35 to 45% microorganisms (predominantly yeasts) and 30 to 40% organic residues [3]. During vinification, through yeast autolysis there is a release of nitrogen compounds that could be beneficial for LAB [4]. The monitorization of nitrogen compounds during MLF and aging on lees in red wine with O.oeni has revealed the breaking down of peptides and rise in free amino acid concentration, supporting the idea of proteolytic activity [5].
The aim of the present work was to observe the effect of the addition of different wine lees, produced in the vintage 2022 in the cellar (Mas dels Frares, Tarragona, Spain) by different vinification processes, on MLF. Protein concentration, primary amino nitrogen, free amino acids and ammonia were determined in wine lees coming from red and white wine with different inoculation strategies and fermenting temperatures. The ones presenting greater differences in nitrogen compounds composition were selected for the addition in synthetic wine with pH 3.5, ethanol 12% (v/v) and low nitrogen content. MLFs were carried out at 20 °C with two different strains of O.oeni showing differences in MLF performance. Changes in nitrogen compounds during MLF were evaluated. Under most of the conditions, the lees addition (1 g/L) produced a reduction in the MLF duration in comparison with the control condition. This effect is bacteria strain and lees dependent. Overall, it was confirmed that the addition of wine lees could be beneficial. This effect could be linked to the proteins and amino acids input.
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Issue: OENO Macrowine 2023
Type: Poster
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Keywords
wine lees, malolactic fermentation, Oenococcus oeni, nitrogen compounds