During malolactic fermentation, a variety of metabolic end products can be produced. Some of the compounds produced have pleasing sensory properties, while some do not. Therefore, the choice of wine bacteria and the timing of inoculation are critical to the wine style. Each wine bacteria will impact differently on the final wine sensory profile.

The tendency to harvest higher maturity grapes, resulting in higher pH and alcohol wines, seems more favorable to the development of indigenous bacteria. To limit the development of unknown indigenous flora, which can lead to the production of undesirable sensory deviations, co-inoculation is an interesting winemaking option. Using selected Lb. plantarum in the freeze-dried form for direct inoculation appears to be a very safe winemaking option in combination with the co-inoculation strategy.

Selected wine bacteria must be efficient as soon as they enter the must or wine to complete malolactic fermentation. It means that they must survive and grow in the must or wines to rapidly convert malic acid into lactic acid, as well as contribute to the wine sensory profile. In order to achieve this goal and based on our strong expertise in bacteria production, we developed a specific bacteria production process called « MBR™ process ».

It is hard to believe that only 100 years ago the powers of yeast were yet unharnessed: The process of fermenting foods was more alchemy than science, its results often unpredictable. Since then distinguished scientists have uncovered the extraordinary potential this microorganism has for the food industry. Today more and more winemakers are embracing the flexibility and control offered by ongoing advances in selection and breeding of dried wine yeast cultures for direct inoculation.

During the malolactic fermentation (MLF), Citric acid is degraded by bacteria into flavour compounds. One of them is associated with buttery aromas (diacetyl) which can mask the fruit of the wine. However, under specific conditions of vinification, it can be reduced in less aromatics compounds.

Co-inoculation is now recognized as a simple and safe practice for the management of malolactic fermentation for wine quality optimization.

Bacterial spoilage remains a common problem in wine, especially with risks associated with climate change (higher pH) and a perfectly reasonable desire to reduce sulphite levels in wine. Standard control methods are often insufficient to eliminate risks without having disadvantages in return. Bactiless™ is a new solution offering many advantages.

Today, it is in the interest of the winemakers to carefully consider MLF as an important step in the definition of their wines. Certain wine bacteria are key to drive the sensory profile of the wines.