Strategies for microbiological control of the alcoholic fermentation in wines by exploiting the microbial terroir complexity: A mini-review

Abstract

A complex consortium of yeasts is the principal responsible of wine fermentation, being Saccharomyces cerevisiae the main driver. The use of selected yeast, beginning with Saccharomyces strains, is one of the main achievements in microbiological control in the wine industry. However, the use of single strain starters of S. cerevisiae and the limited variability of strains has increased the objections to its use due to the production of wines with a homogeneous profile. New tendencies in winemaking have emphasized the microbiological terroir and challenged the use of selected starters from different areas, including Non-Saccharomyces yeast or multi-strain starters in order to add complexity to the biochemical composition of wines. Nevertheless, these strategies also harbor their own challenges. In the present mini-review, we focus on the alternatives to current commercial yeast starters mainly based on the local multispecies starters or controlled spontaneous fermentations, considering the advantages and limitations of each strategy. Also, we present an ancestral technique based on the use of pre-fermented must (Pied-de-Cuve) because it provides certain microbial control to the alcoholic fermentation while allows the development of autochthonous microorganisms that might confer microbial typicity to the produced wines. Nevertheless, the latest strategy needs further research to establish a scientific background for the selection of the best Pied-de-Cuve development. Finally, the tendencies in winemaking should find a commitment between microbial control to guarantee alcoholic fermentation fulfillment and the production of wines reflecting microbial typicity to respond to consumer demands, without forgetting the scaling up in the cellars.

Keywords: Alcoholic fermentation; Microbial control; Microbial terroir; Non-Saccharomyces; Pied de cuve; Wine starters.