Making natural sparkling wines with non-Saccharomyces yeasts

The usage of alternative non-Saccharomyces yeasts might provide desirable characteristics to white and red sparkling wines. In this study, second fermentation in the bottle was carried out by Saccharomyces cerevisiae as control and two non-Saccharomyces species: Saccharomycodes ludwigii and Schizosaccharomyces pombe. The second fermentations of white base wine made from Vitis Vinifera cv. Airén grapes and red base wine made from Vitis Vinifera cv. Tempranillo grapes, in the bottle were followed by aging on lees during 4 months at 12 °C. Finally, physicochemical properties were analyzed and a sensory evaluation was held. Significant differences were detected among sparkling wines produced with the studied yeasts in acidity parameters and non-volatile compounds. The pyranoanthocyanin content and color intensity was higher with the use of Schizosaccharomyces pombe in red sparkling wines. The total amount of volatile compounds was similar among treatments, but in certain compounds, individual variations in concentration were seen. Total amount of biogenic amines decreased in all the samples after the treatment. Differences were also detected in sensory evaluation; the sparkling wines produced with Saccharomyces cerevisiae showed different aromatic profile in comparison to sparkling wines produced with Schizosaccharomyces pombe, considering the parameters of limpidity, aroma intensity, aroma quality, flowery, fruity, buttery and reduction aromas in white samples; color intensity, limpidity, aroma intensity, herbal, buttery, yeasty, and oxidation aromas in red samples. Usage of non-Saccharomyces yeasts for sparkling wine production with traditional method can be furtherly studied to change specific characteristics of sparkling wines without decreasing their overall quality and obtain differentiation.