• Energy Research

AbstractThis study examined the influence of pectinase‐producing non‐Saccharomyces yeasts on the chemical and sensory attributes of red and white wines with added pectin. Merlot and Chardonnay wines were produced with or without a mixture of pectinase‐producing non‐Saccharomyces yeasts (Cryptococcus adeliensis, Issatchenkia orientalis, and Pichia kluyveri) added to the must prior to alcoholic fermentation conducted by a commercial strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. To ensure sufficient substrate was present, varying concentrations of apple pectin (up to 1.25 g/L for red wines and 1.00 g/L for white wine) were added at the start of fermentation. After bottling, trained panelists (n = 10) analyzed these wines for aroma, flavor, taste, and mouthfeel attributes. For both wines, significant interactions were noted between the presence of non‐Saccharomyces yeasts and pectin addition which affected pH, titratable acidity, and concentrations of D‐galacturonic acid. While no significant sensory differences were observed among the red wines, limited changes were noted for white wines. However, a strong positive correlation was found between the D‐galacturonic acid and buttery aroma for Chardonnay and with flavor for Merlot. Increasing D‐galacturonic acid concentrations, through utilization of non‐Saccharomyces yeasts, may improve the wine quality as a buttery aroma is often associated with high‐quality Chardonnay. For both red and white wines, the utilization of these particular non‐Saccharomyces yeasts significantly influenced chemical properties but yielded minor sensory changes without any faults.Practical ApplicationWith the recent trend to reduce alcohol content in commercial wines, the interest in non‐Saccharomyces yeasts has grown. This study showed that the addition of non‐Saccharomyces yeasts, perhaps due to their pectinase activity, influenced the chemical characteristics of red and white wines with limited sensory differences, making these yeasts a useful tool for winemakers to modify wine properties.