Application of Wine Yeast Starter Cultures in the Production of Grape and Fruit Wines

Significant advances in winemaking equipment and processes, as well as a deeper understanding of the role of yeast, have significantly improved wine quality throughout history. This paper examines critical aspects related to the use of commercial wine yeast starter cultures in the fermentation of gr...

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Main Authors: Hrvoje Pavlović, Vlatka Petravić Tominac, Darko Velić, Tanja Mađarević Pavetić, Vesna Zechner-Krpan, Natalija Velić
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-04-01
Series:Fermentation
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2311-5637/11/4/228
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author Hrvoje Pavlović
Vlatka Petravić Tominac
Darko Velić
Tanja Mađarević Pavetić
Vesna Zechner-Krpan
Natalija Velić
author_facet Hrvoje Pavlović
Vlatka Petravić Tominac
Darko Velić
Tanja Mađarević Pavetić
Vesna Zechner-Krpan
Natalija Velić
author_sort Hrvoje Pavlović
collection DOAJ
description Significant advances in winemaking equipment and processes, as well as a deeper understanding of the role of yeast, have significantly improved wine quality throughout history. This paper examines critical aspects related to the use of commercial wine yeast starter cultures in the fermentation of grape and fruit wines, with a focus on berry wines and blackberry wine, which is the most predominant berry wine in Croatia. While the production of grape wines remains the most significant, fruit wines are gaining importance due to their composition, which contains a variety of bioactive compounds. Although spontaneous fermentation is still preferred by some winemakers, controlled or inoculated fermentation, based on the use of wine yeast starter cultures, is predominantly employed in modern winemaking. The selection of suitable yeast strains for grape wines is easier than for fruit wines, as the broader availability of commercial yeasts for grape wines contrasts with the limited selection offered for fruit wine production due to the smaller fruit wine market. The selection of <i>Saccharomyces</i> and, more recently, non-<i>Saccharomyces</i> yeast strains with desirable characteristics are crucial for the production of high-quality wines. Selection criteria for wine yeasts have evolved to meet modern consumer preferences and focus on technological properties, secondary flavor development and health effects.
format Article
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issn 2311-5637
language English
publishDate 2025-04-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Fermentation
spelling doaj-art-29699029ac69456e8f0f571b815ec52b2025-08-20T03:13:49ZengMDPI AGFermentation2311-56372025-04-0111422810.3390/fermentation11040228Application of Wine Yeast Starter Cultures in the Production of Grape and Fruit WinesHrvoje Pavlović0Vlatka Petravić Tominac1Darko Velić2Tanja Mađarević Pavetić3Vesna Zechner-Krpan4Natalija Velić5University of Osijek, Faculty of Food Technology Osijek, F. Kuhača 18, 31000 Osijek, CroatiaUniversity of Zagreb, Faculty of Food Technology and Biotechnology, Pierottijeva 6, 10000 Zagreb, CroatiaUniversity of Osijek, Faculty of Food Technology Osijek, F. Kuhača 18, 31000 Osijek, CroatiaUniversity of Osijek, Faculty of Food Technology Osijek, F. Kuhača 18, 31000 Osijek, CroatiaUniversity of Zagreb, Faculty of Food Technology and Biotechnology, Pierottijeva 6, 10000 Zagreb, CroatiaUniversity of Osijek, Faculty of Food Technology Osijek, F. Kuhača 18, 31000 Osijek, CroatiaSignificant advances in winemaking equipment and processes, as well as a deeper understanding of the role of yeast, have significantly improved wine quality throughout history. This paper examines critical aspects related to the use of commercial wine yeast starter cultures in the fermentation of grape and fruit wines, with a focus on berry wines and blackberry wine, which is the most predominant berry wine in Croatia. While the production of grape wines remains the most significant, fruit wines are gaining importance due to their composition, which contains a variety of bioactive compounds. Although spontaneous fermentation is still preferred by some winemakers, controlled or inoculated fermentation, based on the use of wine yeast starter cultures, is predominantly employed in modern winemaking. The selection of suitable yeast strains for grape wines is easier than for fruit wines, as the broader availability of commercial yeasts for grape wines contrasts with the limited selection offered for fruit wine production due to the smaller fruit wine market. The selection of <i>Saccharomyces</i> and, more recently, non-<i>Saccharomyces</i> yeast strains with desirable characteristics are crucial for the production of high-quality wines. Selection criteria for wine yeasts have evolved to meet modern consumer preferences and focus on technological properties, secondary flavor development and health effects.https://www.mdpi.com/2311-5637/11/4/228winemakingwine yeast starter culturesfruit wineblackberry winecontrolled fermentation
spellingShingle Hrvoje Pavlović
Vlatka Petravić Tominac
Darko Velić
Tanja Mađarević Pavetić
Vesna Zechner-Krpan
Natalija Velić
Application of Wine Yeast Starter Cultures in the Production of Grape and Fruit Wines
Fermentation
winemaking
wine yeast starter cultures
fruit wine
blackberry wine
controlled fermentation
title Application of Wine Yeast Starter Cultures in the Production of Grape and Fruit Wines
title_full Application of Wine Yeast Starter Cultures in the Production of Grape and Fruit Wines
title_fullStr Application of Wine Yeast Starter Cultures in the Production of Grape and Fruit Wines
title_full_unstemmed Application of Wine Yeast Starter Cultures in the Production of Grape and Fruit Wines
title_short Application of Wine Yeast Starter Cultures in the Production of Grape and Fruit Wines
title_sort application of wine yeast starter cultures in the production of grape and fruit wines
topic winemaking
wine yeast starter cultures
fruit wine
blackberry wine
controlled fermentation
url https://www.mdpi.com/2311-5637/11/4/228
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AT darkovelic applicationofwineyeaststarterculturesintheproductionofgrapeandfruitwines
AT tanjamađarevicpavetic applicationofwineyeaststarterculturesintheproductionofgrapeandfruitwines
AT vesnazechnerkrpan applicationofwineyeaststarterculturesintheproductionofgrapeandfruitwines
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