Modulation of welschriesling wine volatiles through the selection of yeast and lactic acid bacteria

Abstract

Welschriesling is a variety common to Central and Eastern European wine-producing countries; however, its aromatic composition remains poorly understood. Our study aims to determine the volatile profile of Welschriesling by analysing varietal thiols, esters, higher alcohols and monoterpene alcohols in commercial wines. In addition, the selection of commercial yeast starters and lactic acid bacteria (LAB) was used to modulate Welschriesling wine volatile composition. Both the selection of yeast and LAB had a significant impact on the compositional parameters of the wines. Yeast starter Uvaferm 228 (UVF228) was the most effective in terms of 3-mercaptohexan-1-ol (3MH) and 3-mercaptohexyl acetate (3MHA) production. For the ethyl esters of fatty acids (EEFAs), higher alcohol acetates (HAAs) and higher alcohols (HAs), no common inter-group behaviour could be observed based on yeast selection, however, as a group, EEFAs and HAs were highest in wines fermented with UVF228. Malolactic fermentation (MLF) significantly influenced varietal thiols, irrespective of the LAB strain used. Concentrations of 3MH significantly increased with MLF, 4-mercapto-4-methyl-pentan-2-one (4MMP) concentrations decreased, while 3MHA concentrations remained unaltered. This study showed the specific influence of yeast and LAB strain on selected volatile compounds. MLF appeared to be a promising tool to boost the presence of 3MH in wines, however, the results need further confirmation across a range of fermentation conditions and strain selections.