Theme 4: Immobilized Cell Technology in Wine Production

Abstract

In spite of its traditional nature, wine making is largely concerned with the progress of biotechnology. High cell density reactors have potential for enology: improved performance of alcoholic and malolactic fermentations, smaller scale fermentation facilities, adaptation to continuous processes. Among the immobilization techniques, cell entrapment in alginate beads seems to be an impressive one. Alcoholic fermentation of wine, malolactic fermentation, bottle fermentation known as “Methode champenoise” and sparkling wine are among the industrial applications. Knowledge of kinetics and physiology in microorganisms in heterogeneous media has expanded in the last few years. The use of immobilized yeast cells for the champagne method would greatly simplify “remuage”. The compared metabolism of entrapped and free cells during the bottle fermentation shows differences, but the final product does not reveal significant sensory disparity. New products can be obtained with more thoroughly controlled conditions.