Malolactic fermentation of Tempranillo wine: contribution of the lactic acid bacteria inoculation to sensory quality and chemical composition

Malolactic fermentation (MLF) of Tempranillo Rioja wines (Spain) inoculated with two lactic acid bacteria (LAB) strains were studied and compared with spontaneous MLF. Inoculation with selected Oenococcus oeni lyophila shortened MLF duration up to 19 days and lead to wines with more fresh and fruity characters, especially when implantation was 100%. We demonstrated modifications in the concentration of volatile and nitrogenous compounds and a good correlation between analytical and sensory attributes was also noted. In addition, the low initial amino acid concentration and the consumption of these compounds by the inoculated yeast strain during alcoholic fermentation resulted in wines with very low biogenic amines levels (under 3.75 mg L-1) after MLF and 3 month storage period in all cases. The results showed the significance of choose the most suitable starter to elaborate quality wines and suggest the control of amino acid content in must and wine to prevent the formation of biogenic amines.