2-Phenylethyl Acetate Formation by Immobilized Cells of Hanseniaspora vineae in Sequential Mixed Fermentations

Abstract

Hanseniaspora vineae 1471, characterized as a strong producer of 2-phenylethyl acetate in wine, has been immobilized on calcium alginate beads. Fermentation trials of free and immobilized cells showed that immobilization did not affect the levels of 2-phenylethyl acetate. The removal of H. vineae immobilized cells from the fermenting must at different time points followed by the inoculation of free cells of a commercial strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae can be used as a tool to modulate the concentration of 2-phenylethyl acetate in wine. Analysis of enological characteristics and volatile compounds showed the feasibility of the use of the mixed sequential cultures to produce wines with different chemical characteristics.