Influence of fatty acids on the growth of wine microorganisms Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Oenococcus oeni

The effects of fatty acids, extracted during prefermentation grape skin-contact on Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Oenococcus oeni, were studied. The influence of skin-contact on total fatty acid content was evaluated both in Chardonnay must and in synthetic medium. Prior to alcoholic fermentation, the skin-contact contributes to a large enrichment of long-chain fatty acids (C 16 to C 18:3 ). These results induced a positive effect on yeast growth and particularly on cell viability. In the skin-contact fermented media, levels of C 12 and especially C 10 are lower and macromolecules content higher than in controls. This production of extracellular mannoproteins and the reduction of medium-chain…