Effects of seven yeast strains on the volatile composition of Palomino wines

The must obtained from Palomino grapes was inoculated with seven different commercial yeast strains (three Saccharomyces cerevisiae cerevisiae- MO5, CEG and IOC BR 8000 and four Saccharomyces cerevisiae bayanus- ALB, KD, REIMS and IOC 2007) and fermented under identical conditions. Standard chemical analyses were done on the final industrial wines and the major volatile compounds extracted and analysed by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry. No differences were found in gross chemical composition, but the wines had significantly different volatile characteristics and the results demonstrated that large sensory differences were generated by the different yeast strain that had been used in the vinification. The major constituents that contributed to the volatile composition in this wine were the higher alcohols, ethyl esters, acetates, fatty acids and volatile phenols. In terms of floral and fruity odours, the best results were obtained for the wines inoculated with IOC 2007, ALB and REIMS S. cer. bayanus strain.