11–13 Mar 2026
ONLINE
Europe/Berlin timezone
More than 160 registered participants from 20 countries, 43 contributions, 7 sessions

Circular microbial biotechnology for improving colour and aroma in rosé wines produced in warm climates

12 Mar 2026, 14:50
10m
ONLINE

ONLINE

Sustainable Bioeconomy & Nature Based Solutions Sustainable Bioeconomy & Nature Based Solutions

Speaker

Azzurra Vella (Department of Agricultural, Food and Forest Sciences (SAAF), Università degli Studi di Palermo, Viale delle Scienze, Bldg. 5, Palermo, 90128, Italy)

Description

Abstract
Global rosé wine production is on the increase, but high temperatures in warm climates influence colour intensity and aromatic freshness, ultimately affecting sensory quality [1,2]. Applying non-Saccharomyces yeasts and lactic acid bacteria in combination with Saccharomyces cerevisiae in sequential inoculations offers a promising strategy to enhance colour expression and aromatic complexity during fermentation [3]. In this study, six pilot-scale fermentations (500 L each) were carried out using Nero d’Avola grape must, with co-inoculations of either Starmerella lactis-condensi MN412 or Candida oleophila YS209, with or without Lactiplantibacillus plantarum MLPKH45™, followed by sequential inoculation with S. cerevisiae NF213. Fermentation kinetics, microbial dynamics, CIELab colour parameters, and sensory profiles were monitored. Sequential inoculation accelerated fermentation compared to the control with S. cerevisiae, showing positive microbial interactions. All mixed fermentation trials showed significantly higher L values (up to 67.20 vs 57.67) and lower C values (17 vs 24.52), suggesting lighter hues and lower colour saturation. Total colour differences (ΔE) between treatments and the control reached up to 12.2, well above the visual perception threshold (ΔE > 2.7) [4]. Sensory analysis showed that sequential inoculations enhanced floral (up to 6.7) and red fruit notes (up to 6.5). The combination of C. oleophila YS209 + L. plantarum MLPKH45™, followed by S. cerevisiae, provided the best balance between colour intensity and sensory quality, achieving the highest overall score (7.5 vs 6.5 for the control). Overall, the results demonstrate that co-inoculation of non-Saccharomyces yeasts and lactic acid bacteria, coupled with sequential inoculation of S. cerevisiae, is an effective tool for modulating colour and aroma in rosé wines produced in warm climates. This approach supports more sustainable winemaking practices with reduced reliance on chemical additives.

Reference
[1] Peres, S., Giraud-Heraud, E., Masure, A. S., & Tempere, S. (2020). Rose wine market: anything but colour?. Foods, 9(12), 1850. https://doi.org/10.3390/foods9121850.
[2] Van Leeuwen, C., Sgubin, G., Bois, B., Ollat, N., Swingedouw, D., Zito, S., & Gambetta, G. A. (2024). Climate change impacts and adaptations of wine production. Nature Reviews Earth & Environment, 5(4), 258-275. https://doi.org/10.1038/s43017-024-00521-5.
[3] Morata, A., Loira, I., Heras, J. M., Callejo, M. J., Tesfaye, W., González, C., & Suárez-Lepe, J. A. (2016). Yeast influence on the formation of stable pigments in red winemaking. Food chemistry, 197, 686-691. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2015.11.026.
[4] Aleixandre-Tudo, J. L., Buica, A., Nieuwoudt, H., Aleixandre, J. L., & du Toit, W. (2017). Spectrophotometric analysis of phenolic compounds in grapes and wines. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry, 65(20), 4009-4026. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jafc.7b01724.

Primary author

Azzurra Vella (Department of Agricultural, Food and Forest Sciences (SAAF), Università degli Studi di Palermo, Viale delle Scienze, Bldg. 5, Palermo, 90128, Italy)

Co-authors

Valentina Craparo (Department of Agricultural, Food and Forest Sciences (SAAF), Università degli Studi di Palermo, Viale delle Scienze, Bldg. 5, Palermo, 90128, Italy) Enrico Viola (Department of Agricultural, Food and Forest Sciences (SAAF), Università degli Studi di Palermo, Viale delle Scienze, Bldg. 5, Palermo, 90128, Italy) Irene Dolce (Department of Agricultural, Food and Forest Sciences (SAAF), Università degli Studi di Palermo, Viale delle Scienze, Bldg. 5, Palermo, 90128, Italy) Vincenzo Naselli (Department of Agricultural, Food and Forest Sciences (SAAF), Università degli Studi di Palermo, Viale delle Scienze, Bldg. 5, Palermo, 90128, Italy) Antonino Pirrone (Department of Agricultural, Food and Forest Sciences (SAAF), Università degli Studi di Palermo, Viale delle Scienze, Bldg. 5, Palermo, 90128, Italy) Venera Seminerio (Department of Agricultural, Food and Forest Sciences (SAAF), Università degli Studi di Palermo, Viale delle Scienze, Bldg. 5, Palermo, 90128, Italy) Micaela Carusi (Department of Agricultural, Food and Forest Sciences (SAAF), Università degli Studi di Palermo, Viale delle Scienze, Bldg. 5, Palermo, 90128, Italy) Daniela Fracassetti (Department of Food, Environmental and Nutritional Sciences (DeFENS), Università degli Studi di Milano, Via G. Celoria 2, 20133 Milan, Italy) Vasileios Englezos (Department of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences, University of Torino, Largo P. Braccini 2, 10095, Grugliasco, Italy) Giuseppe Blaiotta (Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, 80055 Portici, Italy) Giuseppe Notarbartolo (Az. Agr. G. Milazzo - Terre Della Baronia S.r.l., S.S. 123 km. 12+70, 92023, Campobello di Licata, Italy) Luca Settanni (Department of Agricultural, Food and Forest Sciences (SAAF), Università degli Studi di Palermo, Viale delle Scienze, Bldg. 5, Palermo, 90128, Italy) Antonio Alfonzo (Department of Agricultural, Food and Forest Sciences (SAAF), Università degli Studi di Palermo, Viale delle Scienze, Bldg. 5, Palermo, 90128, Italy) Nicola Francesca (Department of Agricultural, Food and Forest Sciences (SAAF), Università degli Studi di Palermo, Viale delle Scienze, Bldg. 5, Palermo, 90128, Italy)

Presentation materials