The present study was aimed at determining the effect of glucose, ethanol and sulphur dioxide on the
growth and volatile phenol production by Brettanomyces bruxellensis in red wines using a response
surface methodology approach. Sulphur dioxide proved to have a significant (p < 0.05) negative linear
and quadratic effect on growth and 4-ethylphenol production. Concentrations of sulphur dioxide higher
than 20 mg L1, at pH 3.50, induced immediate loss of cell culturability under growth permissive levels of
ethanol. Under high ethanol concentrations (14% v/v), the lag phase increased from 3 to 10 days, growth
being fully arrested at 15% (v/v). Glucose up to 10 g L1 was found to be a significant factor (quadratic
level) in biomass increase under low ethanol (