a b s t r a c t
Production of quality wines with decreased alcohol concentration continues to be one of the major
challenges facing wine producers. Therefore, there is considerable interest in the isolation or generation
of wine yeasts less efficient at transforming grape sugars into ethanol. We recently demonstrated that
Metschnikowia pulcherrima AWRI1149 and Saccharomyces uvarum AWRI2846 were both able to produce
reduced alcohol wine when used in sequential inoculation with Saccharomyces cerevisiae. This effect is
additive when both strains are co-inoculated in grape must. Here we describe the volatile flavour profile
of Chardonnay and Shiraz wines produced with these two strains. Wines fermented with M. pulcherrima
showed concentrations of ethyl acetate likely to affect negatively wine aroma. Wines fermented with
S. uvarum and with a combination of M. pulcherrima and S. uvarum were characterised by increased
concentrations of 2-phenyl ethanol and 2-phenylethyl acetate, both associated with positive sensory
attributes