The present study was undertaken with the purpose of selecting yeasts from wine grapes that are able to
produce extracellular cold-active pectinases. After two consecutive selections yeast isolates were identified by
pheno- and genotyping, and pectinolytic activity was preliminarily characterised at proximate winemaking
conditions. Out of 1023 indigenous microorganisms isolated from grape skins of D.O. San Rafael (Mendoza,
Argentina) viticulture region, 565 (55%) showed pectinolytic activity on plates and, among them, 96 (17%)
were chosen in a primary selection. Ten isolates were finally selected for exhibiting the greatest activity at low
temperature (12 °C) and identified as Aureobasidium pullulans. GM-R-22 strain demonstrated the highest
pectinolytic activity (0.751 U/mL) at pH 3.5 and 12 °C. Yeast pectinases were constitutively produced. This
study is the first report about strains of A. pullulans producing pectinases which are able to show good activity
at low temperature. These pectinolytic strains could be of interest in wine production.