Continuous fed-batch strategy decreases acetic acid production and increases volatile ester formation in wines under high-gravity fermentation

Abstract

High sugar fermentation elevates acetic acid levels in wines, which can be avoided by applying the continuous fed-batch strategy. In this study, yeast gene expressions and wine volatile compounds were evaluated by quantitative real-time PCR (RT-qPCR) and gas chromatograph mass spectrometry (GC-MS) in high-gravity (HG, 320 g/L sugars) fermentations with different batch strategies. The acetic acid concentration in continuous fed-batch fermentation wine was reduced by 51.69 %, compared with that in whole-batch fermentation wine. The acetyl-CoA synthase gene (ACS2) expression was up-regulated, whereas the glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase gene (GPD1) expression was down-regulated on day 3 and day 7 during the continuous fed-batch fermentation. The volatile ester concentration in continuous fed-batch fermentation wine was 36.74 % higher than that in whole-batch fermentation wine. Overall, the continuous fed-batch strategy can modulate the expression of yeast genes involved in acetic acid metabolism and can increase volatile esters in wine under high sugar fermentation. Our findings provide a reference for the application of a continuous fed-batch strategy in high-sugar fermentation so as to improve the quality of the wine.