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In this study the effect of a co-inoculum of S. cerevisiae (F6789) with Torulaspora delbrueckii (TB1) or Starmerella bacillaris (SB48) on the oenological and aroma characteristics of sparkling wines obtained with the Champenoise method was investigated. The autolytic outcome and the sensory profile of sparkling wines were also evaluated. The secondary fermentations were completed by all mixed and single starter cultures with the only exception of those guided by Starm.bacillaris. Sparkling wines produced with S. cerevisiae F6789+Starm.bacillaris SB48 showed the highest amounts of glycerol (6.51 g/L). The best autolytic potential was observed in sparkling wines produced with +Starm.bacillaris (81.98 mg leucin/L) and S. cerevisiae+T. delbrueckii (79.03 mg leucin/L). The lowest value was observed for sparkling wines obtained with S. cerevisiae F6789 (53.96 mg leucin/L). Sparkling wines showed different aroma and sensory profiles. Esters were mainly present in sparkling wines obtained with S. cerevisiae F6789 (88.09 mg/L) followed by those obtained with S. cerevisiae+T. delbrueckii (87.20 mg/L), S. cerevisiae +Starm.bacillaris (81.93 mg/L). The content of esters decreased over time, and that might be related to the adsorption on lees and chemical hydrolysis. The highest concentrations of higher alcohols were found in sparkling wines produced with S. cerevisiae+T. delbrueckii (27.50 mg/L). Sparkling wines obtained with S. cerevisiae +Starm.bacillaris were well differentiated from the others due to their high score for the descriptor for spicy, bread crust, freshness and floral. Tailored strains with different autolytic potential might represent an interesting strategy to improve traditional sparkling wine production and favour their differentiation.

Sparkling wine fermentation is a challenge for yeasts due to the hostile conditions. A phenotype sought in starters is flocculation, because it reduces riddling time. For this reason, six flocculent Saccharomyces cerevisiae wine strains with different flocculation degree and autolytic activity and two commercial strains were tested for traditional sparkling wine production in a winery. Yeast viability, free aminoacids and high molecular weight nitrogen release and physico-chemical composition of sparkling wines were evaluated. Moreover, strains were tested for their aromatic potential. Obtained data revealed that flocculent yeasts presented oenological performances (in terms of fermentation rate, maximum pressure reached, free aminoacids - AAN and high molecular weight nitrogen - HMWN release) similar to the commercial strains. All considered strains were able to complete fermentation and viable cells of all strains were detected in all sparkling wines produced even after 6 months. F6789 and F10471 strains showed slow fermentation kinetics reaching the maximum of pressure at 180 days. Regarding nitrogen compounds release, FI strain was characterized by the highest amount of AAN and HMWN released, followed by F6789. Strains showed a considerable diversification in terms of number and amount of aroma molecules produced and sparkling wines obtained with autochthonous flocculent strains presented a higher amount of alcohols and esters already after 3 months. Further studies are necessary to select starter strains to improve traditional sparkling wines production.