The yeast Brettanomyces bruxellensis is the most important wines spoilage yeast encountered during winemaking as it can survive in wine for long periods, requires minimal nutrients for growth, and can be difficult to control. Brettanomyces produces two major spoilage products, the volatile phenols 4-ethylphenol (Band-Aid, medicinal smell) and 4-ethylguaiacol (smoke,...
While Brettanomyces can metabolize nonesterified hydroxycinnamic acids found in grape musts/wines (caffeic, p-coumaric, and ferulic acids), it was not known whether this yeast could utilize the corresponding tartaric acid esters (caftaric, p-coutaric, and fertaric acids, respectively). Red wines from Washington and Oregon were inoculated with B. bruxellensis, while hydroxycinnamic acids...