ADVICE ON AVOIDING STUCK FERMENTATIONS

Just in time for harvest!

When considering fermentations, the most important considerations are choice of strain as how it relates to wine style, nitrogen and vitamin requirements, temperature and ethanol tolerance, microbial competitiveness and over all fermentation capacity. 

We are fortunate to live in a world with a plethora of solid commercial options for strains, nutrition products, and advice for avoiding problem fermentations. 

Here is an excellent article from the experts at Lallemand:

https://www.wineland.co.za/new-tools-help-overcome-stuck-fermentations-wine/

New tools to help overcome stuck fermentations in wine
by Anne-Ortiz Julien, Anthony Silvano, Didier Théodore, Françoise Raginel & Ann Dumont


Twenty years ago, it was thought that stuck fermentations were mainly due to two things: nitrogen deficiency and the glucose/fructose ratio of the must. Recently, researchers have learned more about the topic, and we now know that other factors come into play.
Stuck fermentation is where fermentation has ceased prematurely or the rate of fermentation is considered too low for practical purposes, leaving a higher residual sugar content than desired in the wines at the end of the fermentation (Figure 1) (Bisson, 1999; Henschke & Jiranek, 1993). Not only does it delay the completion of alcoholic fermentation (AF), but it can also lead to the formation of off-aromas. For winemakers, a residual sugar concentration of less than 2 g/ℓ is considered dry or completed (Bisson, 1999).


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FIGURE 1. Types of fermentation problems (adapted from UC Davis Wine Fermentation).


What are the factors leading to stuck fermentation?
Glucose/fructose ratio
Saccharomyces cerevisiae is a glucophilic yeast, preferring glucose over fructose. During fermentation, glucose is consumed at a higher rate than fructose, and the proportion of fructose increases as fermentation progresses. This can lead to imbalances in the wines and, under the stressful conditions found at the end of fermentation, make it more difficult for wine yeast to utilise this non-preferred sugar. The preference for glucose over fructose is yeast dependent, and the discrepancy between glucose and fructose consumption is not a fixed parameter, but rather is dependent on the yeast’s genetic background and on external conditions (Berthels et al., 2004).


Nitrogen deficiency
Nitrogen is the most important yeast nutrient and has a significant impact on wine fermentation. It influences both fermentation kinetics and wine profile (Agenbach, 1977; Bezenger & Navarro, 1987). Grape musts contain nitrogen under different forms: proteins, peptides, ammonium ions (NH4+) and alpha amino acids. The yeast assimilable nitrogen (YAN) is composed of ammonium and a-amino acids, except proline which is not assimilable by yeast. The minimum quantity of YAN in must is 150 to 200 mg/ℓ, and lower levels are considered nitrogen deficient. When the must is deficient in nitrogen, it will limit yeast growth and fermentation speed (Bely et al., 1990; Julien et al., 2000). YAN content has the most influence on fermentation speed; it impacts yeast biomass at the beginning of fermentation, as well as sugar transport kinetics during fermentation (Figure 2). As soon as a must is nitrogen depleted at the end of the growth phase, there is a decrease in protein synthesis and sugar transport activity (Bely et al., 1994). If nitrogen deficiency is the only issue, and no other factors are lacking, the consequence is a slow or sluggish fermentation, but the yeast viability is maintained and AF can eventually be completed.








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FIGURE 2. Nitrogen depletion during the yeast growth phase (Sablayrolles, J.M., Sitevi Conference, 2015).


Nutritional imbalances
Recently, a study by Bruno Blondin’s research team (Duc et al., 2016) demonstrated that nitrogen starvation in AF does not trigger yeast mortality, and thus also does not trigger stuck fermentation. Indeed, in such conditions, yeast reacts with a system of stress responses to maintain its viability during all AF. On the contrary, lipid limitation does not induce any appropriate stress response by the yeast, leading to yeast cell death, and thus stuck fermentation. This yeast cell death is modulated by nitrogen level. In cases where there is a low lipid content and high nitrogen level, yeast mortality during AF is increased and can occur in the first stage of the fermentation (Tesniѐres et al., 2013). Studies have been conducted to identify other nutrient limitations that provoke yeast cell death. In cases where there are nutritional imbalances (e g, high nitrogen and starvation in oleic acid, panthotenate and nicotinic acid) high mortality have been observed (Figure 3). This very new data demonstrate the importance of a good nutritional balance (minerals, vitamins, sterols and organic nitrogen) not only to maintain yeast viability and avoid stuck fermentation, but also to limit the risk of off-flavours and deviations, such as H2S production. An imbalance between high YAN and low pantothenic acid levels in must significantly drives H2S production (Wang, 2003; Blondin, 2016). When choosing a nutrient, quality is as important as quantity, since only organic nutrients will provide those optimal growth factors, as well as organic nitrogen, while providing a better nutritional balance than with chemical DAP alone.




FIGURE 3. Impact of various vitamins and sterols (in high YAN conditions) on yeast populations during AF.


Vitamins & minerals
Minerals, such as magnesium, zinc and potassium, are absolutely essential to the growth and metabolism of yeast (Walker, 1994). Minerals:

• Are cofactors of several glycolytic enzymes?
• Increase ATPase activity and help pump the compounds across the yeast membrane.
• Increase yeast tolerance to ethanol and temperature.
• Have an antagonistic effect on the toxicity of heavy metals.
• Regulate cellular growth.
• Regulate the formation of alcohol and esters.

Vitamins are organic compounds essential to the optimum growth of yeasts cells and their capacity to survive under stressful conditions. Vitamin deficiencies can induce sudden changes in fermentation kinetics. The majority act as enzymatic cofactors. They can also intervene in energy transfers or in supporting membrane integrity.
Biotin, for example, favours the production of esters and better cellular viability (Bohlscheid et al., 2007). When biotin is deficient, cellular growth is affected significantly (Figure 4). Pantothenic acid (Vitamin B5) helps prevent H2S production volatile acidity. Thiamine function of thiamine has been the subject of numerous studies, and thiamine deficiency can cause stuck fermentation. The concentration of thiamine has a large influence on fermentation kinetics; its presence increases the production of yeast biomass and fermentation speed (Bataillon et al., 1996).




FIGURE 4. Glucose/fructose concentration during AF with Lalvin EC-1118™ in synthetic must (from Bohlscheid et al., 2007).


Lack of oxygen and the role of sterols
Oxygen plays an essential role in AF, fostering the development of an adequate yeast population and maintaining their vitality (Sablayrolles & Barre, 1986). Oxygen is required for the synthesis of survival factors, such as sterols and unsaturated fatty acids (David & Kirsop, 1973; Aries & Kirsop, 1978; Alexandre et al., 1994; Fornairon-Bonnefond et al., 2002), which are components of the yeast cell membrane. They play a key role in the membrane structure, helping maintain membrane fluidity, cell integrity and viability. During the yeast growth phase, each multiplication cycle dilutes the lipid content of the yeast cell. When lipids become insufficient, the yeast cell membrane does not function properly under limiting oxygen conditions. Sterols, located around the membrane proteins responsible for flux selectivity between the interior and the exterior of the cell, are no longer synthesised.
During fermentation, as the ethanol level increases, yeast mortality increases. Without an adequate yeast sterol concentration, yeast cell wall permease activity suffers. When these proteins do not function adequately under increased ethanol concentration, there is an accumulation of H+ ions in the intracellular medium, and the yeast requires more energy to expel them outside the cell. This will rapidly lead to the acidification of the cell (drop of intracellular pH), resulting in cell death and stuck fermentation. So the more sterols are synthesised in the membrane, the better the resistance to ethanol. It is important to rehydrate the yeast cells with a yeast protector, such as the Natstep® range of products that will supply sterols to the yeast membrane (Soubeyrand et al., 2005).




FIGURE 5. Yeast cell membrane and some of its constituents during AF. The sterols maintain membrane fluidity, resulting in a clean AF.


Improper yeast rehydration and handling
Proper yeast rehydration is a key step to successful AF as it is a crucial phase for the survival and efficiency of the wine yeast. If the yeast is not properly rehydrated, more than half of the yeast population can die. It is very important to follow manufacturer’s instructions, particularly with respect to both the rehydration medium and temperature. During yeast rehydration, the active dry yeast will absorb water and recover its original form. The organs inside the cell continue rehydrating and a part of them disperses in the rehydration water. This loss can represent between 20 – 30% of the yeast’s dry weight and can result in a micronutrient deficit. Rehydrating in wine must, at the wrong temperature and the recommended dosage, will all influence wine yeast performance. In order to initiate fermentation, there must be a minimum of 106 cells/mℓ. When using a 25 g/hℓ inoculum of active dry yeast, there will be approximately 5 x 106 cells/mℓ, which is usually sufficient for a regular AF, a good implantation in the must, and ultimately, no sluggish or stuck fermentation is rehydrated properly. For example, in Figure 6, the length of AF is shortened considerably when the dosage is at 20 g/hℓ (internal results).




FIGURE 6. Impact of inoculation rate on AF.


Lack of temperature management
Fermentation temperature is important based not only on the type of wine to be fermented (red, white or rosé), but also the yeast used. Different yeasts, under different conditions, will be more sensitive to cooler or warmer temperatures during AF.
Each selected yeast is characterised with a range of optimal AF performance, which must be carefully respected to avoid stuck fermentation.
AF will be affected by extreme temperatures (either too low or too high), since it has been shown that ethanol toxicity increases at extreme temperatures. The yeast cell membrane is weakened, which eventually leads to cell death.


Inhibitory metabolites
Grape must composition may have inhibiting toxic compounds that affect yeast viability and fermentative activity and that are responsible for sluggish or stuck AF. Inhibiting toxic compounds, such as short and medium chain fatty acids (SMCFA), have been widely noted for their inhibition of AF. Pesticide residues (fungicide, herbicide and insecticide) can also seriously affect yeast viability and compromise the end of fermentation. Recent studies have also shown that they can negatively impact the production of aromas (namely esters) and fruit character of wine (Noguerol-Pato et al., 2014).


How to cure a sluggish or stuck fermentation?
Yeast cells have the extraordinary capacity to adapt to different stress factors in a difficult environment of the grape must (high sugar, low pH, gradual ethanol increase, nutrient depletion, competition with other microorganisms, etc). However, difficult conditions can prevail, resulting in a fermentation that won’t finish, and actions must be taken to cure stuck fermentation where the density is not decreasing anymore, or very slowly, and some off-aromas might be creeping up.
Quick actions are necessary to avoid microbial spoilage and the appearance of wine faults (H2S, Brett odours, VA, etc) and to get fermentation going again. A reliable protocol that can be applied quickly and efficiently can help tackle the different causes of AF problems.


Cleaning the must
Grape must may contain toxic compounds that inhibit fermentation, such as short and medium chain fatty acids (SMCFA) and pesticides. A new generation of yeast hull products with good absorption capacity and an affinity for these types of compounds is now available. Trials have shown that yeast hulls, such as RESKUE™, favour complete and steady fermentations thanks to the removal of SMCFA and pesticide residues (Figures 7 and 8).




FIGURE 7. Lab-scale trial Chardonnay (France, 2012). Level of SMCFA at the end of AF after addition of different cell-walls (40 g/hℓ) at the 3/4 of the AF.




FIGURE 8. Lab-scale trials, white (A) and rosé (B) wines contaminated with several pesticide residues (Spain, 2013). Pesticide removal (%) after addition of Reskue™ at 40 g/hℓ.


Using the right yeast
Many factors influence the course of AF, and choosing the right yeast is crucial, especially when the conditions are difficult. When fermentation stops mid-stream, the must generally contains much more fructose than glucose, the type of sugar that yeasts prefer. To overcome this glucose/fructose imbalance, it is important to choose a yeast that has a strong affinity for fructose, the predominant sugar in stuck fermentation, but also a yeast that is alcohol tolerant and responds well to nutrient supplementation. In trials carried out over the years, one yeast stood out (Figure 9) among all selected yeasts available: Uvaferm 43™, which is more capable of fermenting fructose and has a very high fermentation capacity and a high alcohol tolerance.




FIGURE 9. Fructose affinity of different wine yeast in synthetic medium MS300 260Glc/Fru; 24ºC; 25 g/hℓ.


Even with these properties, at Lallemand R&D we drew on our premium knowledge of yeast growth and metabolism to develop a production process that makes yeast cells more resistant to stress conditions caused by high alcohol content. Uvaferm 43™ was then optimised and pre-acclimated during multiplication with specific micronutrients and survival factor protection. Survival factors include specific sterols and polyunsaturated fatty acids that strengthen the yeast membrane. As a result, yeast cells are then more robust, with a lower mortality rate after inoculation, and require less time to acclimate to the must. This simplifies the process of restarting your fermentation with only a few steps using the new Uvaferm 43 Restart™.
In trials done with Uvaferm 43 Restart™, it was shown that an average of one week was gained when restarting a stuck ferment, as illustrated in Figure 10 in a Primitivo from Puglia, Italy.




FIGURE 10. Sugar consumption with two different yeasts to complete fermentation after restarting a stuck Primitivo wine from Italy.


In terms of fructose consumption, we can see that in both white and red wines, Uvaferm 43 Restart™ is very efficient for overcoming stuck fermentations.




FIGURE 11. Fructose consumption in white and red wines with two different yeast (ISVEA, Tuscany, Italy).


The right nutrition
Right at the beginning of fermentation, vitamins, minerals and available nitrogen are consumed very quickly. This can cause sluggish and stuck fermentation as indicated above. It is then a key step to add nutrients naturally rich in these elements, such as Fermaid O™, to feed the yeasts when restarting a stuck fermentation. Fermaid O™ or Nutrient Vit Nature™ (when added at 1/3 sugar depletion) supply critical nutrients to help the yeast avoid stressed conditions. It is one of the best nutrients available for wine yeast as it only contains organic nitrogen and all the essential elements for the yeast to complete AF.


An improved protocol
We now understand that when restarting a stuck fermentation, even with a clean must/wine, the proper yeast and the best nutrients, using an efficient protocol will secure the process. With the help of the experts at Inter-Rhône (France), a protocol was developed to make the process simple, fast and efficient.




FIGURE 12.


Conclusion
Proper fermentation management begins when choosing the yeast to ferment the wine and how it will be prepared for AF. A yeast adapted to must conditions and wine style development or to showcase the terroir is crucial. It must be rehydrated properly with a protector, such as Go-Ferm Protect™ or Go-Ferm Protect Evolution™, to ensure its membrane is in optimal shape in the difficult wine environment. It must be properly fed with the right nutrients, such as Fermaid O™.
Sometimes, carrying out all the right preparations still may not be enough to overcome extreme or unmanageable conditions. When an AF is sluggish or stuck, there are now efficient and reliable ways to solve this issue. Proper must detoxification with Reskue™ yeast hulls and use of the robust Uvaferm 43 Restart™ as part of an easy-to-use protocol are sure ways to ensure wine quality.


References
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