LOW-TEMPERATURE WINE-MAKING BY IMMOBILIZED CELLS ON MINERAL KISSIRIS

Kissiris-supported biocatalyst, prepared by immobilization of the alcohol resistant and psychrophile strain Visanto 1 on mineral kissiris, was found to be suitable for low-temperature (5-16-degrees-C) continuous wine making. It is also reported that the ethanol productivity at 5-degrees-C by continuous fermentation was equal to what should be observed at 22-25-degrees-C by natural fermentation. The important productivity obtained at low temperatures can be attributed to the reduction of the activation energy E(a), caused by the support mineral kissiris. The continuous reactor was operated for 75 days without any diminution of the ethanol productivity. Finally, the wine was produced with lower total and volatile acidity as compared with wines obtained by natural fermentation at 22-25-degrees-C.