Oenococcus oeni (known as Leuconostoc oeni until 1995) is a Gram-positive bacterial species in the genus of Oenococcus.[2] It was the only species in the genus until 2006, when the species Oenococcus kitaharae was identified. As its name implies, Oe. oeni holds major importance in the field of oenology, where it is the primary bacterium involved in completing the malolactic fermentation.[3]

Oenococcus oeni
Scientific classification
Domain:
Phylum:
Class:
Order:
Family:
Genus:
(Garvie 1967) Dicks et al. 1995
Species:
O. oeni
Binomial name
Oenococcus oeni
Synonyms
  • Leuconostoc oeni corrig. Garvie 1967 (Approved Lists 1980)
  • Leuconostoc oenos Garvie 1967 (Approved Lists 1980)

Diacetyl

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Diacetyl

Diacetyl in wine is produced by lactic acid bacteria, mainly Oe. oeni. In low levels, it can impart positive nutty or caramel characters, but at levels above 5 mg/L, it creates an intense buttery or butterscotch flavour, where it is perceived as a flaw. The sensory threshold for the compound can vary depending on the levels of certain wine components, such as sulfur dioxide. It can be produced as a metabolite of citric acid when all of the malic acid has been consumed. Diacetyl rarely taints wine to levels where it becomes undrinkable.[4]

References

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  1. ^ Zheng J, Wittouck S, Salvetti E, Franz CMAP, Harris HMB, Mattarelli P, O'Toole PW, Pot B, Vandamme P, Walter J, Watanabe K, Wuyts S, Felis GE, Gänzle MG, Lebeer S. (2020). "A taxonomic note on the genus Lactobacillus: Description of 23 novel genera, emended description of the genus Lactobacillus Beijerinck 1901, and union of Lactobacillaceae and Leuconostocaceae". Int J Syst Evol Microbiol. 70 (4): 2782–2858. doi:10.1099/ijsem.0.004107. hdl:10067/1738330151162165141. PMID 32293557.
  2. ^ Grandvalet, C (2017). "MicrobeProfile- Oenococcus oeni: Queen of the cellar, nightmare of geneticists". Microbiology. 163 (2): 297–299. doi:10.1099/mic.0.000456. PMID 28356170.
  3. ^ Kunkee, R. E. 1973. Malo-Lactic Fermentation and Winemaking. In, The Chemistry of Winemaking, Adv. Chem. Ser. 137, A. D. Webb, Ed. American Chemical Society. Washington DC.
  4. ^ Gibson, George; Farkas, Mike Flaws and Faults in Wine. URL accessed on 12 March 2006.
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