🍷 Wild yeast
Yeasts living on the grapes and in the cellar that start fermentation on their own.
Wild yeasts are yeasts that live on berries, in the air and in the cellar. They start fermentation on their own if the winemaker has not added bought ones. They are carried, for example, by wasps and flies flying from berry to berry.
The skins of grapes carry many kinds of yeast. At first some work in the must, then, as alcohol rises, others take over. This gives a complex taste. Wine on wild yeast ferments by itself, as milk sours by itself into curds. This kind of fermentation is called spontaneous.
The method has risks. Fermentation may start late, stop halfway or give off-smells. So many prefer cultured yeast, which gives a predictable result. But some winemakers choose wild yeast, because they feel the taste is more "real" and tied to the place. Wild yeast belongs to the large group of yeasts and is contrasted with bought, cultured yeast. Which way is better depends on the grapes, the cellar and the goal.
Links
- Previous step
- 🐝 Wasps
- Part of
- 🍷 Yeast
- Similar and different
- 🍷 Cultured yeast
- Wine and milk
- 🧀 Soured milk
Frequently asked questions
What are wild yeasts?
Yeasts that live on berries and in the cellar and start fermentation by themselves.
How are wild yeasts different from cultured yeasts?
Cultured yeasts are bought ready and give a predictable result, while wild ones work on their own and the result is less predictable.
What are the risks of fermentation with wild yeast?
Fermentation may start late, stop, or give off-smells.
Similar
🍷 Saccharomyces cerevisiae · 🍷 Brettanomyces · 🍷 Flor · 🍷 Cultured yeast · 🍷 Glucose