Written by: Tim Edison

Updated: January 8, 2024

Does Wine Yeast Need Nutrients? [Yeast Nutrients Explained]

Does Wine Yeast Need Nutrients?

As home winemakers, we know that wine yeast is an essential ingredient in winemaking.

This microorganism is responsible for transforming grape must or juice into wine through a complex yet fascinating process called fermentation.

Yeasts are naturally present in nature and most of the times they are also naturally present in the must.

For this reason, many novice winemakers believe that if it is not necessary to add yeast to the wine, it is also unnecessary to think about yeast nutrients.

But does wine yeast need nutrients anyway? Is this an essential ingredient too? We explain all in our guide below.


Types of Yeast Used in Winemaking

Yeasts are microorganisms consisting of a single cell and are actually classified as fungi

The research carried out on these microorganisms over the years led to the identification of over a thousand different species.

Each type of yeast has its own characteristics although they all share the same biologic principles.

There are numerous types of anaerobic yeasts suitable for the production of ethyl alcohol yet two species are predominantly used in enology:

If you'd like a quick crash course in the role of yeast in winemaking then don't miss our guide!

Yeasts are classified into two major categories, aerobic and anaerobic.

The two categories distinguish the yeasts based on their breathing method.

The first ones use aerobic breathing, meaning they need oxygen to maintain life.

The latter, in the absence of oxygen, adopt an anaerobic respiration process commonly known as fermentation.

The anaerobic yeasts produce energy from the conversion of sugar into carbon dioxide and alcohol and this type of yeast is involved in the transformation of grape must into wine.

The fermentation process ends with the death of yeast, as the increased concentration of alcohol in the liquid will cause the death of the yeast cell.

However, because different strains of yeast have different sensitivity and resistance to alcohol concentrations it is possible to obtain wines with different alcoholic content.

The two types of yeast commonly used in winemaking are:

  • Saccharomyces Cerevisiae - commonly known as 'brewer's yeast' this has been used in baking, winemaking, and brewing for thousands of years.
  • Saccharomyces Bayanus - used for making wine, cider, and distilled beverages.

Yeasts involved in winemaking are also divided into multiple categories based on their shape. 

Although different types of yeasts are responsible for wine fermentation, the most important ones are classified as elliptical and apiculate.

Both types mentioned above belong to the elliptical family.

From the apiculate family, a type of yeast responsible for wine fermentation is Kloechera Apiculata.

This yeast is responsible for the activation of the alcoholic fermentation which will be subsequently completed by Saccharomyces.

The resistance to alcohol differs from yeast to yeast and the type involved in the winemaking process will determine the final alcohol concentration of the wine.

From all the yeasts mentioned above, Kloechera Apiculata has the least resistance to alcohol and it dies when the concentration rises between 3% and 4%.

Saccharomyces Cerevisiae species resists to concentrations up to 16 or 17% while Saccharomyces Bayanus withstand higher concentrations.

Another important difference between the various species of yeast is the alcohol yield. Some yeasts need more sugar to produce the same amount of alcohol and for this reason, if you are using commercial yeast, it is recommended to choose the type wisely.  

  • Kloechera Apiculata needs a concentration of about 22 grams of sugar per liter to produce 1% ethyl alcohol;
  • Saccharomyces Bayanus requires 20 grams of sugar per liter to produce the same amount of alcohol;
  • Saccharomyces Cerevisiae only needs about 18 grams of sugar per liter to make 1% ethyl alcohol.

This means that the amount of ethyl alcohol produced by the fermentation of the must will vary according to the species of the yeast.

Apart from the basic nutritive necessities, there are many other factors that govern fermentation and yeast activity.

Among these factors, sulfur dioxide is probably the most important.

Sulfur dioxide affects not only the vitality but also the function of the yeast.

The two types of Saccharomyces yeasts are more resistant to sulfur dioxide and more effective in fermentation.

For this reason, some winemakers choose to add sulfur dioxide to the must and kill Kloechera Apiculata before the beginning of the fermentation process.

This is a controversial practice and some claim there is no real benefit of such action. It's claimed that killing Kloechera Apiculata serves to perform a better alcoholic fermentation.


Does Wine Yeast Need Nutrients?

Returning to the main question, does wine yeast need nutrients after all?

Yes! In the same way in which you need nutrients to give you energy to perform your daily chores.

However, in the case of wine yeast, the nutrients don’t include sugar, the main food of the yeast.

Sugar is already present in the grape must and you will never have to add it if you use high-quality fruit. 

Nevertheless, yeast nutrient doesn’t mean specifically sugar. There are numerous other substances yeast needs and that are not always found in the must.

These nutrients include minerals and vitamins as well as some other chemical elements such as the nitrogen.

Let’s see what nutrients your wine yeast needs and how to provide them!


What Nutrients Does Wine Yeast Need?

So, if wine yeast doesn’t need sugar, what nutrients should you give it?

To understand what nutrients you should supply to the yeast, let’s have a look at its nutritional needs.


Sugar

Sugar is the main nutrient wine yeast needs, however, in most cases you will not have to supply it as grape juice usually contains plenty already. 

The most renowned winemakers always advise against the use of sugar additives in winemaking as it lowers the quality of the wine.

In some cases adding sugar is permissible. In home winemaking for example, it is possible to add sugar if you’re using grapes of a lower quality (with a low sugar content) or if fermentation doesn’t start.


Nitrogen

After sugar, wine yeast needs nitrogen to thrive.

Nitrogen isn’t naturally present in grape must and it normally needs to be supplemented if you aim to have an uninterrupted fermentation.

In fact, a deficiency in nitrogen can lead to slow fermentation or the process could even be interrupted completely.

As explained above, different strains of yeast have different nutritional requirements and this applies to nitrogen too.

For this reason, it is important to know the nitrogen requirements of the yeast you are using to be able to provide an adequate nitrogen supply.

Keep in mind that the nitrogen content of wine can be reduced by not following best winemaking practices.

It's a particular problem if you don’t control the growth of unwanted bacteria and yeasts.

Most times this problem is attributed to a low content of sulfur dioxide in wine and this is why some winemakers promote its use.

Regarding nitrogen, you should also know that not all nitrogen present in must is available for the yeasts to use.

The portion of nitrogen wine yeast can use is referred to as yeast assimilable nitrogen (YAN) and is constituted majorly by ammonium ions and alpha amino acids.

Generally, wine yeast needs about 150 mg of YAN per liter of grape must for the fermentation to start and it is advisable to supply the yeast with at least 400 mg of nitrogen per liter to achieve a flawless fermentation.

We should also mention that wine yeast has a preference for the ammonium ions rather than for the alpha amino acids. This is why commercially available nutrients contain only diammonium hydrogen phosphate.

While supplying this nutrient to the yeast is essential, you should pay attention to how many nutrients you add.

Keep in mind that grape juice contains a number of amino acids such as arginine and proline, and these amino acids should be consumed by the yeast if you want to obtain a quality wine.


Vitamins

Yeast will start the fermentation process with or without them, but some vitamins help to produce a healthy fermentation.

Most vitamins wine yeast need are provided by the grapes and include biotin, riboflavin, thiamin, and folic acid.

However, some winemaking practices can reduce the vitamin content of must and in these cases vitamins, majorly thiamin should be provided to reduce fermentation problems.

Vitamin supplements for wine yeast are available commercially and also included in most good wine making kits along with other yeast nutrients.


Types of Wine Yeast Nutrients Used in Winemaking

There are a number of different wine yeast nutrients available commercially and choosing the right one is often confusing.


Complex Wine Yeast Nutrients

Most winemakers prefer the complex yeast nutrients that contain inactivated yeast and ammonium salts.

Diammonium hydrogen phosphate is usually used.

Inactivated yeast is used as a source of vitamins and minerals and some nutrients even contain yeast extract.

Yeast extract has a strong flavor and it can affect the aroma of the wine in a negative way but it represents a great source of nutrients as it has a high concentration of organic nitrogen.

For this reason, I’d suggest using high-quality complex yeast nutrients with yeast extract coming from a reliable source.


Rehydration Wine Yeast Nutrients

The difference between complex and rehydration wine yeast nutrients is the lack of ammonium salts in the latter.

These nutrients contain inactivated yeasts and a supplement of minerals and vitamins.

This type of wine yeast nutrient not only represents a great source of essential fermentation elements but is also often used as flavor enhancement; its positive effect has been demonstrated on the Sauvignon Blanc but many other wines benefit from this type of nutrient.


Organic Wine Yeast Nutrients

If you want to make organic wine, then it is crucial to use organic wine yeast nutrients.

These nutrients contain only partially lysed inactivated yeasts that are rich in amino acids and represent a natural source of organic nitrogen.

These nutrients don’t contain any inorganic substances yet only the certified ones as guaranteed as being organic.


Final Thoughts

Except for the nitrogen, wine yeast shouldn’t need other nutritional supplements.

Nevertheless, wine yeast needs nutrients and you should be careful in choosing only the ones of the highest quality to ensure the quality of your beverage.


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About the Author Tim Edison


Tim started Wine Turtle way back in 2015.
These days he contributes to Wine Turtle (and other renowned wine publications) while continuing his wine education.
Tim's wine of the month is the Coates & Seely Reserve Brut NV (from Hampshire, England).



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