Home > Magazine Archives > Oct. 15, 2006 Issue > Inside Wine
The Unseen Engine of Fermentation
Yeast is a vintner's closest ally—and potential adversary
Daniel Sogg
Issue: October 15, 2006
People may call themselves winemakers, but it's not entirely true to say that vintners make wine. The actual winemaking process—the transformation of grape juice into grape wine through fermentation—is performed by a single-celled fungus, yeast. Used for millennia to make bread, beer and wine, yeast consumes sugar and other nutrients to produce alcohol, carbon dioxide and heat, among other compounds.
To continue reading this page, become a WineSpectator.com member today!
Do you have a Wine Spectator magazine subscription? Save 50% on your Online Membership right now!
Log In If You're Already a WineSpectator.com Member
