Wine Microbiology

A.Y. 2025/2026
3
Max ECTS
24
Overall hours
SSD
AGR/16
Language
English
Learning objectives
The Wine Microbiology class contributes to the education and training in the MSC in Viticulture and Enology Sciences in the teaching domain of the Area Technologies of Oenological Transformation. The class has the final goal to describe to the student the wine microbiology. The student will learn important concepts concerning the yeasts and bacteria involved in wine fermentations and will have the possibility to understand their role in the determination of the wine quality through their metabolisms. Alcoholic and malolactic fermentation will be described and in detailed analysed.
Expected learning outcomes
The Wine Microbiology class aims at delivering to the student a knowledge in the field of wine microbiology by delivering classes and laboratories related to the role of yeasts and bacteria in the production of wine. Very relevant are the metabolic activities of those microorganisms, which define the transformation process from must to wine.

More in detail:

Knowledge and understanding

At the end of the course the student will be able to:

- to identify the main yeasts and bacteria relevant in wine-making;

- to describe the biochemistry of the wine fermentations;

- to describe microbiological analysis for must and wine.

Ability to apply knowledge and understanding:

At the end of the course the student will be able to:

- to be able to identify the main yeasts and bacteria during a wine fermentation;

- to explain the relevant biochemical pathways during wine fermentation;

- to evaluate the most proper microbiological analysis to apply in the analysis of a wine fermentation.

Making judgements

At the end of the course, the student should know:

- to interpret the results of a microbiological analysis of musts and wines;

- to manage a fermentation by the microbiological point of view.

Communication skills

At the end of the course, the student should know:

- to use the correct technical terminology in the field of wine microbiology;

- to communicate the most relevant aspects of a wine fermentations.
Single course

This course cannot be attended as a single course. Please check our list of single courses to find the ones available for enrolment.

Course syllabus and organization

Single session

Responsible
Lesson period
Second semester
Course syllabus
Lab class:
- Grapes and wines analysis: detection of yeasts, lactic acid bacteria and acetic acid bacteria
- Viable cell counting, microorganism isolation and microscopic examination
- Physiological identification
- Technological characterization of commercial wine yeasts
Prerequisites for admission
Teaching takes place in Asti
Teaching methods
The course includes 24 hours of laboratory exercises. The instructor uses presentations and slides, which are made available to the students.
Teaching Resources
Slides for the lab class are uploaded to the Moodle platform before each session and are complemented by the student's detailed and accurate notes
Assessment methods and Criteria
The student will be engaged through critical discussions on topics from the laboratory section of the course that have already been addressed and explained during the practical activities.
The exam is written. During the exam, the student is required to answer open-ended questions on topics discussed during the course and included in the laboratory syllabus.
AGR/16 - AGRICULTURAL MICROBIOLOGY - University credits: 3
Lessons: 24 hours
Professor: Vigentini Ileana
Professor(s)