Abstract: Lactic bacterial strains of the genera Lactobacillus and Pediococcus which are capable of initiating and carrying out a complete malolactic fermentation on direct introduction, in the dried, frozen or lyophilised state, without a previous acclimatization step, at a concentration of between 106 and 5×107 UFC/ml, into a wine with an alcohol content of 10% or more and an average or high pH level. The resistance to alcohol is apparent with an excellent survival rate on inoculation and a rapid start to the fermentation activity such that the strain i) converts at least 5%, preferably at least 10%, of the malic acid into lactic acid in 5 days after inoculation of the wine and ii) converts at least 10%, preferably at least 25%, of the malic acid into lactic acid within 10 days of the inoculation of the wine.

Abstract: The invention concerns dry active yeasts useful for rehydration and/or alcoholic fermentation, or rehydrated active yeasts useful for fermentation, or yeasts useful for fermentation, having a sterol content exhibiting at least two conjugated double bonds at the B cycle of at least 900 ?g/g of dry weight. The invention is useful for producing fermented alcoholic beverages.