Abstract: A selected malolactically active Ln. oenos strain which is useful for inducing malolactic fermentation in wine or fruit juice by the direct inoculation of a concentrate of a starter culture containing the strain, the strain having a survival rate of at least 80% when inoculated directly into a wine having a pH of 3.2 or lower and containing at least 25 mg SO2 per l and at least 12 vol % ethanol, and capabl, of starting malolactic fermentation when added directly to the wine or fruit juice at a concentration of less than 107 colony forming units per ml. There is also provided a method of isolating such a strain and a method for producing a culture of the strain.

Abstract: A selected malolactically active Ln. oenos strain which is useful for inducing malolactic fermentation in wine or fruit juice by the direct inoculation of a concentrate of a starter culture containing the strain, the strain having a survival rate of at least 80% when inoculated directly into a wine having a pH of 3.2 or lower and containing at least 25 mg SO2 per l and at least 12 vol % ethanol, and capable of starting malolactic fermentation when added directly to the wine or fruit juice at a concentration of less than 107 colony forming units per ml.

Abstract: A method of inducing malolactic fermentation in wine or fruit juice by the direct inoculation of a concentrate of a starter culture containing a selected malolactically active bacterial strain or strains having the accession no. DSM 7008, DSM 7009, DSM 7010, DSM 7011, DSM 7012, DSM 7013, DSM 7014 and DSM 7015. Further, the strains are characterized as having a survival rate of at least 80% when introduced into a wine having a pH of 3.2 or lower and containing at least 25 mg SO.sub.2 per L and at least 12 vol % ethanol. Also the strains are capable of starting malolactic fermentation when added directly to the wine or fruit juice at a concentration of less than 10.sup.7 colony forming units per mL.

Abstract: In a method of inducing decarboxylation of malic acid in must or fruit juice (also known as maloactic fermentation), must or fruit juice is directly inoculated with a culture of viable malolatic bacteria of the genus Lactobacillus, the bacteria being capable of decarboxylating malic acid at a pH below about 3.2 without any significant consumption of sugar present in the must or fruit juice and substantially without any production of volatile acidity. The malolactic bacteria may be added before or at the commencement of alcoholic fermentation. One malolatic strain suitable in the method is Lactobacillus plantarum DSM 4361.