13 best wine yeasts
Wine yeasts are microorganisms crucial in the winemaking process. They are responsible for the fermentation of grape juice into wine. Here's what you need to know about wine yeasts:
Fermentation Process:
- Wine yeasts, scientifically known as Saccharomyces cerevisiae, are responsible for fermenting the sugars present in grapes into alcohol and carbon dioxide. During fermentation, yeasts consume the sugars and produce ethanol (alcohol) and carbon dioxide as byproducts. This process is fundamental in winemaking and gives wine its alcoholic content.
Wild vs. Cultivated Yeasts:
- Winemakers traditionally relied on wild or naturally occurring yeasts in the vineyard and winery for fermentation. However, in modern winemaking, many producers use cultured or specially selected yeasts.Cultivated yeasts offer more control over the fermentation process, ensuring consistent flavors and characteristics in the wine.
Role in Wine Characteristics:
- Yeast strains contribute significantly to the aroma and flavor profile of the finished wine. Different yeast strains produce distinct aromatic compounds during fermentation, influencing the wine's bouquet. Some yeast strains enhance fruity notes, while others might impart spicy or floral characteristics.
Temperature and Fermentation:
- The fermentation temperature greatly influences the behavior of wine yeasts. Cooler temperatures result in slower fermentation, which can preserve delicate aromas. Warmer temperatures lead to faster fermentation and can create wines with bolder flavors. Winemakers carefully control the fermentation temperature to achieve the desired style of wine.
Yeast Nutrition:
- Yeasts need proper nutrients, including nitrogen, vitamins, and minerals, to thrive during fermentation. Inadequate nutrients can lead to sluggish or stuck fermentations, affecting the quality of the wine. Winemakers often supplement the grape juice or must with yeast nutrients to ensure a healthy and complete fermentation.
Wine Spoilage:
- While wine yeasts play a vital role in winemaking, other undesirable microorganisms can also contaminate the wine. Proper sanitation and the use of appropriate yeast strains help prevent spoilage and ensure the production of high-quality wine.
In summary, wine yeasts are essential microorganisms used in winemaking to ferment grape juice into wine. They contribute significantly to the aroma, flavor, and overall characteristics of the finished product. Winemakers carefully select and control yeast strains to produce wines with specific and desirable qualities.
Below you can find our editor's choice of the best wine yeasts on the market
North Mountain Supply - RS-PC-12 Red Star Premier Classique Wine Yeast - Pack of 12 - Fresh Yeast
North Mountain Supply
Product description
Guarantees a quick start of the fermentation. Good alcohol resistance (till 15% vol.), large temperature range (15°C to 35°C, 59°F to 95°F). Ideal strain for big volumes of wine when looking for a secure fermentation. Sold by North Mountain Supply (Seller: Quality Quick Ship) We are an Authorized Red Star Distributor and offer the freshest yeast on the market! We will provide free replacements and troubleshooting if for any reason the yeast does not activate before the expiration date.
- Sold by North Mountain Supply
- We are an Authorized Red Star Distributor and offer the freshest yeast on the market!
- We will provide free replacements and troubleshooting if for any reason the yeast does not activate before the expiration date
- Guarantees a quick start of the fermentation. Good alcohol resistance (till 15% vol.), large temperature range (15°C to 35°C, 59°F to 95°F)
- Ideal strain for big volumes of wine when looking for a secure fermentation.
User questions & answers
| Question: | is it certified kosher for passover |
| Answer: | I don't know if it was blessed by a Rabbi or if yeast even have a religious affiliation. Apparently, wine must not have been in contact with any grains, bread and dough i.e. chametz during its production to be considered kosher. |
| Question: | how much do you use |
| Answer: | The packets state that an entire one can be used for up to 5 gallons of solution depending upon what you are making. There are 5 grams of yeast in each packet so if you are making only one gallon of wine you need one gram or 1/5 of the package. Be sure to follow the directions stated on the packet in terms of prepping the yeast as well as storage and use thereafter of remaining yeast in the packet. I have done so and things worked quite well. A small digital scale or mini spoons are useful for measuring. Approximately 1/4 tsp of yeast is more than adequate for a gallon of wine. Having enough sugar and other necessary components for wine will yield ABV between 10-15%. Keep that in mind if you plan to make beer which I haven't. |
| Question: | How long is the fermentation process |
| Answer: | That all depends on what you are fermenting! If you use a hydrometer along the process you can measure how much sugar has turned into alcohol, which in turn shows when the yeast has completed its job! |
North Mountain Supply - RS-PR-12 Red Star Premier Rouge Wine Yeast - Pack of 12 - Fresh Yeast
North Mountain Supply
Product description
Good alcohol resistance (till 15% vol.). Recommended for the vinifications of high quality red wines aged in oak barrels particularly Cabernet, Merlot and Shiraz grape families and to all full bodied wines. Sold by North Mountain Supply (Seller: Quality Quick Ship) We are an Authorized Red Star Distributor and offer the freshest yeast on the market! We will provide free replacements and troubleshooting if for any reason the yeast does not activate before the expiration date.
- Sold by North Mountain Supply
- We are an Authorized Red Star Distributor and offer the freshest yeast on the market!
- We will provide free replacements and troubleshooting if for any reason the yeast does not activate before the expiration date
- Good alcohol resistance (till 15% vol.)
North Mountain Supply - 1G-38-ST-TB-1 1 Gallon Glass Fermenting Jug with Handle, 6.5 Rubber Stopper, Twin Bubble Airlock, Black Plastic Lid (Set of 1)
FastRack
Product description
1G Jug with Polyseal cap, 6.5 bing and twin bubble airlock
- 1 Gallon Glass Fermenting Jug with Handle, #6. 5 Rubber Stopper, Twin Bubble Airlock, & Black Plastic Lid
- Perfect for fermenting and brewing beer, wine, kombucha and more
- Works great for making a large yeast starter, experimenting with fruit flavors in your wine or beer, or for storing sanitizer solution.
- Made in the USA!
- We warrant our products in the event that they arrive damaged or defective - Covered under our 30 day hassle free replacement program!
User questions & answers
| Question: | Is the bottom of the jug flat enough to place it on a stir plate |
| Answer: | The bottom is very flat. I'd like to say yes but as I haven't done it myself I can't say for sure |
| Question: | where is the max fill line? It does not state on the air lock |
| Answer: | You should try to fill the airlock half way, that gives plenty of room for things to "breathe" |
| Question: | What is the difference between the regular and the 2020 variation |
| Answer: | 2020 has a better top, it holds in the bottle better than the previous versions. |
| Question: | are these air locks reusable? Like throw in the dishwasher |
| Answer: | Yes you can reuse them, a good soapy hand wash should be sufficient |
Strange Brew My-WNCV-DYMZ 10 Packs of KIV-1116 Lalvin Yeast for Winemaking, Multi
Strange Brew
Product description
A vigorous and competitive fermenter that, because of its neutral effect on varietal character, is very well suited to fruit wines as well as wines to be made from grapes. Grapes and fresh fruit. 59-86° F (15-30° C).
- 10 packs of fresh yeast
- Make wine at home
- Great with fresh fruit and grapes
- Fresh yeast from Strange Brew Home-Brew
User questions & answers
| Question: | Is this yeast all natural or is there another ingredient besides yeast? Thanks |
| Answer: | There is an emulsifier to assist with re-hydration, but it is mostly wine yeast. |
| Question: | Which yeast do you recommend for making rice wine |
| Answer: | For rice wine a lot of people recommend either the Lalvin V1116 dry yeast or White Labs WLP099 liquid yeast. |
| Question: | which yeast do you recommend for active dry yeast to make dandelion wine |
| Answer: | EC-1118 or champagne yeast would work best. |
| Question: | What is the difference between this and champagne yeast |
| Answer: | Thanks for asking. Champagne yeast produces wines with a very smooth, clean, crisp flavor whereas the K1-V1116 yeast produces more fruity and floral wines. |
Red Star Premier Cuvee Wine Yeast - Pack of 12 - North Mountain Supply Fresh Yeast
North Mountain Supply
Product description
The fastest, cleanest and most neutral fermenter. High tolerance to ethanol (till 18% vol.) and free sulphur dioxides.
Performs well for restarting stuck fermentations. Sold by North Mountain Supply (Seller: Quality Quick Ship) We are an Authorized Red Star Distributor and offer the freshest yeast on the market! We will provide free replacements and troubleshooting if for any reason the yeast does not activate before the expiration date.
- Sold by North Mountain Supply
- We are an Authorized Red Star Distributor and offer the freshest yeast on the market!
- We will provide free replacements and troubleshooting if for any reason the yeast does not activate before the expiration date
- The fastest, cleanest and most neutral fermenter. High tolerance to ethanol (till 18% vol.) and free sulphur dioxides.
- Performs well for restarting stuck fermentations.
Lalvin Dried Wine Yeast EC #1118 (Pack of 10)
Strange Brew Beer and Winemaking
Product description
This product is Lalvin dried wine yeast EC 1118.
- Wine Yeast
- Dried Active Yeast
- Great for fermenting
User questions & answers
| Question: | what are the exact ingredients please |
| Answer: | here is a link to help you find the ingredientshttp://lmgtfy.com/?q=lalvin+yeast+ec-1118&l=1 |
| Question: | Lets say i add this to juice/sugar for hard cider. once fermented, i add potassium sorbate. is there anything else i'd need to do before drinking? ty |
| Answer: | I use it and a yeast nutrient, sugar and juice to make liquor. 160 proof liquor. Can't comment on potassium sorbate as I know nothing about it. Usually takes 7 days to ferment and another 12 hours to distill.........! |
| Question: | What yeast is best for both light and dark wines |
| Answer: | LALVIN EC-1118 (SACCHAROMYCES CAREVISIAE) (EX-BAYANUS) MAKES THE BEST LIGHT OR DARK WINES, with an alcohol content of 14-16% |
| Question: | Is this replication competent enough to keep a mead must running as long as it's regularly fed |
| Answer: | This yeast works with mead, have made mead with thisnyeast and many others. But Lavlin 71b-1122 seems to have been made for mead and some how my batches made with it get the best appraisals. if you decided to give 71b-1122 a try, make you mead as usual just add one cup (8oz) of pulpless orange juice to your mead. your mead wont pick up the oj taste (assuming a five gallon batch is being made) somehow something in the oj this makes lavling 71b-1122 happy. But ec-1118 works too |
Red Star Premier Classique Wine Yeast, 5g - 10-Pack
Red Star
Product description
Premier Classique formerly Montrachet. A strong fermenter with good alcohol tolerance that is useful in producing dry, full bodied red and white wines. Will leave a wine with intense color and excellent flavor complexity while preserving tannin content. This yeast will produce hydrogen sulfide gas in the presence of excess sulfur compounds and therefore should not be used to ferment grapes that contain residual sulfur dust. Temperature range: 59-86 F. Alcohol Tolerance: 13%.
- Premier Classique formerly Montrachet Red Star for Wine Making
- Includes 10 Packs of Yeast
- Useful in producing dry, full bodied red and white wines
User questions & answers
| Question: | Do you need a wine barrel for this, or can a substitution be used to ferment |
| Answer: | I don’t know. I always use dark colored glass jugs |
| Question: | I ordered and it says it shipped today but not expected to recieve until 23-25... Im in the next state over, why would it take so long |
| Answer: | Amazon has adjusted the January 2021 delivery times based on the poor performance of the three largest delivery services in December 2020. Hobby Homebrew ships all orders in 24 hours or less, so your order should arrive in 1-5 days depending on circumstances. |
Red Star Cote des Blancs Wine Yeast - Pack of 12 - North Mountain Supply Fresh Yeast
North Mountain Supply
Product description
Fast fermenting strain that ensures a regular fermentation even at low temperature (12°C to 14°C, 53°F to 57°F). Alcohol tolerance: >14% vol. Allows an optimum aromatic expression for the production of wines derived from neutral grape cultivars. Sold by North Mountain Supply (Seller: Quality Quick Ship) We are an Authorized Red Star Distributor and offer the freshest yeast on the market! We will provide free replacements and troubleshooting if for any reason the yeast does not activate before the expiration date.
- Sold by North Mountain Supply
- We are an Authorized Red Star Distributor and offer the freshest yeast on the market!
- We will provide free replacements and troubleshooting if for any reason the yeast does not activate before the expiration date
- Fast fermenting strain that ensures a regular fermentation even at low temperature (12°C to 14°C, 53°F to 57°F).
Lalvin EC-1118 Saccharomyces bayanus (10 Packs)
Lalvin
Product description
This Prisse de Mousse strain is fast-starting, clean and neutral. EC-1118 is a popular choice because of its consistently strong fermentation characteristics and high alcohol tolerance, up to 18%. The first choice for champagne and sparkling wines. Also good for restarting stuck fermentations. Ferments between 50 and 80 degrees.
- 10x Sachets
- EC-1118 is perfect for all wines, including sparkling & mead
- Not dependant on Grape Nutrient so perfect for Fruit Wines
- High alcohol tolerance up to 18% ABV
- 5g Sachet Makes 4.5L-23L
User questions & answers
| Question: | How much juice do I need to use with each packet |
| Answer: | each packet does 6 gallons (23 lt) |
| Question: | Does this yeast do well for distilling brandy's |
| Answer: | If you're in the United States, home distilling is illegal at the Federal level unless you have a permit. So, I'm going to assume that this question is academic in nature only. Brandy is made by distilling wine. So, the question becomes, is this a good yeast for making wine -- and the answer is: yes. |
| Question: | CAN sulfur be used on wine making |
| Answer: | Sulfur-based compounds are commonly used in various phases of the wine making process for several different reasons. Sulfur compounds are also naturally produced as a byproduct of fermentation. |
| Question: | Did you get 10 packages for this price |
| Answer: | Yes this is for 10 packages |
Red Star Premier Blanc Wine Yeast, 5 g, (Pack of 11)
Red Star
Product description
11 packs Red Star Pasteur champagne yeast wine Cider making moonshine distilling. 11 packs Red Star premier blanc wine yeast 5 grams, country of origin - Belgium, manufacturer name - Red Star.
- 5 gram package
- Active dry wine yeast
- Recommended for cabernet, cider, dry whites, fruits, meads, port, and sodas
User questions & answers
| Question: | Can you use this yeast to make bread |
| Answer: | I accidentally purchased this, thinking it was yeast for bread. I just used it for cinnamon rolls and they turned out perfectly! The recipe called for 2.25 teaspoons of instant yeast, I let this sit in the warm milk at the temperature and time recommended on the pouch. Very happy with this, just ordered another set! |
| Question: | Will this work for strong ale |
| Answer: | That's a great question. If your ale is going to be in the typical alcohol range of strong ales (8-11%), then you should probably use one of the many ale yeasts that are suited for strong ales. If you are trying to achieve an alcohol content higher than that, then you could certainly use this champagne yeast for that purpose. If you exclusively used the Red Star yeast, it would be a remarkable different tasting beer. So you could ferment first with a strong ale yeast and then follow that with the wine yeast to preserve more 'ale' flavor. You could also experiment with fermenting with the 2 yeast simultaneously if they have a 'behave' well together. Thanks! |
| Question: | I usually use red star pasteur champagne yeast. is it still available |
| Answer: | That’s a very good question. The Red Star Pasteur Champagne yeast has been re-named to Red Star Premier Blanc. They are the same product. Thanks! |
| Question: | Do you need ID to have this shipped to you |
| Answer: | No, but your mom will catch you. |
Lalvin ICV-D47 Wine Yeast, 5g - 10-Pack
Lalvin
Product description
The lalvin icv-d47 yeast strain is capable of producing complex wines with a strong fruity and floral character. This strain has been isolated from the côtes du Rhone region of France and is known for creating full-bodied chardonnay and other white varieties. This yeast can contribute additional complexity with extending aging on lees resulting in ripe, spicy aromas with Notes of Tropical and citrus fruits. The icv-d47 yeast ferments at a moderate pace and creates wines with a full mouth feel and silky texture.
- Produces complex wines with a strong, fruity and floral character
- Yeast strain isolated from France and known for creating full-bodied Chardonnay and other white wine varieties
- Can produce ripe, spicy aromas with notes of citrus and tropical fruit
- Creates a full mouthfeel and silky texture
- 10 Packs
User questions & answers
| Question: | The description say 10-pack but there is a 5-pack amazon 'sticker' over the picture. Is this 5 or 10 packs |
| Answer: | The listing is for 10 packs of yeast-Not sure why Amazon has a 5 pack sticker across the product. We will have them change the picture-but this listing is for 10 packs of yeast. |
| Question: | Does this have high alcohol tolerance |
| Answer: | Not as high as others, no. Lalvin has one called EC-1118 that has a higher tolerance than D-47. I prefer D-47 for mead as it's a good all around strain meaning that it turns out consistently good batches without having to constantly monitor it. I have been mead making for only two years and with everything, opinions vary. You can also check some of the home brewer forums. |
| Question: | how much do you use per gallon |
| Answer: | One whole packet is good for up to five gallons. About one teaspoon will be for one gallon. More won't hurt, it will just make it ferment faster. Personally I use 1/2 packet for anything under three gallons and a whole packet for anything over three gallons. Save the rest of the packet in the refrigerator. Happy Brewing! |
| Question: | Can I use this with red wine |
| Answer: | You could but D-47 is probably better with whites and blushes. Lalvin EC-1118 might be a better option for reds. I personally prefer mead to grape wine and use D-47 a lot with mead making and it turns out great. I have not had a bad batch and have done everything from a dry batch to sweet fruit flavored melomels like blueberry and raspberry. D-47 is a great all around choice for mead. |
CellarScience - DYW54B Dry Wine Yeast - EC-1118 (80 g)
Product description
Neutral flavor and aroma. Famous for being a strong fermenter with no problems. Use in any wine where yeast flavor impact is not desired. Higher alcohol tolerance to 18 percent. Use 1 gram per gallon.
- Recommended dosage of 1 gram per gallon
- Rehydrating yeast prior to use is recommended for best results
- Item Package Dimension: 5.5" L x 4.5" W x 0.5" H
- Item Package Weight: 0.2 lb
Yeast Nutrient - 8 oz.
Midwest Homebrewing and Winemaking Supplies
Product description
Yeast nutrient gives nourishment to your yeast so that it stays healthy throughout the fermentation process. Used in beer, wine, mead, etc. To produce healthy yeast for a complete fermentation. Use 1 teaspoon per gallon prior to fermentation beginning.
User questions & answers
| Question: | I fermented my wine and it's too sweet, what do I do now |
| Answer: | It depends on your starting gravity. If it is high (1.11+) once it stops fermenting naturally (reaches the yeasts alcohol tolerance , 13-15% ) it will be sweet. Be aware how much you sugar you use (natural or added) |
| Question: | Why does one bag cost $7 but a two pack is $50? A three pack $70? and a fourpack |
| Answer: | Amazon most likely combined some listings and only one seller was on the listing with a crazy price. We have added ourselves to these options so the prices should update to more reasonable prices. |
| Question: | Dose this product contain DAP |
| Answer: | Yes DAP is short for DiAmmonium Phosphate |
| Question: | What's the difference between this and fermax |
| Answer: | I'm not sure, but I do know this is not yeast "nutrient". This is yeast activator. It is simple DAP, which adds nitrogen to the mix and helps the yeast survive longer. It does nothing to nourish the yeast like Fermaid K or similar products. |
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