The objective of the work was to evaluate the effect of malolactic fermentation (MLF) on the composition of Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Isabella wines, elaborated on a small scale during the 1995 vintage. Eighteen variables were evaluated before and after MLF. The results showed that MLF degraded the malic acid, decreased the total acidity, the dry extract, the reduced dry extract and color intensity and increased the pH, the volatile acidity, the alcohol in weight/reduced dry extract ratio and the A420/A520 ratio. Among the volatile compounds it was observed the formation of ethyl lactate and acetoin.
malic acid; lactic acid; ethyl lactate; acetoin
