Co-inoculation MLF

What is co‑inoculation in malolactic fermentation?

Co-inoculation malolactic fermentation is a technique that consists of co-inoculating a must with yeasts and malolactic ferments. It significantly accelerates the completion of malolactic fermentation. This time savings can be decisive for early wines and wines with a high pH (> 3.6) and it can limit the risk of deviations due to lactic bacteria or yeast contamination.

This approach takes advantage of the warm, nutrient-rich environment to achieve a faster, more controlled malolactic fermentation. The result? Smoother wines, shorter cellar time, and greater protection against spoilage.

  • Shorter total MLF duration.
  • Efficient MLF in difficult wines. 
  • No MLF nutrition is required. 
  • Reduced SO2 usage. 
  • Less inhibitory impact from yeast (ethanol/medium-chain fatty acids). 
  • More ester production (fresh and fruity profile). 
  • Less diacetyl/buttery characters.
  • More complex, integrated wines. 
Bioprotection explanation doing MLF in co-inoculation with Anchor DUET bacteria. 

Why choose the Anchor Duet range for co-inoculation?

The Anchor Duet range is specifically designed for co-inoculation. Each product is a unique combination of a strain of Lactobacillus plantarum and Oenococcus oeni, selected to bring in synergy fermentation reliability and specific sensory effects.

ProductKey sensory contributionIdeal wine styleTechnical parameters
Duet AromRed fruit, floral, aromatic liftFruity round red winesUp to 15.5%
pH ≥ 3.4
Temp. 18-28 °C
Duet SoftRoundness, volume, gentle mouthfeelWhite and red winesUp to 15%
pH ≥ 3.2
Temp. 15-28 °C
Duet MatureStructure, dark fruit, spiceStructured round red winesUp to 16%
pH ≥ 3.3
Temp. 18-28 °C
Duet Mature in comparison with other commercial co-inoculation cultures, South African Cabernet sauvignon.

Looking for a red fruit–driven, fast-track option?

If you are working with young, expressive red wines where freshness and fruity intensity are key, you can also consider:

Maloferm® Fruta DUO

This co-inoculation strain combines fast kinetics with a strong focus on red berry aromas and freshness, especially suited for warm fermentations and early-release reds.

It offers an interesting solution for specific styles or markets looking for modern, fruit-forward profiles.

Sensory analysis. Vitec, Spain. Tempranillo (2023).
Sensory analysis. IFV, Merlot, Bordeaux (2023).

Can I use other bacteria for co-inoculation?

Yes. Although not specifically designed for co-inoculation, we have successfully used several strains from our Solo and Maloferm ranges in co-inoculation under specific conditions.

These strains are primarily designed for sequential use but can offer interesting results when co-inoculation is carefully managed, particularly in balanced musts with good temperature and pH conditions.

For guidance on choosing the most suitable strain for your specific wine and fermentation context, feel free to contact our technical team.

What are the important factors for co-inoculation?

To obtain a good success rate, it is important to follow several points:

  • Good management of yeast growth, development, and nutrition.
  • Good management of temperature
  • Avoid excessive sulphiting for white wines (seeding at 24 hours in the case of sulphiting < 5 g/hl, sowing at 48 hours in the case of sulphiting of 5 to 8 g/hL, sowing at 72 hours in the case of sulphiting > 8 g/hL) .
  • Regularly monitor malic acid during the last third of alcoholic fermentation
  • For white wines with high acidity, it is critical to account for the “natural” drop in pH during the first days of fermentation, as well as the yeast’s nitrogen compound metabolism. The pH then goes up at the same time that the yeast makes alcohol. Because of these factors, it is preferable to carry out bacterial seeding when approximately 50% of the alcoholic fermentation is complete.
  • Do not implement co-inoculation on spoiled grapes.

Discover the ANCHOR bacteria range

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Discover the MALOFERM bacteria range

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