DSM and Anchor Yeast's joint venture markets first crop of wine ingredients

A year on from the formation of Oenobrands, a joint venture between DSM and Anchor Yeast, we went down to their offices in Montpellier, France, to find out about its first crop of wine yeasts and enzymes.

DSM and Anchor Yeasts have worked together for some time – with DSM, a Dutch company, acting as European distributor for South Africa-based Anchor.

Alan MacDonald, president of Oenobrands, explained that two years ago the companies decided to work more closely together and form a joint venture to manufacture ingredients for the wine industry.

Since the foundation of Oenobrands in May last year, the 17-strong team has brought together expertise in enzymes and yeasts to come up with new products. These include an enzyme for rosé wine and a yeast that together are designed to give an intense nose of red berries. Other new ingredients include a bacteria blend for malolactic fermentation – a wine making process designed to create rounder, softer wines.