Bacteria are an important part of wine ‘microbial terroir’ and contribute to the formation of wine flavor. Based on high-throughput sequencing and non-targeted metabonomic technology, this study first explored the bacterial composition and its effect on the aroma formation of spontaneously fermented ‘Cabernet Sauvignon’ (CS) wine in the Eastern Foot of Helan Mountain (EFHM), Ningxia. The results showed that there were significant differences in bacterial communities during fermentation of CS grapes harvested from different sub-regions of EFHM, with the earlier-established vineyard obtaining more species. The level of bacterial diversity initially decreased and then increased as the fermentation proceeded. Malolactic fermentation (MLF) was spontaneously initiated during alcohol fermentation (AF). Pantoea, Lactobacillus, Rhodococcus, Fructobacillus, and Komagataeibacter were the core bacterial genera in the fermentation mixture. Lactobacillus contributed to the synthesis of methyl and isobutyl esters and the formation of red and black fruity fragrances of wine. Fructobacillus was closely related to the synthesis of aromatic alcohols and the generation of floral flavors.

To study the effect of mixed fermentation of non-Saccharomyces strains and Saccharomyces cerevisiae on the aroma quality of ‘Italian Riesling’ wine in the eastern foothill of Helan Mountain and to determine the most optimum process of mixed fermentation, two selected non-Saccharomyces strains, including Hanseniaspora uvarum YUN268 and Pichia fermentans Z9Y-3, were inoculated with Saccharomyces cerevisiae in different proportions (10:1 or 1:1) and different stages (48 h in advance or simultaneously at the beginning) to ferment ‘Italian Riesling’ dry white wine. The oenological parameters and aroma indexes of the wine samples were evaluated. The results showed mixed fermentation can not only reduce the alcohol content of wine 0.24~0.71% vol but also increase the glycerol content to improve the taste of wine. The mixed fermentation effect of Pichia fermentans Z9Y-3 and Saccharomyces cerevisiae resulted in improvements, especially the high proportion (10:1) sequential inoculation and simultaneous inoculation of wine samples (WSP10 and WCP10), which not only produced more volatile aroma substances and glycerol content but also increased the total amount of ester substances by 49.4% and 56.5%, respectively, compared with the control. The sensory evaluation scores of WSP10 and WCP10 were significantly higher than the control (89.3 and 88.1 points, respectively). At the same time, it can also enhance the aroma of lemon, cream, almond, and others and increase the aroma complexity of wine. Therefore, these two methods of mixed fermentation inoculation are more suitable for the production of Italian Riesling wine in the eastern foothill of Helan Mountain. In conclusion, the mixed fermentation of Pichia fermentans Z9Y-3 and Saccharomyces cerevisiae 10:1 (simultaneous or sequential) inoculation is suitable for the production of Italian Riesling dry white wine in the eastern foothill of Helan Mountain.

Aroma is an important aspect of wine quality and consumer appreciation. The volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and olfactory profiles of Merlot dry red wines from the Eastern Foothill of Helan Mountain (EFHM) were analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and quantitative descriptive analysis. The results showed that Merlot wines from EFHM were characterized by intense flavors of drupe and tropical fruits compared with the Gansu region. Nineteen VOCs were defined as essential compounds contributing to the aroma characteristics of the Merlot wines through gas chromatography–olfactometry/mass spectrometry and odor activity value analysis. Predominantly, geranyl isovalerate, which contributed to the herbal odors of the Merlot wines, was detected in the grape wine of EFHM for the first time. The addition experiment revealed that geranyl isovalerate influenced the aroma quality of wine by increasing herbal odors and enhancing the olfactory intensities of tropical fruits. These results are helpful for further understanding the aroma of Merlot wines from EFHM and improving the quality of wine aromas.

Understanding the composition of the bacterial community on the epidermis of wine grapes and in winery environments, as well as the response of grape epidermal bacteria to climatic factors, plays a significant role in ensuring grape health and promoting grape conversion into wine. This study utilized high-throughput sequencing to explore the composition of the bacterial community on the wine grape epidermis and representative wineries of three sub-regions of the Eastern Foothills of Helan Mountain, Ningxia. The results showed that the bacterial diversity and richness in the Yongning (YN) sub-region were the highest, with Qingtongxia (QTX) having the lowest levels of grape epidermal bacteria. The bacterial diversity and richness were the highest in Yinchuan (YC) and the lowest in YN in the winery environment (p < 0.05). The composition of dominant bacteria on the grape epidermis and in winery environments of the three sub-regions was not different at the phylum and genus level, but the levels of these dominant bacteria were different among the sub-regions. There was a correlation between grape epidermal bacteria and climatic factors. Approximately 93% of the bacterial genera on the grape epidermal genera in the three sub-regions are present in the winery environment and contain all the dominant bacterial genera on the epidermis.