Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/123973
equipment or barrels; isolation of yeasts and species identification; and selection of best isolates. White Labs uses traditional microbiology tools for collection and preliminary identification, then uses AccuGENX-ID FunITS from Accugenix of Newark, Del., for specific isolate identification using a genotype analysis process with PCR in conjunction with an extensive DNA database. FunITS stands for Fungi Internal Transcribed Spacer – referring to the ITS2 DNA region of the fungal species that is amplified for identification. Troels Prahl, a research and yeast applications scientist at White Labs, explained, "After identification, the next steps are characterization of the isolates and selection based on fermentation performance, growth kinetics and aroma production. When we have all candidate isolates clearly characterized, we do either pure or blended small-scale vinifications to design the best culture for the customer." White Labs has a yeast culture banking and maintenance service to store proprietary strains and cultures until needed by the winery as a fermentation inoculant. TECHNOLOGY RAISES QUALITY ASSURANCE BAR Burns said new technologies, with their ability to generate more data, create a greater need for quality assurance programs in labs to ensure reliability and reproducibility in lab results, for managing data and records, maintaining equipment, and employing lab personnel with good skills and integrity. Burns cautioned, "As these automated techniques become more prevalent in the wine industry, the need for laboratory quality assurance practices to hold that 'tiger's leash' becomes even more important." Ted Rieger , CSW, is a writer and photographer based in Sacramento, Calif., and has been a contributing editor for V&WM since 1990. Comments? Please e-mail us at feedback@vwmmedia.com. 82 V I N E YARD & WINERY MANAGEMENT | May - June 2013 w w w. v w m m e d i a . c o m