Australians map wine yeast code

Australian wine researchers have become the first in the world to map the genetic code for wine yeast.

Researchers from the Australian Wine Research Institute started work on the code this year, after a four-year head start for their northern hemisphere counterparts.

The Institute's managing director, Professor Sakkie Pretorius, says the discovery means new strains of yeast can be developed without genetic engineering.

"To tailor-make your wine making process in such a way that you can shape your aroma profile, or the composition of your wine according to market specifications is absolutely critical, and that critical element in that process is the choice of yeast," he said.