Robot automates bacteria screening in wine samples

A robotic liquid handling system at the Australian Wine Research Institute (AWRI) is automating the screening of large numbers of malolactic bacteria strains. Using miniaturised wine fermentations in 96-well microplates, the Tecan EVO 150 robotic system is screening bacteria, sourced from the AWRI’s wine microorganism culture collection and elsewhere, for MLF efficiency and response to wine stress factors such as alcohol and low pH.