Lalvin EC-1118 Wine Yeast | Champagne, Cider & Mead

Robust Champagne Yeast for Wine, Cider and Mead

Lalvin EC-1118 is a reliable, neutral wine yeast selected in the Champagne region of France. It is known for vigorous fermentation, a wide operating temperature range and alcohol tolerance of up to 18% ABV under suitable fermentation conditions.

Its clean and neutral character allows the fruit, honey or other base ingredients to remain the focus. EC-1118 is suitable for sparkling wine, white wine, red wine, cider, mead, ginger beer and restarting difficult or stalled fermentations.

Each 5g sachet is suitable for approximately 4.5–23 litres, depending on the starting gravity and fermentation conditions.

Making larger batches? Save with the Lalvin EC-1118 125g Brick for better bulk value.

Why You’ll Love It

• Robust and dependable fermentation performance

• Neutral aroma and flavour contribution

• Alcohol tolerance up to 18% ABV

• Wide fermentation range of 10–30°C

• Suitable for wine, cider, mead and ginger beer

• Excellent for sparkling wine and bottle fermentation

• Short lag phase and high fermentation vigour

• Low relative nutrient requirement

• Low foam production

• Useful for restarting stuck fermentations

• Available in 5g sachets and a value 125g brick

Fermentation Profile

Lalvin EC-1118 produces a clean, neutral fermentation profile with minimal yeast-derived flavour or aroma.

This allows grape, apple, berry, honey and other base ingredients to retain their natural character. Its strong fermentation performance also makes it useful for high-gravity musts, secondary fermentation and challenging fermentation conditions.

Recommended Applications

EC-1118 is suitable for:

• Sparkling wine and Champagne-style wine

• White, rosé and red wine

• Apple and fruit cider

• Mead

• Ginger beer

• Country and fruit wines

• High-alcohol fermentations

• Bottle-conditioned sparkling beverages

• Restarting stalled wine or cider fermentations

Yeast Specifications

• Yeast strain: Saccharomyces cerevisiae

• Fermentation temperature: 10–30°C

• Alcohol tolerance: Up to 18% ABV

• Flavour profile: Clean and neutral

• Fermentation speed: Fast and vigorous

• Nutrient requirement: Relatively low

• Foam production: Low

• Dosage rate: Approximately 0.2–0.4g per litre

• Sachet size: 5g

• Approximate batch size: 4.5–23 litres

• Bulk option: 125g brick

Alcohol tolerance and fermentation performance depend on temperature, nutrient availability, sugar concentration, pH and overall fermentation management.

How to Use

For the best results, rehydrate the yeast before pitching:

1. Add the yeast to approximately 50ml of clean, chlorine-free water at 35–40°C.

2. Stir gently to disperse the yeast.

3. Allow it to stand for approximately 20 minutes.

4. Gradually add a small amount of must to reduce the temperature difference.

5. Ensure the yeast suspension is within approximately 10°C of the must before pitching.

6. Add the rehydrated yeast to the fermenter and mix thoroughly.

Complete the rehydration and acclimatisation process promptly. Always use a clean and sanitised container.

For demanding, nutrient-poor or high-alcohol fermentations, use a suitable complex yeast nutrient.

How Much EC-1118 Should I Use?

The recommended dosage is approximately 0.2–0.4g per litre.

One 5g sachet is generally suitable for approximately 4.5–23 litres, depending on the starting gravity, ingredients and fermentation conditions.

For larger batches or frequent use, the Lalvin EC-1118 125g Brick provides considerably better value than individual sachets.

What Does EC-1118 Taste Like?

EC-1118 has a neutral sensory profile and contributes very little yeast-derived flavour or aroma. It allows the character of the fruit, grapes, honey or other fermentable ingredients to remain prominent.

Is EC-1118 Suitable for Cider?

Yes. EC-1118 is a popular choice for apple and fruit cider because it ferments reliably and produces a clean, dry result.

Because it is highly attenuative, additional sweetening may be required if you prefer a sweeter finished cider. Stabilise or otherwise manage the fermentation correctly before back-sweetening.

Can EC-1118 Be Used for Mead?

Yes. Its high alcohol tolerance and dependable fermentation performance make it suitable for traditional mead, melomel and other honey-based fermentations.

Honey is naturally low in yeast nutrients, so an appropriate nutrient schedule is strongly recommended.

Can EC-1118 Restart a Stuck Fermentation?

EC-1118 is frequently used to restart stuck wine, cider and mead fermentations because of its short lag phase, competitive nature and strong alcohol tolerance.

For the best chance of success, identify the original cause of the stalled fermentation and prepare an acclimatised yeast starter before introducing it to the affected batch.

Does EC-1118 Ferment Dry?

EC-1118 is highly attenuative and can produce a very dry finished beverage when sufficient nutrients and suitable fermentation conditions are provided.

The final sweetness will depend on the fermentable sugars, original gravity, alcohol level and whether any non-fermentable sugars are present.

Is EC-1118 Only for Champagne?

No. Although it was selected for Champagne production and is excellent for sparkling wine, EC-1118 can also ferment white wine, red wine, cider, mead, ginger beer and many fruit-based beverages.

Should I Use Yeast Nutrient?

Yeast nutrient is recommended, especially when fermenting cider, mead, fruit juice or a high-gravity must.

Adequate nutrition supports healthy fermentation, reduces the risk of sluggish performance and can improve the finished beverage.

How Should EC-1118 Be Stored?

Keep unopened yeast dry and refrigerated, ideally between approximately 4–12°C. Protect it from heat and moisture.

Once a 125g brick has been opened, reseal it carefully, refrigerate it and minimise its exposure to air and moisture.

Why Buy from Border Brewing Supplies?

Border Brewing Supplies stocks wine, cider and mead yeast for home fermenters throughout Tweed Heads, the Gold Coast, Northern Rivers, Brisbane and the wider Queensland–New South Wales border region.

Shop online for Australia-wide delivery or select Click & Collect from our Tweed Heads South home brew shop.

Recommended Products

For a reliable fermentation, consider adding:

• Fermaid O or suitable complex yeast nutrient

• Wine or cider hydrometer

• Trial jar

• No-rinse sanitiser

• Wine and cider finings

• Fermentation airlock

• Bottle-conditioning equipment