Q. What is Acetobacter?
These bacteria, also known as "vinegar bacteria", cause significant spoilage in the wine industry but are necessary for vinegar production. The important species are Acetobacter aceti, A. orleansis and A. schutzenbachi. They are very small, usually non-motile and generally do not form spores. These bacteria are aerobes and in the presence of oxygen convert ethyl alcohol to acetic acid. These bacteria can be easily destroyed by heating to 65°C.