Improved
fermentation activity of microorganisms in a
polysaccharide gel such as an alginate gel is obtained after
dehydration, staorage and rehydration by soaking the gel containing the microorganisms prior to
dehydration in a
sugar solution to provide in the gel an amount of
sugar of at least 100 g / kg and less than 500 g / kg of gel, preferably less than 300 g / k of gel. The
dehydration may be carried out in a
fluidized bed or by lyophilization. The gel may be in the form of beads or fibers having a double layer structure formed by an
internal layer or core of gel containing the microorganisms and an external lay er or envelope of gel essentially devoid of the microoraganisms. The
sugar is preferably
xylose, glucose,
fructose,
lactose or
sucrose, and the sugar solution may contain a
polyol such as
sorbitol,
inositol or
glycerol to provide in the gel an amount of
polyol of at least 30 g / kg of gel. The sugar solution may also contain a non-ionic surfactant such as
sorbitan monostearate as a protecting substance to fur ther improve
fermentation activity. The microorganisms in the gel are preferably
yeast, and after rehydration the
yeast containing gel is used in producing a fermented drink such as in secondary fermentaion of
wine to produce sparkling
wine or champagne.