Abstract: 222 Oenococcus oeni strains isolated from 5 different wineries in Changli, Hebei province were identified by species-specific PCR, and amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) technique was used for genetics research. The AFLP results showed that a total of 221 AFLP genotypes were detected in the 222 strains, with different phenotypes, and their similarity coefficients were 74%–98%, revealing a high level of genetic diversity. By the un-weighted pair-group method with Arithmetic means (UPGMA), two major phylogroups were deciphered at 81.7% similarity level. Additionally and more importantly, the strains from the same winery formed unique clusters, indicating distinct genetic relationships with their origins and validating that O. oeni is an important part of the wine terroir. This study confirmed that there are rich O. oeni resources with genetic specificity in the wine-making region of Changli. This study offers technical and theoretical support for the development of indigenous starter cultures with regional characteristics.

Key words: wine, Oenococcus oeni, amplified fragment length polymorphism, genetic diversity, genetic specificity, terroir