Glycerol, is important industrial product that can be produced using osmophilic yeasts. A study was carried out to determine the effects of glucose, fructose, and sucrose on growth and glycerol production kinetics of a wine yeast strain Saccharomyces cerevisiae Narince 3 in a batch system. Depending on the determined values of Monod constants, sucrose (K-s = 44.53 g/l) was the most suitable substrate for yeast growth. Initial glucose, fructose and sucrose concentrations necessary for maximum specific yeast growth rate were 125, 175, and 200 g/l, respectively. The glycerol production rate was highest in fructose medium and reached a maximum level in the medium of 350 g/l of initial fructose concentration. In glucose medium, optimal glycerol production was observed at 300 g/l initial glucose concentration and at 400 g/l initial sucrose concentration in medium containing sucrose. In grape juice medium, maximum glycerol concentration and dry weight were 14.1 and 8.0 g/l, respectively. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.