Aims: To investigate the inactivation properties of different classes of phenolic compounds present in wine against two wine isolates of Lactobacillus hilgardii and Pediococcus pentosaceus, and to explore their inactivation mechanism. Methods and Results: After a first screening of the inactivation potency of 21 phenolic compounds (hydroxybenzoic and hydroxycinnamic acids, phenolic alcohols, stilbenes, flavan-3-ols and flavonols) at specific concentrations, the survival parameters (MIC and MBC) of the most active compounds were determined. For the L. hilgardii strain, the flavonols morin and kaempferol showed the strongest inactivation (MIC values of one and 5 mg l(-1), and MBC values of 7 center dot 5 and 50 mg l(-1), respectively). For the P. pentosaceus strain, flavonols also showed the strongest inactivation effects, with MIC values between one and 10 mg l(-1) and MBC values between 7 center dot 5 and 300 mg l(-1). Observations by epifluorescence and scanning electron microscopy revealed that the phenolics damaged the cell membrane and promoted the subsequent release of the cytoplasm material into the medium. Conclusions: The antibacterial activity of wine phenolics against L. hilgardii and P. pentosaceus was dependent on the phenolic compound tested, and led not only to bacteria inactivation, but also to the cell death. Significance and Impact of the Study: New information about the inactivation properties of wine lactic acid bacteria by phenolic compounds is presented. It opens up a new area of study for selecting/obtaining wine phenolic preparations with potential applications as a natural alternative to SO2 in winemaking.