An organoleptic defect, termed fresh mushroom off-flavor and mainly caused by the C8 compounds 1-octen-3-one, 3-octanol and 1-octen-3-ol, has been identified in wines and spirits since the 2000s. The aim of this work was to identify the presence of glycosidic precursors of these C8 compounds and to evaluate the influence of different molds on the glycosylated fractions of three grape varieties. Must samples contaminated by molds (gray rot, powdery mildew and Crustomyces subabruptus) and three levels of attack severity (from healthy to 10-15%) were studied. After a β-glycosidase treatment on Meunier and Pinot noir musts contaminated by Crustomyces subabruptus, 1-octen-3-one, 1-octen-3-ol and 3-octanol were identified by GC-MS, proving the existence of glycosidic fractions in the musts. A Pinot noir must contaminated by Crustomyces subabruptus displayed a 230% increase in the glycosylated fraction responsible for 1-octen-3-one in comparison with an uncontaminated sample. Powdery mildew did not appear to affect the levels of the studied glycosidic fractions in Chardonnay musts. Gray rot on Meunier and Pinot noir musts had opposite effects depending on glycoside type, decreasing the 1-octen-3-one fraction and increasing the 1-octen-3-ol fraction.
Keywords: 1-octen-3-ol; 1-octen-3-one; 3-octanol; glycosides; molds; mushroom off-flavor.