noble rot

noun

, Winemaking.

1. the fungus Botrytis cinerea, which is cultivated in some winemaking processes, especially in the making of French Sauternes, where the ripened grapes become shriveled as a result of its introduction, thereby concentrating the juice and increasing the sugar content.

noble rot

noun

1. winemaking a condition in which grapes are deliberately affected by Botrytis cinerea, resulting in the shrivelling of the ripened grapes, which in turn leads to an increased sugar content

Word History and Origins

Origin of noble rot¹

First recorded in 1920–25

Word History and Origins

Origin of noble rot¹

C20: translation of French pourriture noble