noble rot


noun Winemaking.

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.
Also called noble mold.

Origin of noble rot

First recorded in 1920–25

British Dictionary definitions for noble rot

noble rot

noun

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 Origin for noble rot

C20: translation of French pourriture noble