botrytis cinerea
[ boh-TRI-tihs sihn-EHR-ee-uh ]
Also called noble rot, this beneficial mold develops on grapes under certain environmental conditions. The mold causes the grape to shrivel, concentrating and intensifying both sugar and flavor. Most winemakers are exhilarated when noble rot descends on their grapes because it gives them fruit from which to make very elegant, intensely flavored
DESSERT WINES. In California these wines are usually referred to as
LATE HARVEST wines and in France, where noble rot is called pourriture noble, they're known as
SAUTERNES. In Germany noble rot is called Edelfaule, and German winemakers are experts at producing a large variety of elegant botrytis-infected wines such as
BEERENAUSLESE/Detail.aspx">TROCKEN
BEERENAUSLESE and some
BEERENAUSLESES.
© Copyright Barron's Educational Services, Inc. 1995 based on THE FOOD LOVER'S
COMPANION, 2nd edition, by Sharon Tyler Herbst.
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