🍷 Noble rot

Noble rot is a helpful mould on grape berries. It is caused by the same fungus, Botrytis cinerea, that causes grey rot in wet weather. But under special conditions it becomes an ally: it dries the berries and makes the juice very sweet. A change of weather is needed. Mist stands in the morning, and the damp air helps the fungus develop. In the daytime the sun shines and a dry wind blows, and the berries dry. They lose up to half their water, and sugar and acid concentrate. If the weather stays wet, the rot becomes grey and harmful. That is why noble rot does not come every year. The crop is picked by hand in several passes, choosing the right berries. Sweet wines are made from such berries: Sauternes in France, Tokaji Aszú in Hungary, German and Austrian wines of the highest categories such as Beerenauslese and Trockenbeerenauslese. Ausbruch, Sélection de Grains Nobles and Eszencia belong to the same group. By Lake Neusiedl in Austria mist helps the rot develop. Sauternes is paired with Roquefort cheese: the sweetness balances the saltiness. These are sweet wines, and are best drunk in small portions.