Noble rot (French: pourriture noble; German: Edelfäule; Italian: Muffa nobile; Hungarian: Aszúsodás) is the beneficial form of a grey fungus, Botrytis cinerea, affecting wine grapes.^[1] Infestation by Botrytis requires warm and humid conditions, typically around 20 degrees celcius and above 80% humidity.^[2] If the weather stays wet, the undesirable form, "bunch rot" or "grey rot", adversely affects winemaking by disrupting fermentation and changing the taste, aroma, and appearance of the final wine^[1][2][3] Grapes typically become infected with Botrytis when they are ripe. If they are then exposed to drier conditions and become partially raisined, this form of infection is known as noble rot. Grapes picked at a certain point during infestation can produce particularly fine and concentrated sweet wine. Wines produced by this method are known as botrytized wines,^[4] and are considered a distinct category of dessert wines.^[3]

The primary distinction between botrytized wines and other naturally sweet, non-fortified sweet wines, such as late-harvest wines, ice wines, or straw / raisin wines, lies in the range and richness of aroma compounds generated by the Botrytis cinerea fungal infection of the grapes.^[3] Significant differences are also evident in other components, like sugar alcohol and acid composition, due to microbial activity.^[3] Descriptors frequently used for these wines highlight flavours of peach, apricot, pear, quince, raisin, and honey, along with unique "botrytis" or roti characteristics.^[3] Additionally, a notable feature of botrytized wines is their high acid content, which prevents them from tasting cloying, even with sugar levels often exceeding 200 g/l^[3]

Effect on grapes

When Botrytis cinerea infects grapes, it initiates several physiological changes that are crucial for the development of noble rot wines. The fungus penetrates the grape skins, causing microscopic wounds that lead to the evaporation of water from the berries. This dehydration process concentrates the remaining sugars, acids, and flavour compounds within the grapes, resulting in a higher density of these essential components. The weight of the grapes can decrease by up to 60%, leaving behind a shrivelled, sugar-rich berry.^[2]

The infection also significantly alters the chemical composition of the grapes with the concentration of sugars in the grape increasing dramatically. This high sugar content is essential for the production of the sweet wines associated with noble rot.^[2] The fungus primarily consumes tartaric acid, which is more prevalent than malic or citric acid in healthy grapes. During the infection process, the ratio of tartaric to malic acid changes, as observed in Furmint grapes used for Tokaji Aszú, where the ratio shifts from 2:1 in healthy berries to 1:3 in botrytised berries. The increased levels of citric acid and the formation of higher levels of sugar alcohols (such as glycerol, arabitol, mannitol, sorbitol, and inositol) by the fungus contribute to the complexity and mouthfeel of botrytized wines.^[1][2] The grapes metabolic stress response also leads to the production and concentration of various aromatic compounds. The berries concentrate precursors for citrus aromas like lemon and grapefruit, and also generate compounds for stone fruit aromas such as apricot and peach in a direct metabolic response to the fungal attack. Some of these aromatic characteristics, including the distinct honey aroma, are directly attributable to the botrytis fungus itself.^[1][2]

The stress response of grapes to botrytis infection is similar to their response to drought. The breakdown of grape skin cells by the fungus facilitates water evaporation, intensifying the dehydration process. This stress response allows the grapes to adapt metabolically, slowing down the infection rate compared to grey rot, which spreads too quickly for the plant to respond effectively.^[2]

Origins

According to Hungarian legend, the first aszú (a wine using botrytised grapes) was made by Laczkó Máté Szepsi in 1630. However, mention of wine made from botrytised grapes appears before this in the Nomenklatura of Fabricius Balázs Sziksai, which was completed in 1576. A recently discovered inventory of aszú predates this reference by five years. When vineyard classification began in 1730 in the Tokaj region, one of the gradings given to the various terroirs centered on their potential to develop Botrytis cinerea.

There is a popular story that the practice originated independently in Germany in 1775, where the Riesling producers at Schloss Johannisberg (Geisenheim, in the Rheingau region) traditionally awaited the say-so of the estate owner, Heinrich von Bibra, Bishop of Fulda, before cutting their grapes. In this year (so the legend goes), the abbey messenger was robbed en route to delivering the order to harvest and the cutting was delayed for three weeks, time enough for the botrytis to take hold. The grapes were presumed worthless and given to local peasants,^[5] who produced a surprisingly good, sweet wine which subsequently became known as Spätlese, or late harvest wine. In the following few years, several different classes of increasing must weight were introduced, and the original Spätlese was further elaborated, first into Auslese in 1787^[6] and later Eiswein in 1858 (although Eiswein is usually made from grapes not affected by Botrytis).^[7]

Viticulture and uses

In some cases, inoculation occurs when spores of the fungus are sprayed over the grapes, while some vineyards depend on natural inoculation from spores present in the environment.

The fungus perforates the grapes' skin, allowing water in the grape to evaporate during dry conditions, and thereby raising the sugar concentration in the remaining juice.

Some of the finest botrytized wines are picked berry by berry in successive tris (French for "selections").

Internationally renowned botrytized wines include the aszú of Tokaj-Hegyalja in Hungary (commonly called Tokaji or Tokay), Sauternes from France – where the process is known as pourriture or pourriture noble, and Beerenauslese or Trockenbeerenauslese wines from Germany and Austria. Other wines of this type include the Romanian Grasă de Cotnari, French Coteaux du Layon, French Monbazillac, Austrian Ausbruch and South African Noble Late Harvest (NLH). Depending on conditions, the grapes may be only minimally botrytized. Botrytis has also been imported for use by winemakers in California and Australia.