Noble Rot
A helpful mould that concentrates sugar for great sweet wines.
Unofficial study resource · not affiliated with or endorsed by WSET®Definition
Noble rot is a beneficial mould, Botrytis cinerea, that shrivels ripe grapes and concentrates their sugar and flavour. Winemakers use it to make some of the world’s finest sweet wines. In the wrong conditions the same mould becomes harmful grey rot.
Why it matters for WSET
Noble rot explains several classic sweet wines on the WSET syllabus and is a common exam point contrasted with grey rot, a fault.
Example
Sauternes from Bordeaux and Tokaji from Hungary are made with noble rot.
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