Why do Botrytis affected grapes need to be harvested by hand?

Why do Botrytis affected grapes need to be harvested by hand?

• A. Because Botrytis does not develop evenly, only the affected berries are harvested in passes.
• B. Because Botrytis develops evenly, every berry is harvested at once.
• C. Because Botrytis is not a concern for harvest timing.
• D. Because Botrytis affects all berries equally.

Answer: (A)

The key idea is that Botrytis infection is patchy within a grape bunch. Some berries become botrytized and reach full concentration of sugar and flavor while others inside the same cluster may be less affected or remain healthy. Because of this uneven development, you can’t safely harvest the whole cluster at once if you want only the best, botrytized fruit. Hand harvesting lets pickers select and harvest only the affected berries when they’re ready, often in several passes over several days, to avoid including healthy or under-ripe fruit and to prevent diluting the wine with non-botrytized grapes. It also reduces damage and helps keep the fruit intact for careful sorting. In short, uneven development makes selective, hand-picked harvesting essential for quality in botrytized wines.

The key idea is that Botrytis infection is patchy within a grape bunch. Some berries become botrytized and reach full concentration of sugar and flavor while others inside the same cluster may be less affected or remain healthy. Because of this uneven development, you can’t safely harvest the whole cluster at once if you want only the best, botrytized fruit. Hand harvesting lets pickers select and harvest only the affected berries when they’re ready, often in several passes over several days, to avoid including healthy or under-ripe fruit and to prevent diluting the wine with non-botrytized grapes. It also reduces damage and helps keep the fruit intact for careful sorting. In short, uneven development makes selective, hand-picked harvesting essential for quality in botrytized wines.