Vendange tardive is a French wine term that translates to « late harvest » in English. It refers to wines made from grapes that have been allowed to hang on the vine longer than usual, allowing them to become very ripe and concentrate their sugars. This results in a sweet and luscious wine, typically with higher levels of residual sugar. Vendange tardive wines are often made from grapes affected by noble rot, a beneficial mold that dehydrates the grapes and intensifies their flavors. This term is commonly used in the Alsace region of France, where late harvest wines are highly prized.
