Overview

 

Semillon is a white grape used to make both sweet and dry wines. It’s very popular in Bordeaux and Australia. Semillon is most commonly known as the grape that forms the base for Sauternes. This grape is plump, thick-skinned and has a high resistance to disease along with a tendency to ripen early. This makes Semillon an easy grape to cultivate. It produces wines with lower acidity levels and full-bodied flavors. Semillon is often blended with Sauvignon Blanc, which has more emphatic flavors and aromas. It’s also a crucial blending element in White Bordeaux. Although it’s admired for its full body, Semillon has flavors more in line with Pinot Gris and Sauvignon Blanc. Semillon is known for being affordable, especially in the United States. However, its quality allows it to stand aside some of the most sought after white wines on the market.

 

Types of Semillon

 

Semillon wines fall into one of two categories, hot climate, and cold climate. Hot climate Semillon is found in South Australia, California, Argentina, and South Africa. Winemakers in these regions tend to employ the oak-aging process in order to introduce buttery notes into the flavor. Hot climate Semillon also tends to contain notes of fruits such as peach and mango. They also tend to have a higher alcohol content. Cold climate Semillon, on the other hand, is more acidic. This is due to the necessity to pick the grape when they’re less ripe. These wines are much more similar to Sauvignon Blanc. Cold climate Semillon is found in Bordeaux, Western Australia, Hunter Valley Australia, and Washington State. They have a slightly lower alcohol content and typically display notes of citrus.

 

Flavors and Aromas

 

Semillon grapes are underrated throughout the world. However, they can actually produce more intriguing, subtle dry wines than Sauvignon Blanc. If made well, it can have a very full-bodied flavor with lovely combinations of honey, citrus, and grass. The dominant fruit flavors in Semillon are apple, pear, lemon, and green papaya. It can also contain notes of mango, yellow grapefruit, and even dill. Semillon tends to have a slightly waxy taste. Depending on the region it’s made, it can have a creamy, rich flavor similar to Chardonnay or a brighter, palate-cleansing flavor like Sauvignon Blanc. As far as aromas are concerned, hints of honeysuckle, wax lips, fig, saffron, and ginger could show up.

 

Food Pairings

 

Due to its medium to full-bodied texture and citrus flavors, Semillon is better with bold, aromatic foods. It can also work very well as a dessert wine. When pairing it with meats, think pork chops, chicken, ham, duck, and foie gras. It also pairs well with fish, specifically trout, red snapper, cod, haddock, halibut, and Chilean sea bass. As far as cheeses are concerned, this wine works well with cheddar, Compte, and Gruyere. For vegetarian dishes, Semillon is great with spiced and roasted vegetables. It also pairs well with salads containing nuts and dried fruits. Other vegetables that pair well with it include butternut squash, bell pepper, zucchini, corn, potatoes, green onions, and carrots.

 

Meta: Although underrated, Semillon is a high-quality white wine that can stand up to some of the best in the world. Learn more about this interesting grape.