Semillon Grape Variety

Semillon is a golden-skinned grape used to make dry and sweet white wines, most notably in France and Australia. 

Australia, gave the grape an identity for many winedrinkers. Hunter Valley, north of Sydney, is famous for its 100% Semillon wines, full-bodied but crisp, dry, and definitely age-worthy. 

Late harvesting and proper conditions produce Botrytis-withered grapes

Wine description	depends on area grown --Australia - full-bodied but crisp, dry, and definitely age-worthy.
Food pairing	Seafood, fish, clams, mussels --sweet wines pair with desserts
Origin	Unknown
Notable regions	France, Australia, Chile, Argentina, South Africa, New Zealand, etc
Notable wines	Sauternes, Barsac,

History

The origin of the Semillon grape is hard to determine. It is known that it first arrived in Australia in the early 19th century and by the 1820s the grape covered over 90 percent of South Africa's vineyards, where it was known as Wyndruif, meaning "wine grape".[1] It was once considered to be the most planted grape in the world, although this is no longer the case. In the 1950s, Chile's vineyards were made up of over 75% Semillon. Today, it accounts for just 1% of South African Cape vines.[1]

Viticulture

Semillon, which is relatively easy to cultivate,[1] consistently produces six to eight tons of grapes per acre from its vigorous vines.[2] It is fairly resistant to disease, except for rot. The grape ripens early, when, in warmer climates, it acquires a pinkish hue.[3] Since the grape has a thin skin, there is also a risk of sunburn in hotter climates; it is best suited to areas with sunny days and cool nights.

The Semillon grape is rather heavy, with low acidity and an almost oily texture. It has a high yield and wines based on it can age a long time. Along with Sauvignon Blanc and Muscadelle, Semillon is one of only three approved white wine varieties in the Bordeaux region. The grape is also key to the production of sweet wines such as Sauternes.

Regional production

Semillon is the major white grape in the Bordeaux wine regions and Co´tes de Gascogne. Whereas today Australia's major white varieties are Chardonnay and Sauvignon blanc, early in the country's viticultural development it was Semillon, then mislabeled as Riesling.

France

In France, the Semillon grape is grown mostly in Bordeaux where it is blended with Sauvignon blanc and Muscadelle. When dry, it is referred to as Bordeaux blanc and is permitted to be made in the appellations of Pessac-Léognan, Graves, Entre-deux-mers and other less-renowned regions. In this form, Sémillon is generally a minor constituent in the blend. However, when used to make the sweet white wines of Bordeaux (such as those from Sauternes, Barsac and Cérons) it is often the dominant variety.[1] In such wines the vine is exposed to the "noble rot" of Botrytis cinerea which consumes the water content of the fruit, concentrating the sugar present in its pulp. When attacked by Botrytis cinerea, the grapes shrivel and the acid and sugar levels are intensified.[4]

Due to the declining popularity of the grape variety, fewer clones are cultivated in nurseries causing producers to project a future shortage of quality wine. In 2008 17 Bordeaux wine producers, including Chateau d'Yquem, Chateau Olivier, Chateau Suduiraut and Chateau La Tour Blanche, formed an association to grow their own clones.[5]

Australia

Semillon is widely grown in Australia, particularly in the Hunter Valley north of Sydney, where for a long time it was known as "Hunter River Riesling". Four styles of Semillon-based wines made there: a commercial style, often blended with Chardonnay or Sauvignon Blanc; a sweet style, after that of Sauternes; a complex, minerally, early picked style which has great longevity; and an equally high quality,dry style, which can be released soon after vintage, as a vat or bottle aged example. Hunter Valley Sémillon is never matured in oak. The latter two styles were pioneered by Lindemans, Tulloch, McWilliam's Elizabeth, Drayton's and Tyrrell's, and are considered unique to Australia. Most examples of these bottle-aged Hunter Semillons exhibit a buttercup-yellow colour, burnt toast or honey characteristics on the nose and excellent complex flavours on the palate, with a long finish and soft acid. Young Hunter Valley semillon is almost always a dry wine, usually exhibiting citrus flavours of lemon, lime or green apple. Cooler year Hunter Semillons seem to be the most highly sought after, with some of the 1974 and 1977 vintages still drinking well. The newer, fruit accentuated styles are championed by the likes of Iain Riggs at Brokenwood and The Rothbury Estate. Semillon is also finding favour with Australian producers outside of the Hunter Valley in the Barossa Valley and Margaret River regions. The Adelaide Hills is becoming a flourishing region for Semillon with the cooler climate producing some wines of great complexity. Vineyards such as Amadio and Paracombe producing some premium blends of the classical style. 

Other regions

Outside of these regions, however, Semillon is unpopular and often criticised for lack of complexity and intensity. As such, plantings have decreased over the last century. As referenced above, the grape can still be found in South Africa and Chile. The latter is reputed to have the largest plantings of this grape,[2] although the number of acres planted with Semillon fluctuates often. California growers plant Sémillon primarily to blend it with Sauvignon blanc.[2] There are some wineries in the Washington State who actively produce Semillon for Ice Wine and Late Harvest wines. The grape is also planted in Argentina, and recently in New Zealand.

References