Sémillon: Back to Winemaking – Back to Grapes – Back to Countries
Top thirteen grapes:
Reds – Cabernet Franc – Cabernet Sauvignon – Malbec – Merlot –
Whites – Chardonnay – Gewürztraminer – Muscat –
Pinot blanc – Pinot gris – Riesling – Sauvignon blanc
Next twenty-five grapes:
Reds – Barbera – Carignan – Gamay – Grenache – Mourvèdre – Petit Verdot –
Sangiovese – Tannat – Tempranillo – Touriga Nacional – Zweigelt
Whites – Albariño – Aligoté – Arinto – Chenin blanc – Malvasia –
Müller-Thurgau – Muscat-Ottonel – Sémillon – Tămâioasă Românească –
Traminer – Ugni-blanc – Viognier – Welschriesling
– and Cava
| Sémillon: This grape is native to the Bordeaux region. It was known as Sémillon de Saint-Émilion in 1736. Its name resembles the local pronunciation of the town’s name. Its thin skin makes it dominate the sweet wine regions: Barsac and Sauternes. It is commonly blended with Sauvignon blanc and Muscadelle, one of the three approved white wine varieties in the Bordeaux region. It accounts for almost 50% of the white grapes planted in Bordeaux.  Image source: thewinesociety.com It first arrived in Australia in the early 19th century and by the 1820s the grape covered over 90% of South Africa’s vineyards, where it was known as Wyndruif, meaning wine grape. In the 1950s, Chile’s vineyards were 75% Sémillon. None of these is the case today. Other significant wines are Entre-Deux-Mers, Graves and Pessac-Léognan. |
 Image source: winefolly.com Taste/smell: Its wines are rather heavy, with low acidity and an almost oily texture. Its notes are said to be apple, honey, lemon, orange peel, papaya and pear, plus fig, ginger and honey – others add a texture of lanolin – of waxiness. Varieties/Mutations There are more than six registered clones.  Image source: plantgrape.fr | Description: Clusters are medium-sized and conical Berries are medium to large, round to oval; yellow to golden when ripe.  Image source: plantgrape.fr Shoot tips are felty with a rose margin. The young leaves are yellow-green with bronze highlights. Leaves are medium sized with three-to-five lobes. with small, sharp teeth and slight tufted hair on leaf underside.  Image source: plantgrape.fr |
| Sémillon producing countries: Big Five Producers: (overall 42% of vineyards, 64% of wine production and 41% of wine consumption – OIV 2022) Spain: Andalusia, Castilla-La Mancha, Castilla y León (Rueda), Galicia, Priorat, Ribera del Duero France: Bergerac, Bordeaux, Dordogne, Garonne, Gironde, Provence Italy: not detected USA: California, Idaho, New York, Texas, Washington Chile: Itata Valley Next Ten Largest Producers: (with big five, responsible overall for 75% of vineyards, 88% of wine production, 64% of wine consumption – OIV 2022) Argentina: Mendoza, Rio Negro Valley Australia: Adelaide Hills, Hunter Valley, Margaret River, Riverina, Southern Australia, Western Australia China: not detected Germany: not detected India: not detected New Zealand: not detected Portugal: not detected Romania: not detected South Africa: Breedekloof, Cape South Coast, Franschhoek, Klein Karoo, Olifants River. Paarl, Robertson, Stellenbosch, Swartland, Western Cape Turkey: not detected Others countries: Croatia, Hungary, Japan, Lebanon | Grape is also known as: Australia – Barnawartha Pinot, Hunter River Riesling, Sercial; Croatia – Semijon; France – Blanc Doux, Blanc Semillon, Chevrier, Colombar, Colombarride, Colombier, Goulon blanc, Goulou blanc, Gros Sémillon, Madeira, Mances Blanc, Marcillac, Mansois Blanc, Monsois Blanc, Oron Sémillon, Petit Semillon, Saint Émilion, Sauternes, Semijon, Semilao, Semilhao, Semillion, Sémillon Blanc, Sémillon Crucillant, Sémillon Feher, Sémillon Muscat, Sémillon roux, Sercial, Sotern; Hungary – Semillon Fehér; Italy – Malaga, Malaga Bianco, Semillon Bianco; Lebanon – Merwah; Portugal – Boal, Boal Branco, Boal no Douro, Semilão; South Africa – Green Grape, Greengrape, Groendruif, Wyndruif; |
Hunter Valley: Image source: scmp.com
Sémillon: Back to Winemaking – Back to Grapes – Back to Countries
Top thirteen grapes:
Reds – Cabernet Franc – Cabernet Sauvignon – Malbec – Merlot –
Whites – Chardonnay – Gewürztraminer – Muscat –
Pinot blanc – Pinot gris – Riesling – Sauvignon blanc
Next twenty-five grapes:
Reds – Barbera – Carignan – Gamay – Grenache – Mourvèdre – Petit Verdot –
Sangiovese – Tannat – Tempranillo – Touriga Nacional – Zweigelt
Whites – Albariño – Aligoté – Arinto – Chenin blanc – Malvasia –
Müller-Thurgau – Muscat-Ottonel – Sémillon – Tămâioasă Românească –
Traminer – Ugni-blanc – Viognier – Welschriesling
– and Cava
