
Sémillon
Learn about Sémillon — taste profile, popular regions and more …
An unassuming but noble variety, Sémillon is capable of producing wines with considerable structure, depth, length, and potential to improve for several decades. It is the perfect partner to the vivdly aromatic Sauvignon Blanc; the two are most commonly found blended in their home region of Bordeaux. Sémillon especially shines in Sauternes, one of the world’s greatest sweet wines, with highly concentrated flavors of honey and dried apricots. While Sémillon is not hugely popular in the rest of the wine world, it enjoys great success in Australia's Hunter Valley, where it can produce elegant, complex dry wines with aging potential.
Tasting Notes for Sémillon
Sémillon makes a dry or sweet white wine with a smooth texture and significant palate weight. In youthful dry wines, it expresses subtle aromas of lemon, green apple, pear and stone fruit. Aged or sweet Sémillon wines show more complex characters of lanolin, beeswax, honeysuckle, ginger, saffron, vanilla or toast.
Perfect Food Pairings for Sémillon
Thanks to its moderate acidity, this fairly full-bodied wine can stand up to pretty boldly flavored food. Think lightly spiced Asian or Indian white meat or fish dishes, or anything with cinnamon, clove, or star anise. It’s also great with autumnal vegetables like kabocha squash, yam or potato. Botrytised Sémillon, as in Sauternes, is a perfectly decadent pairing with foie gras.
Sommelier Secrets for Sémillon
Sémillon was once the most common variety in South Africa—so common, in fact, that in 1822, when 93% of the country’s vineyard area was planted with it, it was simply referred to as Wyndruif, or “wine grape.”
- Chardonnay2769
- Sauvignon Blanc926
- Other White Wine596
- Other White Blends579
- Riesling563
- Pinot Gris/Grigio415
- Viognier200
- Rhône White Blends197
- Chenin Blanc193
- Bordeaux White Blends163
- Gewurztraminer124
- Gruner Veltliner124
- Pinot Blanc104
- Albarino92
- Muscat77
- Torrontes51
- Semillon41
- Garganega36
- Vermentino32
- Verdicchio27
- Fiano27
- Cortese24
- Friulano21
- Melon de Bourgogne21
- Godello18
- Verdejo18
- Arneis17
- Marsanne16
- Trebbiano16
- Roussanne15
- Falanghina14
- Grillo13
- Malvasia13
- Greco12
- Vernaccia12
- Verdelho10
- Furmint8
- Aligote6
- Grenache Blanc6
- Muller Thurgau6
- Picpoul5
- Assyrtiko4
- Loureiro4
- Moschofilero4
- Viura4
- Grechetto3
- Arinto3
- Xarel-lo3
- Inzolia2
- Pedro Ximénez1
- Savagnin1
- Airen1
-
Brander Semillon 2010Semillon from California
-
L'Ecole 41 Semillon 2010Semillon from Columbia Valley, Washington
- WE
- WS
-
Forlorn Hope Nacre Semillon 2010Semillon from Napa Valley, California
-
Brokenwood Hunter Valley Semillon 2010Semillon from Hunter Valley, New South Wales, Australia
- W&S
-
Tyrrell's HVD Semillon 2010Semillon from Hunter Valley, New South Wales, Australia
- WE
-
Fincas Don Martino Old Vine Semillon 2010Semillon from Argentina
-
Chateau Fonchereau Entre-deux-Mers Blanc 2010Semillon from Entre-Deux-Mers, Bordeaux, France
-
Saxon Brown Cricket Creek Vineyards Semillon 2010Semillon from Alexander Valley, Sonoma County, California
-
Peter Lehmann Barossa Semillon 2010Semillon from Barossa Valley, Barossa, South Australia, Australia
-
Tyrrell's Vat 1 Semillon 2010Semillon from Hunter Valley, New South Wales, Australia
-
Tim Adams Clare Valley Semillon 2010Semillon from Clare Valley, South Australia, Australia
-
Tower Estate Semillon 2010Semillon from Hunter Valley, New South Wales, Australia
-
Peter Lehmann Semillon 2010Semillon from Barossa Valley, Barossa, South Australia, Australia
-
Vermeil Wines Luvisi Vineyard Dry Semillon 2010Semillon from Calistoga, Napa Valley, California
-
Waterbrook Late Harvest Semillon 2010Semillon from Walla Walla Valley, Columbia Valley, Washington
-
Chalk Hill Estate Vineyard Selection Botrytised Semillon 2010Semillon from Chalk Hill, Sonoma County, California
-
Amavi Semillon 2010Semillon from Walla Walla Valley, Columbia Valley, Washington
-
Vignobles M&J Perromat Chateau d'Armajan des Ormes 2010Semillon from Sauternes, Bordeaux, France
-
Margan Family Botrytis Semillon 2010Semillon from Hunter Valley, New South Wales, Australia
-
Brokenwood ILR Reserve Semillon 2010Semillon from Hunter Valley, New South Wales, Australia
-
Yorkville Cellars Semillon 2010Semillon from Yorkville Highlands, Mendocino, California
-
Margan Family Semillon 2010Semillon from Hunter Valley, New South Wales, Australia
-
Bethany Wines Semillon 2010Semillon from Barossa, South Australia, Australia
-
Barambah Wines Rack Dried Semillon 2010Semillon from Australia
-
Foley Johnson Handmade Botrytised Semillon 2010Semillon from Chalk Hill, Sonoma County, California