Semillon Wine Guide
Explore Semillon, the golden grape of Bordeaux and Hunter Valley. Learn about its remarkable aging ability, Sauternes dessert wines, and food pairings.
Characteristics
- Medium body with moderate acidity
- Flavors of lemon, fig, lanolin, and beeswax
- Thin skin susceptible to noble rot (botrytis)
- Exceptional aging potential in both dry and sweet styles
Key Regions
Food Pairings
- Roasted chicken and turkey
- Seared scallops and crab
- Rich fish with butter sauces
- Foie gras (with Sauternes)
Serving Temperature
50-55°F (10-13°C)
The Quiet Achiever
Semillon rarely makes headlines, yet it produces some of the longest-lived white wines in the world. In Bordeaux, it forms the backbone of both dry whites and the legendary sweet wines of Sauternes. In Australia’s Hunter Valley, unoaked Semillon is one of the most age-worthy dry whites on earth — transforming from lean and austere in youth to rich and toasty over decades.
Tasting Semillon
Classic Flavors
- Fruit: Lemon, fig, green apple, melon
- Secondary: Lanolin, beeswax, herbs
- With age: Toast, honey, marmalade, hazelnut
On the Palate
Medium-bodied with moderate acidity when young. The grape’s naturally thin skin and waxy texture give the wine a distinctive lanolin quality. With age, it develops extraordinary richness without ever becoming heavy.
World Regions
Bordeaux, France
Dry white Bordeaux often blends Semillon with Sauvignon Blanc for added freshness. In Sauternes and Barsac, botrytis-affected Semillon produces some of the world’s greatest dessert wines, with Chateau d’Yquem as the benchmark.
Hunter Valley, Australia
Picked early and bottled unoaked at low alcohol (10-11%), Hunter Valley Semillon is austere in youth but develops remarkable toast, honey, and lemon curd complexity after 10-20 years in bottle.
Food Pairings
Semillon’s weight and waxy texture make it ideal with:
- Roasted chicken and turkey
- Seared scallops and crab
- Rich fish dishes with butter sauces
- Foie gras (with Sauternes)
Aging Potential
Few white grapes age as gracefully as Semillon. Top Hunter Valley examples can improve for 20 or more years, while Sauternes routinely lasts for decades, developing honeyed complexity with each passing year.
Learn More with Sommo
Semillon is one of wine’s best-kept secrets — scan a bottle with Sommo to learn whether it’s a crisp Hunter Valley dry style or a golden Sauternes dessert wine before you commit.
