Semillon - wine grape variety

Semillon is the major white variety of the Bordeaux area of France, and ranks third in France as a whole with 17 500 ha. A little is planted in Italy and Yugoslavia and perhaps more in the Soviet Union. California has about 840 ha but the main plantings outside France are in the Southern Hemisphere. Semillon is the leading white variety in Chile with about 35 000 ha. There are about 2500 ha in Argentina and 1000 ha in South Africa where it is known as Greengrape. In Australia there are nearly 3000 ha, about three-quarters in New South Wales and most of the rest in South Australia. It proved to be well suited to the Hunter Valley and became known as Hunter River Riesling.

There has been much confusion between Semillon and several other varieties in Australia. The variety known as Hunter River Riesling in Western Australia was found to be Chenin Blanc. In South Australia several hundred hectares of Crouchen were planted erroneously as Semillon and another small planting thought to be Semillon was Riesling while a true Semillon was present under the name of Madeira and as one small planting called Sercial. 'Bar-nawartha Pinot' of north east Victoria is also Semillon.

Semillon is a fairly vigorous variety with clones varying from spreading to rather more upright growth. It has a characteristic rough, undulating, 3- to 5-lobed leaf with a few tufted hairs on the lower surface. Bunches are medium, conical, and well filled to compact. Berries are rather small, round to short oval, and juicy, with only fair resistance to rain damage. Only the white-fruited form of Semillon is known in France, but in both Australia and South Africa red-fruited forms have been found.

In France, Semillon is often affected by noble rot which concentrates the berry constituents and modifies the flavour. Such grapes are used in the luscious, sweet wines of Sauternes and Barsac, while unaffected grapes are used for dry wines. In both cases the Semillon is fermented together with a smaller quantity of Sauvignon Blanc and often a little Muscadelle to add further desirable flavour components. In Australia, Semillon is used for dry white wines which, particularly when yields are not too great, have a distinctive varietal character which lends itself to aging.