The Semillon grape is white wine grape native to the Bordeaux wine region of France and used to create both dry and sweet wines through both France and Australia, as well as some other select regions of the world. It was once one of the most widely planted grapes throughout the world, including South Africa and South America, but recently it has seen a very select cultivation.

Among our popular white wine varieties you will find all of the classic favourites from Italian style Pinot Grigio and French pinot gris, through to stunning examples of fine Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Riesling from both here at home as well as the vineyards around the world. White blend wines featuring Semillon are particularly popular with varieties including Semillon Viognier, Semillon Riesling Chardonnay, Semillon Chenin Blanc Sauvignon Blanc, as well as a range of other blends like our collection of Chardonnay Pinot Noir, and Chardonnay Sauvignon Blanc. Our dessert wine temptations include fortified wines and Sherry as well as a range of sweet Moscato.

Sparkling white wines have been loved and treasured for centuries and continue to evolve and develop into more and more exciting tasting options with each passing year and each new technological viticultural leap pairing gently with ancient wisdom and winemaking craft. Our selection includes Italian Prosecco, Australian Sparkling Pinot Noir, Sparkling Sauvignon Blanc, Sparkling Riesling, Sparkling Chardonnay Pinot Noir,  Sparkling Chardonnay, as well as growing selection of sparkling red wine varieties including Sparkling Shiraz, Sparkling Shiraz Cabernet, and Sparkling Merlot and Sparkling Rose Wines. 

For more classic red wine varieties, peruse our collections of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Tempranillo, Sangiovese, Grenache, Cabernet Merlot, Shiraz, Pinot Noir and Rose wine. Marrying ancient winemaking regions with new and exciting temperate zones, we have curate a collection of options that span the entire tasting profile of this versatile and much loved wine variety. As more and more of our producers choose daring and passionate paths to developing the best bottle they can, there are more and more wine options to choose from including a growing selection of Red Blend including Shiraz Blends like Cabernet Malbec Shiraz, Cabernet Shiraz, Liqueur Shiraz, Shiraz Grenache Mourvedre and Shiraz Grenache Viognier. More blends are discovered every day while ancient blends are crafted with care including Tempranillo Garnacha Blend, Merlot Malbec Cabernet, as well as more Merlot blends. 

The history of the Semillon grape begins with France where it was native species. It was naturally immune to a lot of vine diseases which made it very easy to grow and this may have contributed to how widespread it once was. Traditionally, it’s also a very high yielding grape variety consistently producing six to eight tons of grape per acre. Today, however, it is more selectively grown and is known to ripen early in warmer climates where it flourishes in the Hunter Valley in Australia.

Is Semillon dry or sweet?

Australian wine drinkers will most likely attribute the Semillon variety to very sweet wines, but it is capable of delivering an incredibly crisp wine. In order for the Semillon grape to produce sweet wine, it must first succumb to a disease known as botrytis or rot. For a particularly sweet style of Semillon, the vintner will go through their harvest of Semillon and deliberately choose only the rot affected grapes knowing that the syrupy grape juice is perfect for a truly sweet and refreshing type.

If the yield is not affected, however, the Semillon has the ability to develop Riesling like qualities. Because of this the Semillon is not only an excellent blending grape, but when cultivated and produced as a single varietal, it’s capable of significantly aged whites that appear complex and multi-toned. Young Semillon without the botrytis that gives it its unique sweetness is often considered a bit bland. A ten year old Semillon, however, has had time to develop a depth and richness of character that is often considered to contain hazelnut tones and a very long finish on the palate. 

What is a Semillon Sauvignon Blanc?

Not only is it capable of standing very firmly on its own, the Semillon is often blended in white wines to develop depth and complexity. In the Margaret River region of southern Western Australia, the Sem Sauv Blac blend has received particular attention. The new wines coming out of this region are generally accompanied by tasting notes that describe tropical fruits married with gooseberry aromas and the illusive notes of nutty mushroom and oak. Traditionally, Semillon blends from Australia have been largely uninteresting and very young, but recent vintages have evoked a lot of domestic and international attention. They are considered textually interesting and very well balanced, inviting the dry acidity of the traditional Semillon grape to mingle with more complex succulence, possibly offered by the Sauvignon Blanc grape. Once blended with the Sauvignon Blanc grape, also well established and well cultivated within Australia, this wine type takes on an entirely new life.

Even the younger blends, however, have begun to command attention on their own. The Margaret River region Semillon blended with Sauvignon blanc have been described as young but eminently drinkable and on par with Bordeaux traditional blends. The Barossa Valley, which couldn’t be more different to the warmer Hunter Valley region, is now becoming increasingly more well known for developing a dryer style than those found in Northern New South Wales. They have tried the Hunter Valley approach of picking their grapes earlier in the season and aging their wines in light oak to align more closely to the market. These changes have helped to develop are more strident and independent character that is exciting to watch emerge as more and more winemakers begin experimenting with their approaches. Hopefully the Barossa Valley will develop into a more forward thinking Semillon region, embracing the different growing styles, typography and changing geography to develop even more complex Semillon varietals and blended styles.

Semillon works particularly well when the wine is paired with seafood or Asian cuisine. It’s a versatile variety so you will need to know when it was harvested and under what conditions to successfully pair your wine with your meal. If you know that it’s a sweet variety then you will want to pair with soft cheeses like a Brie or Camembert. Goats cheese also works well as the sweetness of the wine often balances the savoury of your foods. Don’t go any further than a smokes Gouda, however, as anything stronger is likely to unbalance the flavours. 

All of our wines are personally tasted by our wine experts who make their personal notes available for viewing online when you purchase your Semillon, or any of other our wine varieties. If you’re not sure whether this variety is for you, then engage our wine experts for premium advice. We will happily curate a tailored selection based on your preferences and deliver a truly fantastic tasting odyssey designed on what you like to drink. Feel free to explore the broad selection of wines available and develop your own, bespoke tasting odyssey based on what you like to drink and what flavours best complement what you like to cook. We are always looking for the new and the best available across the world and Australia. Order online for fast and convenient delivery across Australia.