Semillon (semi’ʎuŋ) is a grape variety used to produce white wines. The grape has a golden thin skin that is prone to botrytis, a type of fungus that causes the fruit to rot. Winemakers considered this fungal fruit disease as a noble rot because it helps sweeten or adds flavour to the wine.
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What is Semillon?
Semillon (semi’ʎuŋ) is a grape variety used to produce white wines. The grape has a thin golden skin prone to botrytis, a fungus that causes the fruit to rot. Winemakers considered this fungal fruit disease a noble rot because it helps sweeten or adds flavour to the wine.
The ideal climate in which Semillon should be grown is warm sunny days with cool nights. When the weather is warm, the grape slightly changes its colour to pink. The fruit is heavy, with an oily texture but has low acidity.
History
The Hunter Valley in New South Wales is Australia’s premier and oldest wine region. It has been growing and producing wines since the early 1820s. The area has developed a reputation for its excellent class wines and has become almost synonymous with Valley Semillon.
Give your Hunter Valley tours a distinct taste and twist with the region’s iconic wine variety.
The ideal climate in which Semillon should be grown is warm sunny days with cool nights. When the weather is warm, the grape slightly changes its colour to pink. The fruit is heavy, with an oily texture but has low acidity.
The grape variety is native to France’s Bordeaux region. But early in the 19th century, Hunter Semillon arrived in the volcanic soils of Australia, notably in the Hunter Valley. Since then, it has found a new home where it is widely grown in the region, acquiring an iconic status.
For a long time, Australia’s Semillon was mistakenly labelled “Hunter River Riesling,” but thanks to the realisation, it was not so and regained its lost name.
Valley Semillon
The Australian wine region produces many distinct Semillon types, making your Hunter Valley tours sensationally unique. Some would blend Semillon with Muscadelle, Sauvignon Blanc or Chardonnay, and others make a sweeter style complex wine mimicking the Sauternes. Some do creative ways to make a complex flavourful type that lasts longer, and a few produce a uniquely high-quality dry-style Semillon bottled for ageing.
A full-bodied blanc white wine with a yellowish hue, having honey and citrus characters and soft natural acidity, Hunter Valley Semillon exhibits a complex natural fruity and grassy flavour that includes herbs, citrus (grapefruit, lime, & lemon), mango, pear, peach, papaya, and green apple. Its aroma is also complex – herb, flower, spice, hay, ginger, honey, earth, and lanolin.
Original country of birth
Semillon is best served chilled at between 8 to 11 degrees C – the best pair to spicy seafood dishes, chicken, foie gras, salads, and cheese.
The original home of Semillon is France and its second home in Australia. Sauvignon Blanc Semillon is also grown in South Africa, Argentina, Chile, and the United States.
Hunter Valley is famous in Australia for growing Semillon vines that produce high-quality wines. But other regions also grow Semillon, including Barossa Valley, Western Australia, Riverina, Mudgee, and Clare Valley.
Wildlife Tours Australia has designed some Sydney tour packages, including a Hunter Valley trip. Check out our entertaining and informative 1-day Hunter Valley Wine, Vodka, and Chocolate Tour, which lets you taste and slurp around Australia’s oldest wine region.
This Hunter Valley tour includes a visit to two wineries known for the quality of the product and excellent customer satisfaction, sampling some vodka at an organic distillery, chocolate and fudge tasting at a chocolate, and spending the good times with ales at a local brewery.
Explore the region’s food and wine culture, and don’t miss its iconic popular wine styles variety.