White grape variety

Sémillon

Also called Semillon, Hunter River Riesling, Groendruif

Sémillon is a white grape from Bordeaux, France, known for sweet Sauternes and Barsac and for long-lived dry Hunter Valley Semillon in Australia. Its thin skin makes it highly susceptible to noble rot. In the 1820s it covered over 90% of South Africa's vineyards.

Color	White (green-skinned)
Origin	Bordeaux, France
Body	Medium to full
Acidity	Low to medium
Typical aromas	lemon, lime, green apple, beeswax, honey, toast, apricot (sweet styles)
Key regions	Bordeaux (France), South West France (France), Hunter Valley (Australia), Margaret River (Australia), Western Cape (South Africa), Chile

Origin and history

Sémillon is native to Bordeaux. Its thin skin makes it very prone to Botrytis cinerea, the noble rot that dries the berries and concentrates sugar and flavour, which is why it became the backbone of Bordeaux's sweet wines. The grape was once far more widespread than today. By the 1820s it covered more than 90% of the vineyards of South Africa, where it was called Groendruif, but it now accounts for only about 1% of Cape vines. In Chile in the 1950s more than 75% of vineyards were Sémillon. In Australia's Hunter Valley it was long sold as Hunter River Riesling.

Where it grows

Sauternes and Barsac are its most famous home: Sémillon dominates the blend at châteaux such as Château d'Yquem, Château Climens, Château Suduiraut and Château Rieussec, blended with Sauvignon Blanc and a little Muscadelle. It also appears in dry whites from Pessac-Léognan and Entre-Deux-Mers, and in sweet Monbazillac in South West France. In Australia the Hunter Valley makes a unique varietal style, and Margaret River blends it with Sauvignon Blanc. In South Africa it is grown in Franschhoek.

Taste, wine styles and food

Sémillon is a fairly low-acid, waxy grape with lemon, lime and green apple flavours when young. In Sauternes, noble rot turns it into a rich sweet wine with apricot, honey and marmalade notes that can age for decades. Hunter Valley Semillon is the opposite: picked early and unoaked, it tastes lean and citrusy at release but develops toast, honey and a golden colour after years in bottle. Dry Bordeaux blends with Sauvignon Blanc are often barrel fermented. Young dry styles suit shellfish and grilled fish; Sauternes is classically served with foie gras, blue cheese such as Roquefort, or fruit desserts.

Test yourself: the Sémillon quiz

Wines made with Sémillon (33)

WineGuessr lists 33 wines made with Sémillon, from 3 countries. Most come from France (30).

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Sémillon: questions and answers

What grapes are in Sauternes?

Sauternes is mainly Sémillon, blended with Sauvignon Blanc and sometimes a little Muscadelle. Noble rot concentrates the grapes' sugar.

Is Semillon the same as Sémillon?

Yes. Semillon without the accent is the usual spelling in Australia and other English-speaking countries.

Is Semillon sweet or dry?

Both. It makes sweet Sauternes and Barsac, but also dry wines such as Hunter Valley Semillon and white Bordeaux blends.

Why does Hunter Valley Semillon age so well?

It is picked early for a lean, citrusy style, and with bottle age it develops toast and honey flavours without oak.

Other white grapes

All grape varieties →

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Last reviewed October 2026.