Episode 180: Grape Gab – Sémillon in September
It’s time for our monthly Grape Gab! We’re sliding into September with Sémillon, its styles, and all those things that makes it special. Is it an unsung hero(ine?) of the wine world? We think so, and we’re happy to tell you why. We also pick a winner of our monthly giveaway.
In the Glasses (0:45)
Steph: Semillon’s favorite blending partner, Sauvignon Blanc! 2016 Buena Vista Stone Caves, Soda Bay Vineyard, Sauvignon Blanc, Lake County, CA.
Val: 2015 College Cellars Semillon, Clarke Vineyard, Walla Walla Valley, WA.
Let’s Get on With the Sémillon! (4:15)
Listeners wanted to hear more about Sémillon, and Val really just wanted to talk about mold.
A little background: we conducted some polls over the summer and listeners voted overwhelmingly in favor of the Sémillon session. So thank you for engaging and here we go.
May this add to your future #W25Challenges and enjoyment of varying styles of wine!
What it is
Sémillon is a relative to the more well-known and hip Sauvignon Blanc, but it’s an important grape when it comes to the world famous sweet wines of Sauternes, and the long-aging dry wines of the Hunter Valley down under.
It is a white grape, although some descriptions say golden or copper-berries. The berries are thin skinned, early-mid ripening and susceptible to mold/rot.
The vine is productive/vigorous with deep green leaves and prefers gravel and clay-limestone, well-drained soils.
Its home is in France, but its parents are unconfirmed.
Sneaking in a funky factoid (6:50)
First, the rot
- Botrytis cinerea is known as grey rot, bunch rot, and, under desirable conditions, noble rot (botrytis for short)
- Other names: edelfaule, pourriture noble, muffa nobile, aszu
- Mostly benefits white grapes, particularly Semillon, but also Chenin Blanc, Riesling, Furmint, Gewurztraminer
Specific conditions necessary for botrytis
- Misty, cool mornings and warm, sunny afternoons
- Normally near bodies of water
- Allows fog to settle in, but sun burns off fog before the rot can turn, well, less noble and more just plain old rot
Grapes and winemaking are affected by botrytis thusly:
- Pokes holes in skins, desiccates the grapes, concentrates flavors and adds complexity
- Several passes through the vineyard are required
- Berries selected individually
- Several presses for best, concentrated juice
- Slow, difficult fermentation
Bottom line: Noble rot or botrytis does directly affect the style, quality, and price of wine!
You can call me Sémillon or … (11:30)
France has a few different names for it – Sémillon Muscat, Sémillon Roux, Chevrier, Malaga, Colombier, and Blanc Doux.
And in South Africa, the synonyms are Wyndruif (meaning wine grape), Green Grape, and Groendruif.
In Australia, you’ll see it as Hunter Valley Riesling, and it is also called Barnawartha Pinot.
Oh, and before you @ us for Semillon not always including the accent aigu (the little slant over the e in Sémillon) there are other spellings such as Semilon and Semillon.
This grape may have originated in France, but the spelling has evolved along with the expansion of growing regions around the world.
Where in the world? (12:25)
As we mentioned the major countries producing Semillon are France, Australia and South Africa where it was once a dominant grape in the Cape in the early 1800s (not so much now).
However, it should be noted that the Red Semillon (Sémillon Rose) is a mutation that was once known only to South Africa, but there is a Red Sémillon producer in the Adelaide Hills of Australia.
And now we must get our hands on it. Because #W25Challenge.
While grown in California in the US, it’s Washington state that is known more for wines from the grape. One of the favorite wines Val tried in Walla Walla was from L’Ecole 41.
It is also grown in South America, California, New Zealand, Israel, Lebanon and Romania.
In the glass (15:25)
- Ages extremely well. Best between 5 to 10 years.
- Sweet wines – Sauternes. Marzipan, apricots, mangoes,
honey, pineapple, peach, silky, rich, unctuous - Dry Bordeaux Whites – Usually blended with Sauvignon Blanc for subtle, elegant wines with complex nuttiness. Can add creaminess and nectarine flavors to Sauvignon Blanc when not dominated by new oak
- Unoaked Hunter Valley – honey, toast
- Oaked Australian – rich fruit flavors of greengages, apricots, mangoes, custard vanilla.
Resources:
Robinson, J., Harding, J., & Vouillamoz, J. (2012). Wine grapes: A complete guide to 1,368 vine varieties, including their origins and flavours [Kindle Edition]. New York: Ecco.
Val’s various WSET diploma notes, compiled with some of her online classmates – who knew they’d be so useful?!
Wino Radar (20:44)
- You can find us on the My Wine Society App. There are also channels on travel, wellness, events, wineries and more.
- International Podcast Day is Sept 30th – Show Your favorite podcast schwaaaag!
Speaking of schwag (swag, we know), this is Val’s favorite new hat. This month’s Patreon giveaway winner will be hooked up with similar goodness from our generous sponsor, WTSO and Weekly Tasting.
Weekly Tasting from WTSO is our Podcast Sponsor! (21:50)
Weekly Tasting offers hand-selected wines from industry experts. No clubs. No hassle. But cool videos, recipe cards, and wine notes!
Check them out and follow them on Instagram, FaceBook and Twitter and see what’s new and good!
Meanwhile, our listeners have their very own listener page at: weeklytasting.com/W25 to sign up and get started! Or just go to our web page and click on the link to get started!
Big Patreon Love (22:37)
Thank you to our patrons who support us on our Patreon crowdfunding platform!
*We do read all the names on the show, and feature the list on our Support page.*
However, new patrons will be welcomed here as they join the Patreon Pack. Sharon is our newest Tenacious Taster, and we’ll be giving her a shoutout in next week’s episode (as this was previously recorded), as well as a special feature.
But wait … this happened
And we have to give a shoutout to Jen in Maryland, who got to taste wine with none other than Robert Parker! And what?
Our Patreon page has details www.patreon.com/winetwofivepodcast on how to be entered into our monthly giveaway, receive exclusive content and swag. Speaking of …
This month’s winner is …
Carole in Kentucky! Congratulations good stuff from WTSO and Weekly Tasting is coming your way!
Connect (26:58)
Between each weekly chat you can find us on the social spaces @WineTwoFive, and play in our private FaceBook group called Wine Two Five Community!
Connect with Val on Twitter @WineGalUnboxed and everywhere else as @VinoWithVal.
Steph is in all the social spaces as @TheWineHeroine.