07/15/08 Semillon

Welcome to Vine to Wine this is your host Linda Moran and on today's program we will discuss a grape that although often blended with Sauvignon Blanc makes some of the most sought after sweet wines in the world. It is the grape Semillon. The Semillon grape is heavy, with low acids and a somewhat oily viscosity. They say it can be grown easily and is high-yielding when the vines are young, although in Bordeaux, the vines are older and while the yield is low the grapes on the vine have more intense flavor. Semillon can in fact produce a dry wine of high quality. The great dry white wines of Bordeaux are made with up to 100% Semillon, although Sauvignon Blanc is often a blending partner. In Australia it is sometimes blended with Chardonnay. For awhile this blend was tremendously popular. Semillon is the essential white grape of Bordeaux, a golden-berry, producing some of the longest-lasting white wines ever made. It's the pride and joy of areas like Sauternes and Barsac for its ability to incur botrytis, or noble rot, which in turn produces rich, golden, sweet nectar wines that are truly an indulgence. And dramatically different from dry wines made from the same grape without the fungus. Domestically there are some very pleasant lighter styles of Semillon being produced in the state of Washington and every so often if you remain aware you might come across a late harvest or even a botrytis affected Semillon, all of which are the sweeter style of Semillon. Remember to send your wine questions to Linda to vine to wine dot net and thank you for joining me on today's Vine to Wine.