Ep 431: The Grape Mini-Series -- Sémillon

<p>Sémillon used to be the most planted white grape in the world. From its native home in France to Australia, Chile, South Africa, Argentina, and beyond, it was planted <em>en masse</em> to pump out large quantities of flavorless bulk white wine. The problem was that Sémillon doesn’t cooperate when it’s forced to high yields. It loses acidity and it lacks flavor unlike some other grapes that can still muster some umph when over-cropped (Chenin blanc, Sauvignon blanc, Colombard, to name three).  For this reason, plantings were replaced and the grape became unpopular.</p> <p><a href="http://www.bordeaux.com" target="_blank" rel= "noopener"><img style= "display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src= "https://assets.libsyn.com/secure/show/45638/Semillon-10.jpeg" alt= "" width="200" height="253" /></a></p> <p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.bordeaux.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span style="font-size: 8pt;">Photo: Sémillon, Bordeaux.com </span></a></p> <p>Today it is grown in limited quantities but two distinct areas– <a href= "https://winefornormalpeople.libsyn.com/ep-369-the-greats-sauternes-and-barsac"> Sauternes/Barsac</a> and Pessac-Leognan in Bordeaux and the Hunter Valley of Australia --  create wines that are incredibly specific and unique. Demand and fascination with these iconic wines means that cultivation of this grape is not doomed!</p> <p> </p> <p>Here are the show notes:</p> <p><strong>The origins of the grape</strong></p> <ul> <li>Although we don’t know the parentage, we do know the grape is from southwestern France. It is likely from Bordeaux</li> <li>Until the 1700s, producers were only using the grape in Sauternes (at this point it was already a sweet wine, as records from 1717-1736 at the local abbey show)</li> <li>Later, it was found in St-Emilion, from which it derives its name. The name most likely comes from Selejun – the local pronunciation of Saint-Emilion</li> </ul> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p><strong>Sémillon in the vineyard</strong></p> <ul> <li>A thick-skinn