Sémillon

Best known for its importance to the blend of the sweet wines of Sauternes, Sémillon brings a certain breadth and complexity alongside Sauvignon Blanc’s acidity and Muscadelle’s aromatics, performing the same role in the dry whites of Bordeaux. Whilst no longer popular away from here, in South Africa some dynamic producers are using it in fascinating field blends, capitalising on its rich history on the Cape: in the 1820s some 90% of South Africa’s vineyards were Sémillon.