Sémillon

[ sey-mee-yohn; French sey-mee-yawn ]

noun

1. a variety of white grape used in winemaking, especially in France in the Sauternes district of Bordeaux.

Sémillon

/ semijɔ̃; ˈseɪmiːjɒn /

noun

1. a white grape grown in the Bordeaux area of France and in Australia, used for making wine
2. any of various white wines made from this grape

Word History and Origins

Origin of Sémillon¹

1870–75; < French, earlier sémilion < Gascon semilhoun, equivalent to Old Provençal semilh ( ar ) to sow, derivative of seme seed (< Latin sēmen; semen ) + Gascon, Provençal -oun agentive suffix (apparently alluding to the variety's high productivity)

Word History and Origins

Origin of Sémillon¹

French

Example Sentences

Semillon from Hunter Valley can be searingly austere in its youth.

From Washington Post

A 36-year-old immigrant from Guadalajara, Mexico, Ulloa specializes in creating small batches of white wines, such as albariño, grüner veltliner, verdejo, sémillon and pinot blanc.

From Los Angeles Times

L’Ecole bar, which can seat 58 indoor and outdoor, offers eight to 10 wines by the glass including its popular semillon and merlot.

From Seattle Times

The Barnard Griffin tasting room will offer 19 wines by the glass including its barbera, petit verdot and whites like albarino and semillon.

From Seattle Times

Two Bad Labs Vineyard 2021 sèmillon, Lewis-Clark Valley, $20: Don’t let the homespun label fool you.

From Seattle Times