Sémillon

American  

[sey-mee-yohn, sey-mee-yawn] / ˌseɪ miˈyõʊ̃, seɪ miˈyɔ̃ /

noun

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

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Sémillon British  

/ 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

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Etymology

Origin of Sémillon

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)

Example Sentences

Sémillon makes wonderful wines, but you don’t see them often.

From New York Times • Jul. 10, 2020

The plot was weedy and wild, the Sémillon grapes we’d be harvesting sharing space with prickly blackberry bushes and tarweed.

From The New Yorker • Nov. 18, 2019

If you can tell Sauvignon blanc from Sémillon, you might feel that you ‘know’ wine.

From Nature • May 29, 2018

Sémillon Bakery & Café opens in the former home of Inés Patisserie on Capitol Hill, with Croque Monsieurs, crepes and French pastries, as well as wine and espresso drinks, a larger menu than Inés’.

From Seattle Times • Jan. 4, 2018