Top pairings | The best food matches for Semillon and Semillon-Sauvignon blends

Pairings | Spring vegetables

The best food matches for Semillon and Semillon-Sauvignon blends

One of the world’s most underrated grapes yet capable of making some of its most delicious dry whites, Sémillon isn’t on the radar for many. So if you get hold of a bottle what should you pair with it?

Although there’s a marked difference between young unoaked Sémillon and those blended with its habitual stablemate Sauvignon Blanc it helps get a fix on it to regard it as similar to but less pungent than Sauvignon. Without that marked green, grassy edge that can make it too much of a good thing with foods that have herbaceous note of their own such as asparagus, peas and mangetout.

If I had to sum up the ideal match in a few words think shellfish, fish and spring vegetables. Here are a few more specific suggestions:

Hunter Valley Semillon and other lighter styles

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Comments: 4 (Add)

m cwas on July 5 2016 at 06:15

Livermore CA has both Sav blanc and Semillon and a blend of both from the Steven Kent Winery. Lots of citrus / grapefruit on the blend. Semillon has a nice mouth-feel and acid/fruit. First vintage for Semillon is 2015, only 91 cases. Very nice.

Fiona Beckett on November 1 2014 at 14:55

Hi Malcolm. There are a couple of suggestions down at the bottom of the post. Scallops are also a great match

Malcolm Jarvis on November 1 2014 at 14:25

Ms. Beckett,

I love your blog and found this one on Semillon plus Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc very interesting but I would appreciate some words of wisdom from you on the Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon blend from Graves. One of my favorite wines that can be aged for a very long time.

Thank you,
Malcolm

megan on September 26 2014 at 21:39

I sure hope you can help me out I really need to cook this fish today I have Cabernet Sauvignon fresh garlic good buttergreen onions artichoke hearts can you help me out that would be wonderful I'm new to cooking with wine obviously hope to hear from you soon thank you so much

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