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    Sémillon

    Vitis vinifera L.

    The white grape of Bordeaux and of the noble-rot wines of Sauternes.

    VIVC
    № 114801
    Berry skin
    white (blanc)1
    Origin
    France1
    Synonyms in VIVC
    591
    central lobepetiolar sinuslobes: 5cluster

    No parents confirmed by DNA (VIVC).

    vinoluma engraving: schematic leaf after the description (5 lobes).

    Where Sémillon comes from and grows

    1. Origin (VIVC)France
    2. Atlas regionBordeaux
    3. Atlas regionBarossa Valley

    Country of origin as given by VIVC. Regions are those where the atlas sources mention the variety; not a complete list of where it grows.

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    From Bordeaux

    Sémillon originates in the Bordeaux vineyard.2 VIVC records 59 synonyms and no parents confirmed by markers.1 Its adult leaves have five lobes.2

    French plantings fell from 35,993 hectares in 1958 to 10,537 hectares in 2016.2 Outside France the OIV counted 5,000 hectares in Australia.3

    Sauternes

    Sémillon is sensitive to grey rot.2 In Sauternes, in Bordeaux, it is one of four permitted varieties with Sauvignon, Sauvignon Gris and Muscadelle.4 The rules require overripe grapes with noble rot, picked by hand in successive passes through the vineyard.4

    Other names

    Examples of synonyms recorded in VIVC: Blanc Doux, Boal, Chevrier, Barnawartha Pinot, Blanc Semillon.1

    Around the world

    In 2023 it covered 16,987 hectares of bearing vineyards worldwide, ranking 46 of 1497 varieties in the database.5

    The largest area is in France: 10,303 ha (61% of the world total), across 22 countries.5

    Between 2000 and 2023 its area shrank by 35%.5

    1. France10,303 ha
    2. Australia3,788 ha
    3. South Africa917 ha
    4. Chile620 ha
    5. Argentina578 ha
    6. Türkiye529 ha
    7. Portugal76 ha
    8. Cyprus41 ha
    9. New Zealand27 ha
    10. Canada25 ha
    11. Hungary21 ha
    12. Spain18 ha

    Area, 2023

    26,20221,92918,73516,9872000201020162023

    Regions

    Sources

    1. VIVC passport no. 11480. Vitis International Variety Catalogue (JKI), accessed 2026-10-14. level 2 · checked 2026-10-13
    2. Semillon B. plantGrape (IFV / INRAE / Institut Agro), accessed 2026-10-14. level 2 · checked 2026-10-13
    3. Focus OIV 2017: Distribution of the world's grapevine varieties. OIV, 2017. level 2 · checked 2026-10-13
    4. Cahier des charges de l'AOP « Sauternes » (modification adopted by the CNAOV, 27 Nov 2025). INAO, 2025. level 1 · checked 2026-10-13
    5. Database of Regional, National and Global Winegrape Bearing Areas by Variety, 2000 to 2023. Anderson K., Nelgen S., Puga G. Wine Economics Research Centre, University of Adelaide (CC BY 4.0), 2026. level 3 · checked 2026-10-13