South American Wine Guide, Independent Guide to the Best Wines in South America for Visitors to Peru

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South American Wines

An Introduction to the Wines of South America for Visitors to Peru

White Wine Varieties: SEMILLON

Other White Wine Varieties: Chardonnay / Sauvignon Blanc / Chenin Blanc / Semillon / Viognier / Torrontés / Riesling /

SÉMILLON (White)
On its own or in a blend, this white can age. With Sauvignon Blanc, its traditional partner, this is the foundation of Sauternes and most of the great dry whites found in Graves and Pessac-LÉognan; these are rich, honeyed wines,. SÉmillon is one of the grapes susceptible to Botrytis cinerea. Australia's Hunter Valley uses it solo to make a full-bodied white that used to be known as Hunger Riesling, Chablis or White Burgundy. In South Africa it used to be so prevalent that it was just called "wine grape," but it has declined drastically in importance there.

In the United States, SÉmillon enjoys modest success as a varietal wine in California and Washington, but it continues to lose ground in acreage in California. It can make a wonderful late-harvest wine, and those wineries that focus on it can make well balanced wines with complex fig, pear, tobacco and honey notes. When blended into Sauvignon Blanc, it adds body, flavor and texture. When Sauvignon Blanc is added to SÉmillon, the latter gains grassy herbal notes.

It can also be found blended with Chardonnay, more to fill out the volume of wine than to add anything to the package.

Semillon: This thin-skinned grape ripens early, and is used mostly in Bordeaux, France. It has a grassy, "figgy" flavor. It is also grown in Australia and California, and is often blended with Sauvignon Blanc.

South American Wines - An Independent Guide to the some of the Best Wines from Peru, Argentina & Chile.