Semillon B
Name of the variety in France

Semillon
Origin

This variety is originally from the Bordeaux vineyards.
Synonyms

There is no officially recognized synonym in France nor in the other countries of the European Union, for this variety.
Legal information

In France, Semillon is officially listed in the "Catalogue of vine varieties" on the A list and classified. This variety is also listed in the catalogues of other Member States of the European Union: Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Hungary, Greece, Italy, Portugal and Spain.
Use

Wine and spirits grape variety.
Evolution of cultivated areas in France

1958 | 1968 | 1979 | 1988 | 1998 | 2008 | 2018 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ha | 35993 | 34129 | 23340 | 17573 | 14969 | 12535 | 10287 |
Descriptive elements

The identification is based on:
- the tip of the young shoot with a high density of prostrate hairs,
- the green young leaves with bronze spots,
- the light to medium green adult leaves, with five lobes, an open or slightly open petiole sinus, short teeth compared to their width at the base with straight or convex sides, a weak or very weak coloration of veins, a slightly twisted leaf blade, very regularly blistered, and on the lower side of the leaves, a low density of prostrate hairs,
- the round-shaped berries.
- the tip of the young shoot with a high density of prostrate hairs,
- the green young leaves with bronze spots,
- the light to medium green adult leaves, with five lobes, an open or slightly open petiole sinus, short teeth compared to their width at the base with straight or convex sides, a weak or very weak coloration of veins, a slightly twisted leaf blade, very regularly blistered, and on the lower side of the leaves, a low density of prostrate hairs,
- the round-shaped berries.
Genetic profile

Microsatellite | VVS2 | VVMD5 | VVMD7 | VVMD27 | VRZAG62 | VRZAG79 | VVMD25 | VVMD28 | VVMD32 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Allel 1 | 131 | 234 | 239 | 172 | 188 | 248 | 240 | 233 | 239 |
Allel 2 | 131 | 236 | 257 | 182 | 194 | 252 | 248 | 243 | 271 |
Phenology

Bud burst: 5 days after Chasselas.
Grape maturity: mid-season, 2 weeks and a half after Chasselas.
Grape maturity: mid-season, 2 weeks and a half after Chasselas.
Suitability for cultivation and agronomic production

Semillon has moderate vigor and is rather productive. This variety can be pruned moderately long or short. It reacts particularly to the agronomic fertility of the soil. The yields vary enormously depending on the terroirs. Semillon seems well adapted to gravelly or clay-limestone soils.
Susceptibility to diseases and pests

Semillon is sensitive to grey rot, black rot (on young leaves), to mites and vine leafhoppers. On the other hand, it is not very susceptible to powdery mildew and eutypa dieback.
Technological potentiality

The bunches are medium and the berries are large in size. Semillon, under favorable growing conditions, with adult vines and managed yields, produces full-bodied great quality dry white wines, with moderate to low acidity. These wines can be vinified in barrels and are suitable for ageing. Semillon also produces great white liqueur wines.
Clonal selection in France

The seven certified Semillon clones carry the numbers 173, 299, 315, 380, 908, 909 and 910. Two conservatories of more than 130 clones in total have been planted in the Bordeaux wine-growing region in 1997 and 2011.
Bibliographic references


- Catalogue des variétés et clones de vigne cultivés en France. Collectif, 2007, Ed. IFV, Le Grau-du-Roi, France.
- Documentary collections of the Centre de Ressources Biologiques de la Vigne de Vassal-Montpellier, INRAE - Institut Agro | Montpellier, Marseillan, France.
- Dictionnaire encyclopédique des cépages et de leurs synonymes. P. Galet, 2015, Ed. Libre&Solidaire, France.
- Traité général de viticulture, Ampélographie. P. Viala and V. Vermorel, 1901-1909, Ed. Masson, Paris, France.
- Documentary collections of the Centre de Ressources Biologiques de la Vigne de Vassal-Montpellier, INRAE - Institut Agro | Montpellier, Marseillan, France.
- Dictionnaire encyclopédique des cépages et de leurs synonymes. P. Galet, 2015, Ed. Libre&Solidaire, France.
- Traité général de viticulture, Ampélographie. P. Viala and V. Vermorel, 1901-1909, Ed. Masson, Paris, France.
Description of clones certified in France
