THE GRAPEVINE BLOG

As the temperature rises, it's time to cool down with refreshing, easy-drinking wines, ideally served chilled over ice. And what better poolside companion for your glass than a Hunter Semillon? Often hailed as the white icon of the region, our pioneering producers have developed a style of Semillon that has been dictated by the climate. Hunter Valley's Semillon is celebrated for its youthful, light, lemon-citrus profile that transforms into a highly intricate, nutty, and toasty style with a touch of ageing. Here are some of our recommended Semillons for your summer sips in the warm weather.

Young, fresh & vibrant

• 2023 Tamburlaine Reserve Hunter Semillon RRP $39.00
  A cool Hunter vintage has resulted in lifted citrus and lemon pith with a fresh acid drive behind some salivating yeast lees texture. Simply delish!
• 2023 Bimbadgen Growers Hunter Valley Semillon RRP $28.00
  A superb Semillon perfect for early drinking or cellar for up to five years to see it become more complex. Pale straw in colour with vital aromas of lime and lemongrass. Zippy palate of zesty grapefruit, filled with crunchy acidity on the long finish. Drink now with fresh oysters or cellar for up to 5 years.
• 2023 De Iuliis Wilderness Road Vineyard Semillon RRP $45.00
  Elegance with intensity, starting with a lifted lemon & Kaffic lime bouquet that seamlessly moves onto a palate welding lemon zest & grapefruit. The minerality and acidity blend into a single stream of mouth watering flavours.
• 2022 Glandore Wines Oakey Creek Semillon RRP $80.00
  Glandore’s classic wine making approach has resulted in the creation of an award-winning Semillon, sourced from the prestigious Oakey Creek Vineyard. Showing almost no colour you would be forgiven for thinking there was water in the glass though the abundant aromas of lemon pith, fresh cut orange and delicate wet grass from a wet year, will soon change your mind. Clean and lively, these characters are what we are looking for in great Semillon.
• 2022 Tintilla Angus Semillon RRP $33.00
  The grapes were handpicked, destemmed and pressed with minimal skin contact to avoid bitterness and only the free run juice is used. The must is cooled before undergoing a controlled fermentation in a stainless steel tank and early bottling to harness this wine's freshness and vitality. This wine is unoaked in the classic Hunter tradition.
• 2022 Parched Crow Wines Semillon RRP $30.00
  This Semillon displays a delightful floral & crisp nose with a delicately zesty palate. Expressing length and fine structure, you can relish this Semillon for another 10 years.
• 2022 Stomp! Semillon RRP $28.00
  Drunk young, an orchard of fresh, zesty, citrus fruits drive the palate. With cellaring the strong acid backbone will soften and it will mature gracefully developing toasty, honey characteristics.

Off Dry, perfect for those with a sweet tooth

• 2022 Wild Ren Wines Off Dry Semillon RRP $30.00
  Aromas of candied citrus and tropical fruits with crisp apples on the palate. A balance of acidity and sweetness with a refreshing finish.
• 2022 Thomas Wines Six Degrees Semillon RRP: $25.00
  Vibrant pale straw/green colour in the glass, the perfume immediately affirms a wine of vitality and freshness. The aromas are of Thai spice, citrus blossom and green apple, while flavours rush across the palate with refreshing acidity dragging crisp, gently sweet citrus fruit flavours along for the ride. The balance of acidity and gentle sweetness make for a wonderfully (and rapidly!) drinkable wine, set for warm days, good times, and spicy foods.
• 2022 Gundog Estate Off-Dry Semillon RRP $25.00
  This is a modern style of wine that serves to illustrate the versatility of Hunter Valley Semillon. The wine strikes a fine balance of acidity, alcohol and sweetness to offer an amazingly refreshing semi-sweet, low alcohol alternative.
• 2022 Pokolbin Estate Off-Dry Semillon RRP: $29.00
  Semillon being known for its high citric acidity can create aromas and flavours of lemons and limes. With a combination of residual sugars on this off-dry style, the wine can be left with a lemon sherbet presence that lingers on the palate.
• 2023 Scarborough Offshoot Off-Dry Semillon RRP $20.00
• Slightly sweeter in style, the Off-Dry Semillon has tropical aromas of pineapple and crushed oranges with a hint of Cavendish & Harvey mixed fruit drops. The palate is rich and round with tropical fruit and hints of lemon spritz, finishing with summer pudding ripeness.
• 2022 Brokenwood Late Picked Semillon RRP $25.00
  Beautiful green/yellow colour with aromas of fresh apple and tropical fruits. These carry to the palate and are given a bit more prominence due to the slightly riper grapes. The sweetness is balanced by the fresh apple acidity that runs through to the finish. With just under 10.0% alcohol, this is a refreshing and easy drinking wine.
• 2023 THÉLÈME Off Dry Altre Semillon RRP $30.00
  This wine is an off dry style Semillon that displays pale lime colour, really fresh citrus nose, – grapefruit. Citrus/apple on the palate with a subtle hint of sweetness, retains a very fine structure and finish. Subtle acidity.

Aged & Matured

• 2014 Bimbadgen Signature Palmers Lane Semillon RRP: $65.00
  A wine designed to age - this will cellar well for the next decade or more. Pale, quartz with green hues. Lifted perfume of white flowers, lemongrass and green apple. The palate is defined by juicy lemon lime acidity, framing a chalky minerality.
• 2016 Keith Tulloch Wine Hunter Valley Semillon Museum Release RRP $65.00
  Aromatic elements swirl with Meyer lemon and fresh cut apple, lifting with accents of white flower and traces of lemon curd. The palate echoes the aroma, a primary fruit nucleus of juicy lemon and white honey with lifted supporting notes of mint fresh finger lime. Extremely long and delicious flavour persistence, quite remarkable and so youthful, with many years of potential in the cellar to see its ultimate peak.
• 2017 Mount Pleasant Elizabeth Cellar Aged Semillon RRP: $36.00
  Sourced exclusively from the Lovedale vineyard, Elizabeth has been a quintessential Hunter Valley Semillon since the early days. Aged for 5 years before release the wine is released in its optimal drinking window. The wine is fine, tight and pure. Reflective of the aromas, the wine tastes of fresh lemon and limes. The texture is light, bright and pure with a fresh line of acidity along the palate. The finish is fresh, dry and seamless.
• 2017 Brokenwood ILR Reserve Semillon RRP $100.00
  At 6 years of age on release, the colour is just starting to show some development with yellow tints complimenting the green edges. Lifted lemon curd and floral notes heading to beeswax, brioche and toast. Lively Tahitian lime juice characters are backed by a superb, zesty acidity. The magic of Hunter Valley Semillon on display with texture, fruit weight and great length from a wine that sees no oak. The ILR Reserve Semillon is released only from the best years and the 2017 is a beauty
• 2017 Thomas Wines Cellar Reserve Braemore RRP $70.00
  Brilliant medium lemon colour with a vibrant green hue. An elaborate nose of fresh citrus and stone fruits and hints of dandelion tea, flint, toasted sourdough and grilled nuts. The palate is just entering the realm of bottle age complexity. The flavour delivers waves of barbequed lemon and lime, ripe pear and starfruit alongside lemongrass, roasted cashew nuts and buttered toast, just to name a few. Its seductive and saline texture is balanced by a soft yet lively acidity.

In the scorching heat of summer, when the sun beats down relentlessly, finding relief becomes a priority. While an ice-cold beverage provides a momentary reprieve, there's nothing quite like the invigorating sensation of plunging into a refreshing body of cool water.

An easy two-hour drive from Sydney and Australia’s oldest wine region, the Hunter Valley has so much on offer. From award-winning wineries and exceptional restaurants to hot-air ballooning and concerts under the stars, there’s always something to keep you going back for more.

 ‘Tis the season to put up the tree, wrap the presents and unwind with family and friends after another big year. Make the most of Christmas in the Hunter Valley this festive season. We have compiled a list of festive events and where to dine on Christmas Day. 

It’s time to deck the halls and pop the bubbles this December as we near the end of another year and enter the festive season. Whether it’s Christmas Day, New Years Eve, or an unexpected visit from family, we have plenty of drops to fill your flutes with this December.