Summer, semillon and seafood
Stuart Knox in Free for all Become a member to view this article
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This video was supported by the Hunter Valley Wine & Tourism Association. Wine reviews and articles, including the ones listed below, are never sponsored.Â
Hunter Valley semillon is one of Australia’s great wine stories. When young, it’s light, zippy, fresh, lower in alcohol and perfect for summer drinking. With age, it transforms into a completely different wine: deeper in colour, rich in complexity, and genuinely world-class.
It’s summer on the Sydney’s Northern Beaches! This episode looks at why Hunter semillon is a fantastic summer white: from fresh oysters and prawns to richer lobster and scallops, this wine covers the whole spectrum of summer seafood. We dive into how it’s grown, why the Hunter’s warm days and cool nights make it special, and how the style evolves from bright citrus refreshment to toasty, layered maturity.
Browse our recently reviewed Hunter Valley semillons from the youthful 2025 and 2024 vintages to aged examples from the 2019, 2018, 2017 and 2016 vintages.
Learn more about semillon and the Hunter Valley:
Thankyou Stuart. Now I know what to drink at Christmas!!