About Pionnier Sun Semillon
- Style
- White
- Grape Varieties
- Sun Semillon
- Price Range
- ¥1,980
- 750ml, tax included
A single-varietal dry white made from 100% Sun Semillon, one of the grape varieties Shinshu Mashino Wine cultivates in Nagano's Ina Valley. Despite the name, Sun Semillon is not a synonym for Semillon — it is a distinct Euro-American hybrid grape bred at the Yamanashi Prefectural Fruit Tree Experiment Station by crossing Fuefuki (itself a Yamanashi-bred variety) with Gros Semillon, and it is one of the crossbred varieties recognized under the 'Yamanashi' wine Geographical Indication. The variety is prized for its fragrant, showy aromatics and a golden hue reminiscent of true Semillon, with good body and high sugar accumulation. This bottling shows that aromatic, fruit-forward character in a crisp, dry style.
Don't let the name fool you — Sun Semillon shares nothing but a passing resemblance with Bordeaux's Semillon. It's a Yamanashi-bred original, and this bottling is one of the few ways to taste it as a 100% single varietal.
New to wine?
A fun conversation-starter: a golden, aromatic white grown from a little-known Japanese hybrid grape that resembles Semillon in name and color but is genetically its own variety.
Food Pairings
The variety's showy, fruit-forward aromatics and golden-hued richness pair well with grilled or fried white fish, roast chicken, and creamy sauces. With Japanese food, it complements tempura, cream croquettes, and dishes with a touch of butter or dashi-based richness.
When to drink it
Everyday dinners with white fish or fried food, casual gatherings, aperitif.
Terroir & Winemaking
Sun Semillon (Fuefuki × Gros Semillon), a Euro-American hybrid variety bred at the Yamanashi Prefectural Fruit Tree Experiment Station and recognized under the 'Yamanashi' wine Geographical Indication. 100% single-varietal. Dry. 750ml bottle. Grown in Nagano's Ina Valley by Shinshu Mashino Wine; each shipment is the winery's most recent vintage.
About the producer
Shinshu Mashino WineSingle-varietal apple & Yamabudo wines from Nagano's Ina Valley松川町, 長野県 · Founded 1991Visit the producer page →More wines from Shinshu Mashino Wine
- Niagara (Shinshu Mashino Wine)Sweet · Niagara
- Pionnier ChardonnayWhite · Chardonnay
- Pionnier Mashino RougeRed · Cabernet Sauvignon · Merlot
- Pionnier MerlotRed · Merlot
- Pionnier Pinot NoirRed · Pinot Noir
- Pionnier Shinano RieslingWhite · Shinano Riesling
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is Sun Semillon the same grape as Semillon?
- No. Sun Semillon is a distinct Euro-American hybrid grape variety bred in Japan by crossing Fuefuki with Gros Semillon at the Yamanashi Prefectural Fruit Tree Experiment Station. It only resembles true Semillon in its golden color and full body — genetically it is a separate, Japanese-bred variety.
- What does Pionnier Sun Semillon taste like?
- It's a dry white with showy, fruit-forward aromatics and a golden hue, backed by the good body characteristic of the Sun Semillon grape — an approachable, aromatic style rather than a lean, mineral one.
- What food pairs well with this wine?
- Its aromatic richness suits grilled or fried white fish, roast chicken, and creamy dishes; in Japanese cuisine it works especially well with tempura and other lightly fried, savory dishes.
- Where are the grapes grown?
- The Sun Semillon grapes are grown in Nagano Prefecture's Ina Valley by Shinshu Mashino Wine, part of the Tenryugawa Wine Valley recognized under Nagano's NAGANO WINE appellation program.
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