The best supporting role in a wine goes to... Semillon.

Sam Rockwell. Helena Bonham Carter. Andre Braugher. These actors did not make their reputation as leading stars, but we can all name their memorable supporting roles. That's a bit like Semillon (sem-ee-yon). It's been a key component of Bordeaux Blanc for generations but more and more gets overshadowed by Sauvignon Blanc. However, when it gets a chance to shine on its own it can be truly unique and delicious. In Australia's Hunter Valley, it's been a superstar since the region's founding in the 1860s (where it's pronounced Sem-il-Lon) and is amazingly refreshing, like discovering Sam Rockwell in Galaxy Quest. Semillon has been the secret to success as a blending grape for Napa Valley's Sauvignon Blancs for decades - particularly Duckhorn's iconic example - and to take it away would completely change the experience, like taking HBC out of Harry Potter or The Crown. Farther afield, the truly talented grape thrives in the sunny, high altitudes of Tupungato in the Andes foothills of Mendoza, Argentina. It's a rare discovery, but you're so glad you became a fan, like Andre Braugher's final role in Brooklyn 99. These are just a few examples of a grape that is rarely mentioned first but always gets the last word.