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Wines like Chardonnay

The most adaptable white grape in the world, and the one most often blamed for what winemakers do to it. Below: what to try next, grouped by the direction you want to travel.

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What do you like about Chardonnay?

Optional — the results below already work without it. But “I like Malbec” is at least four different preferences wearing one name, and saying which one you mean changes the answer substantially. Only qualities this wine actually has are offered.

I like…

How full and weighty it is The creamy, rounded texture That it is properly dry

But it’s a bit…

too heavy too alcoholic or warming too buttery or thick too oaky or woody too savoury or funky too austere

Clear all

What these words mean

How full and weighty it is: Body is how much the wine seems to fill your mouth — the difference between skimmed and whole milk. It comes mostly from alcohol and ripeness.
That it is not too strong: Alcohol you notice as warmth at the back of the throat. Some people find it a pleasant part of a big red and some find it tiring.
The creamy, rounded texture: A soft, almost dairy-like roundness. In white wine it usually comes from malolactic fermentation or from time on the lees, not from the grape.
The vanilla and oak: Vanilla, toast, coconut, sweet spice, sometimes smoke. It comes from the barrel rather than the grape, which is why the same grape can taste completely different with and without it.
The savoury, meaty side: Leather, olive, cured meat, dried herbs, tobacco. It is what people mean by calling a wine "serious" rather than "fruity", and it comes with age as well as with place.
That it is properly dry: No perceptible sugar at all. Almost all red wine is dry and a good deal of white wine is not, which is why this is a more useful thing to say about a white than about a red.

Looking for something moving away from too austere, too buttery or thick, too oaky or woody and too heavy.

Based on what you said

Ranked against the qualities you named rather than against the wine as a whole. The directions below are refined the same way.

Vouvray

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.

Substantially less austere.
Substantially less buttery or thick.
Substantially less oaky or woody.
A little less heavy.

Chenin Blanc

curated

Both are versatile, textural whites that take oak and lees ageing well and can be made lean or rich.

Substantially less austere.
About as buttery or thick as the wine you started from.
About as oaky or woody as the wine you started from.
A little less heavy.

Spätlese

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Substantially less austere.
Substantially less buttery or thick.
Substantially less oaky or woody.
Substantially less heavy.

Chablis

curated

The unoaked, high-acid expression of the same grape.

About as austere as the wine you started from.
Substantially less buttery or thick.
Substantially less oaky or woody.
A little less heavy.

Sémillon

curated

A similarly low-aromatic, textural white that develops complexity with age and oak.

Substantially less austere.
About as buttery or thick as the wine you started from.
About as oaky or woody as the wine you started from.
A little less heavy.

Riesling

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Substantially less austere.
Substantially less buttery or thick.
Substantially less oaky or woody.
Substantially less heavy.

Trebbiano Toscano

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Substantially less austere.
A little less buttery or thick.
Substantially less oaky or woody.
Substantially less heavy.

Finger Lakes Riesling

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Substantially less austere.
Substantially less buttery or thick.
Substantially less oaky or woody.
Substantially less heavy.

Closest overall

Nearest neighbours, no change of direction.

Closest matches

The nearest overall neighbours across structure and flavour, with no deliberate change of direction.

Vouvray

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be stronger and warmer, and more sparkling.

Chenin Blanc

curated

Both are versatile, textural whites that take oak and lees ageing well and can be made lean or rich.

Expect: Higher acidity and a distinctive waxy, quince-and-honey character.

Spätlese

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and fruitier.

Chablis

curated

The unoaked, high-acid expression of the same grape.

Expect: No vanilla or butter at all — citrus, green apple and a saline finish instead.

Different grape, similar feel

Deliberately excludes the variety you already know, to find a genuinely new wine that fills the same role.

Vouvray

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be stronger and warmer, and more sparkling.

Spätlese

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and fruitier.

Riesling

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and lighter.

Trebbiano Toscano

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and lighter.

Change the structure

Same idea, different weight, grip or freshness.

Similar but lighter

Keeps the character but reduces weight, alcohol and density in the mouth.

Riesling

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and less oaky.

Spätlese

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and fruitier.

Trebbiano Toscano

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and less oaky.

Vinho Verde

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and drier.

Similar but lower in alcohol

Holds the character and the weight where it can, and moves specifically on strength. Note that below about 11% the choices narrow sharply, and below 5% they are mostly a different category rather than a lighter version of the same one.

Spätlese

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and fruitier.

Riesling

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and lighter.

Mosel Riesling

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and lighter in alcohol.

Vinho Verde

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and less oaky.

Similar but fuller

Keeps the character but adds weight, concentration and mouthfeel.

Viognier

curated

For someone who likes full-bodied Chardonnay and wants more perfume.

Expect: Dramatically more aromatic — apricot and honeysuckle — with lower acidity.

Pedro Ximénez

Pedro Ximénez scores closest to Chardonnay across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and sweeter.

Condrieu

Both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and rounder and creamier in texture.

Vidal

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and less oaky.

Similar but less tannic

For readers who find firm reds drying. Reduces tannic grip while holding flavour and weight roughly steady.

Nothing in WineHQ's catalogue makes this move meaningfully from here. These are the closest wines otherwise, but do not expect them to deliver what you asked for — the honest answer is that this style does not have a good neighbour in that direction.

Vouvray

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be stronger and warmer, and more sparkling.

Spätlese

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and fruitier.

Chenin Blanc

curated

Both are versatile, textural whites that take oak and lees ageing well and can be made lean or rich.

Expect: Higher acidity and a distinctive waxy, quince-and-honey character.

Riesling

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and lighter.

Similar but more structured

More tannic architecture, for food or for ageing.

Albana

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and softer and rounder.

Brda Rebula

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and stronger and warmer.

Mtsvane Kakhuri

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and less oaky.

Rkatsiteli

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and less oaky.

Similar but fresher

Raises acidity and overall lift, usually by moving to a cooler-climate expression.

Chablis

curated

The unoaked, high-acid expression of the same grape.

Expect: No vanilla or butter at all — citrus, green apple and a saline finish instead.

Riesling

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and lighter.

Spätlese

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and fruitier.

Vouvray

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be stronger and warmer, and more sparkling.

Similar but softer

Lowers acidity and sharpness in favour of a broader, gentler feel.

Malvasia

Malvasia scores closest to Chardonnay across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and fuller and richer.

Alsace Pinot Gris

Both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be rounder and creamier in texture, and softer and rounder.

Muscat of Alexandria

Muscat of Alexandria scores closest to Chardonnay across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and less oaky.

Auxerrois

Both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and drier.

The sparkling version

Moves to a sparkling expression while holding the flavour and weight as close as possible.

Austrian Sekt

Both are made from chardonnay, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and stronger and warmer.

Crémant

Both are made from chardonnay, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and stronger and warmer.

English sparkling wine

Both are made from chardonnay, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and stronger and warmer.

Sekt

Both are made from chardonnay, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and stronger and warmer.

Similar but sweeter

Adds perceptible sweetness, which also softens acidity and chilli heat.

Albana

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and softer and rounder.

Finger Lakes Riesling

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and lighter.

Mosel Riesling

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and less oaky.

Petite Arvine

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be stronger and warmer, and less oaky.

Change the flavour

Same shape, different aromatic character.

Similar but less oaky

One of the commonest requests in wine. Strips oak influence while holding grape character and weight.

Spätlese

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and fruitier.

Riesling

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and lighter.

Chablis

curated

The unoaked, high-acid expression of the same grape.

Expect: No vanilla or butter at all — citrus, green apple and a saline finish instead.

Trebbiano Toscano

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and lighter.

Similar but more oaky

Adds barrel character, toast and a creamier texture.

California Chardonnay

Both are made from chardonnay.

Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and rounder and creamier in texture.

Chenin Blanc

curated

Both are versatile, textural whites that take oak and lees ageing well and can be made lean or rich.

Expect: Higher acidity and a distinctive waxy, quince-and-honey character.

Sémillon

curated

A similarly low-aromatic, textural white that develops complexity with age and oak.

Expect: Waxier and more lanolin-scented, with a distinctive toasty maturity.

Vouvray

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be stronger and warmer, and more sparkling.

Similar but more aromatic

More to smell before you taste — floral, fruity or spiced aromatics.

Spätlese

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and fruitier.

Scheurebe

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and stronger and warmer.

Riesling

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and lighter.

Finger Lakes Riesling

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and lighter.

Similar but more restrained

For readers who find intensely aromatic wines tiring over a whole glass. Keeps the structure, turns the volume down.

Trebbiano Toscano

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and lighter.

Sémillon

curated

A similarly low-aromatic, textural white that develops complexity with age and oak.

Expect: Waxier and more lanolin-scented, with a distinctive toasty maturity.

Seyval Blanc

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and less oaky.

Silvaner

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and softer and rounder.

Similar but more floral

Pushes specifically towards rose, violet, blossom and elderflower character.

Spätlese

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and fruitier.

Scheurebe

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and stronger and warmer.

Mosel Riesling

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and less oaky.

Riesling

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and lighter.

Similar but less floral

Some drinkers read floral aromatics as soapy or perfumed. This holds the structure and removes them.

Trebbiano Toscano

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and lighter.

English still white

Both are made from chardonnay, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and lighter.

Albana

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and softer and rounder.

Petite Arvine

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be stronger and warmer, and less oaky.

Similar but more savoury

Moves away from primary fruit towards earth, herb, meat and umami character.

Chablis

curated

The unoaked, high-acid expression of the same grape.

Expect: No vanilla or butter at all — citrus, green apple and a saline finish instead.

Muscadet

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and less oaky.

Sercial

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be stronger and warmer, and drier.

Etna Bianco

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and stronger and warmer.

Similar but fruitier

More obvious, generous fruit flavour, usually from a warmer climate.

Spätlese

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and fruitier.

Riesling

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and lighter.

Scheurebe

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and stronger and warmer.

Montlouis-sur-Loire

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and stronger and warmer.

Change the place

Keep the grape, move it somewhere else.

Same grape, somewhere else

Holds the variety constant and changes the place, which is often a bigger change than swapping the grape.

English still white

Both are made from chardonnay, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and lighter.

Soave

Both are made from chardonnay, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and softer and rounder.

Chilean Chardonnay

Both are made from chardonnay.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and fuller and richer.

Australian Chardonnay

Both are made from chardonnay.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and fuller and richer.

Same grape, cooler climate

Typically fresher, lighter and more herbal, with lower alcohol.

English still white

Both are made from chardonnay, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and lighter.

Chablis

curated

The unoaked, high-acid expression of the same grape.

Expect: No vanilla or butter at all — citrus, green apple and a saline finish instead.

Jura Savagnin and Chardonnay

Both are made from chardonnay, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and rounder and creamier in texture.

Crémant

Both are made from chardonnay, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and stronger and warmer.

Same grape, warmer climate

Typically riper, fuller and more generous in fruit, with higher alcohol.

English still white

Both are made from chardonnay, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and lighter.

Chablis

curated

The unoaked, high-acid expression of the same grape.

Expect: No vanilla or butter at all — citrus, green apple and a saline finish instead.

Soave

Both are made from chardonnay, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and softer and rounder.

Chilean Chardonnay

Both are made from chardonnay.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and fuller and richer.

Change the mood

Safer, stranger, cheaper or more serious.

A safe next step

Well-known wines that are widely available and unlikely to surprise anyone.

Riesling

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and lighter.

Mosel Riesling

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and less oaky.

Chablis

curated

The unoaked, high-acid expression of the same grape.

Expect: No vanilla or butter at all — citrus, green apple and a saline finish instead.

Vinho Verde

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and less oaky.

Something more adventurous

Less familiar wines that occupy similar territory — the interesting end of the shelf.

Vouvray

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be stronger and warmer, and more sparkling.

Spätlese

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and fruitier.

Trebbiano Toscano

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and lighter.

Finger Lakes Riesling

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and lighter.

A better-value alternative

Wines that occupy similar sensory territory from regions carrying less price premium. WineHQ does not hold live prices, so this reasons from regional reputation and demand rather than from a price feed — treat it as a lead, not a quote.

Vouvray

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be stronger and warmer, and more sparkling.

Spätlese

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and fruitier.

Trebbiano Toscano

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and lighter.

Finger Lakes Riesling

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and lighter.

A step up

The benchmark expressions of the same territory, usually with more concentration, structure and ageing potential.

Chablis

curated

The unoaked, high-acid expression of the same grape.

Expect: No vanilla or butter at all — citrus, green apple and a saline finish instead.

Mosel Riesling

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and less oaky.

Chenin Blanc

curated

Both are versatile, textural whites that take oak and lees ageing well and can be made lean or rich.

Expect: Higher acidity and a distinctive waxy, quince-and-honey character.

Santorini Assyrtiko

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and fuller and richer.

How these are chosen

Each suggestion is scored across sixteen taste dimensions, weighted so that structure matters more than flavour, and adjusted for whether the wine actually moves in the direction you asked for. Curated links from an editor carry extra weight — but only when the editor tagged them for this direction. Nothing here is a black box; see the taste model for the full method.