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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.
Refine
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.
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 keeping the full body and weight, while moving away from too austere.
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.
Sémillon
curatedA similarly low-aromatic, textural white that develops complexity with age and oak.
- Has some of the full body and weight, though less of it.
- Substantially less austere.
Chenin Blanc
curatedBoth are versatile, textural whites that take oak and lees ageing well and can be made lean or rich.
- Has some of the full body and weight, though less of it.
- Substantially less austere.
Furmint
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Keeps the full body and weight.
- Substantially less austere.
Alsace Pinot Gris
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
- Keeps the full body and weight.
- Substantially less austere.
Petit Manseng
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
- Keeps the full body and weight.
- Substantially less austere.
Malvasia
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Keeps the full body and weight.
- Substantially less austere.
Gewürztraminer
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
- Keeps the full body and weight.
- Substantially less austere.
Muscat of Alexandria
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Keeps the full body and weight.
- Substantially less austere.
Closest overall
Nearest neighbours, no change of direction.
Closest matches
The nearest overall neighbours across structure and flavour, with no deliberate change of direction.
Sémillon
curatedA similarly low-aromatic, textural white that develops complexity with age and oak.
Expect: Waxier and more lanolin-scented, with a distinctive toasty maturity.
Chenin Blanc
curatedBoth 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.
Furmint
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and fresher.
Alsace Pinot Gris
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 spicier.
Different grape, similar feel
Deliberately excludes the variety you already know, to find a genuinely new wine that fills the same role.
Furmint
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and fresher.
Alsace Pinot Gris
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 spicier.
Petit Manseng
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 less oaky.
Malvasia
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be stronger and warmer, and less oaky.
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.
Sémillon
curatedA similarly low-aromatic, textural white that develops complexity with age and oak.
Expect: Waxier and more lanolin-scented, with a distinctive toasty maturity.
Chenin Blanc
curatedBoth 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
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and lighter in alcohol.
Vouvray
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and more sparkling.
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
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and lighter in alcohol.
Riesling
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and lighter in alcohol.
Trebbiano Toscano
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and lighter in alcohol.
Vinho Verde
Vinho Verde scores closest to Chardonnay across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and drier.
Similar but fuller
Keeps the character but adds weight, concentration and mouthfeel.
Viognier
curatedFor someone who likes full-bodied Chardonnay and wants more perfume.
Expect: Dramatically more aromatic — apricot and honeysuckle — with lower acidity.
Condrieu
Both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and drier.
Pedro Ximénez
Pedro Ximénez scores closest to Chardonnay across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and sweeter.
Vin Santo
Vin Santo scores closest to Chardonnay across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and sweeter.
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.
Alsace Pinot Gris
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 spicier.
Furmint
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and fresher.
Petit Manseng
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 less oaky.
Sémillon
curatedA similarly low-aromatic, textural white that develops complexity with age and oak.
Expect: Waxier and more lanolin-scented, with a distinctive toasty maturity.
Similar but more structured
More tannic architecture, for food or for ageing.
Malvasia
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be stronger and warmer, and less oaky.
Albana
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and less oaky.
Kisi
Kisi scores closest to Chardonnay across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and stronger and warmer.
Friuli white
Both are made from chardonnay, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and stronger and warmer.
Similar but fresher
Raises acidity and overall lift, usually by moving to a cooler-climate expression.
Chenin Blanc
curatedBoth 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.
Furmint
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and less floral.
Petit Manseng
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 less oaky.
Vouvray
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and more sparkling.
Similar but softer
Lowers acidity and sharpness in favour of a broader, gentler feel.
Alsace Pinot Gris
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 spicier.
California Chardonnay
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.
Gewürztraminer
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 less oaky.
Malvasia
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be stronger and warmer, and less oaky.
The sparkling version
Moves to a sparkling expression while holding the flavour and weight as close as possible.
Vouvray
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and stiller.
Champagne
Both are made from chardonnay, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure, both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and lighter.
Franciacorta
Both are made from chardonnay, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and lighter.
Méthode Cap Classique
Both are made from chardonnay, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and lighter.
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 lighter, and less oaky.
Alsace Pinot Gris
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 spicier.
Chenin Blanc
curatedBoth 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.
Furmint
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and fresher.
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.
Albana
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and more fruit-driven.
Alsace Pinot Gris
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 oaky.
Gewürztraminer
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 aromatic.
Hárslevelű
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and more floral.
Similar but more oaky
Adds barrel character, toast and a creamier texture.
California Chardonnay
Both are made from chardonnay, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and stronger and warmer.
Pinotage
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and stronger and warmer.
California Cabernet Sauvignon
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and stronger and warmer.
Furmint
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and fresher and more acidic.
Similar but more aromatic
More to smell before you taste — floral, fruity or spiced aromatics.
Alsace Pinot Gris
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 spicier.
Gewürztraminer
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 less oaky.
Muscat of Alexandria
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be stronger and warmer, and less oaky.
Scheurebe
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and less oaky.
Similar but more restrained
For readers who find intensely aromatic wines tiring over a whole glass. Keeps the structure, turns the volume down.
Sémillon
curatedA similarly low-aromatic, textural white that develops complexity with age and oak.
Expect: Waxier and more lanolin-scented, with a distinctive toasty maturity.
Silvaner
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and lighter.
Trebbiano Toscano
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and lighter in alcohol.
Seyval Blanc
Seyval Blanc scores closest to Chardonnay across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and drier.
Similar but more floral
Pushes specifically towards rose, violet, blossom and elderflower character.
Alsace Pinot Gris
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 spicier.
Gewürztraminer
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 less oaky.
Hárslevelű
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and less oaky.
Muscadelle
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and less oaky.
Similar but less floral
Some drinkers read floral aromatics as soapy or perfumed. This holds the structure and removes them.
Furmint
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and fresher.
Malvasia
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be stronger and warmer, and less oaky.
Petit Manseng
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 less oaky.
Sémillon
curatedA similarly low-aromatic, textural white that develops complexity with age and oak.
Expect: Waxier and more lanolin-scented, with a distinctive toasty maturity.
Similar but more savoury
Moves away from primary fruit towards earth, herb, meat and umami character.
Vin Jaune
Both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and stronger and warmer.
Savennières
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and stronger and warmer.
White Burgundy
Both are made from chardonnay, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure, both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and stronger and warmer.
Sercial
Sercial scores closest to Chardonnay across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and stronger and warmer.
Similar but fruitier
More obvious, generous fruit flavour, usually from a warmer climate.
Alsace Pinot Gris
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 spicier.
Furmint
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and fresher.
Gewürztraminer
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 less oaky.
Malvasia
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be stronger and warmer, and less oaky.
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.
California Chardonnay
Both are made from chardonnay, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and stronger and warmer.
Friuli white
Both are made from chardonnay, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and stronger and warmer.
Australian Chardonnay
Both are made from chardonnay, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and stronger and warmer.
Chilean Chardonnay
Both are made from chardonnay, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and stronger and warmer.
Same grape, cooler climate
Typically fresher, lighter and more herbal, with lower alcohol.
English still white
Both are made from chardonnay.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and drier.
Chablis
curatedThe 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 both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and lighter.
Champagne
Both are made from chardonnay, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure, both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and lighter.
Same grape, warmer climate
Typically riper, fuller and more generous in fruit, with higher alcohol.
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.
California Chardonnay
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.
Australian Chardonnay
Both are made from chardonnay, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and stronger and warmer.
Chilean Chardonnay
Both are made from chardonnay, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and stronger and warmer.
New Zealand Chardonnay
Both are made from chardonnay, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and stronger and warmer.
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.
Chenin Blanc
curatedThe structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and fresher and more acidic.
California Chardonnay
Both are made from chardonnay, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and stronger and warmer.
Pinot Gris
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and lighter.
Riesling
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and lighter in alcohol.
Something more adventurous
Less familiar wines that occupy similar territory — the interesting end of the shelf.
Furmint
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and fresher.
Alsace Pinot Gris
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 spicier.
Petit Manseng
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 less oaky.
Malvasia
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be stronger and warmer, and less oaky.
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.
Furmint
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and fresher.
Alsace Pinot Gris
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 spicier.
Petit Manseng
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 less oaky.
Malvasia
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be stronger and warmer, and less oaky.
A step up
The benchmark expressions of the same territory, usually with more concentration, structure and ageing potential.
Tokaji Aszú
Tokaji Aszú scores closest to Chardonnay across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and fuller and richer.
Amarone della Valpolicella
Amarone della Valpolicella scores closest to Chardonnay across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and fuller and richer.
California Chardonnay
Both are made from chardonnay, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and stronger and warmer.
White Burgundy
Both are made from chardonnay, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure, both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and stronger and warmer.
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.