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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 savoury or funky, too oaky or woody, too heavy and too buttery or thick.

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.

Montlouis-sur-Loire

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

Substantially less savoury or funky.
Substantially less oaky or woody.
A little less heavy.
Substantially less buttery or thick.

Spätlese

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

Substantially less savoury or funky.
Substantially less oaky or woody.
Substantially less heavy.
Substantially less buttery or thick.

Sauvignon Blanc

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

Substantially less savoury or funky.
Substantially less oaky or woody.
A little less heavy.
Substantially less buttery or thick.

Loureiro

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

Substantially less savoury or funky.
Substantially less oaky or woody.
Substantially less heavy.
Substantially less buttery or thick.

Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc

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

Substantially less savoury or funky.
Substantially less oaky or woody.
A little less heavy.
Substantially less buttery or thick.

Colombard

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

A little less savoury or funky.
Substantially less oaky or woody.
Substantially less heavy.
Substantially less buttery or thick.

Chablis

curated

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

More savoury or funky, not less.
Substantially less oaky or woody.
A little less heavy.
Substantially less buttery or thick.

Riesling

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

Substantially less savoury or funky.
Substantially less oaky or woody.
Substantially less heavy.
Substantially less buttery or thick.

Closest overall

Nearest neighbours, no change of direction.

Closest matches

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

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 stronger and warmer, and sweeter.

Spätlese

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

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

Sauvignon Blanc

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

Expect: Expect it to be leaner and more cutting, and stronger and warmer.

Loureiro

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

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

Different grape, similar feel

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

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 stronger and warmer, and sweeter.

Spätlese

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

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

Sauvignon Blanc

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

Expect: Expect it to be leaner and more cutting, and stronger and warmer.

Loureiro

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.

Spätlese

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

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

Loureiro

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

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

Colombard

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.

Riesling

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

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

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.

Loureiro

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

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

Colombard

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

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

Riesling

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

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

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.

Condrieu

Both come from the same country.

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

Pedro Ximénez

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

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.

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 stronger and warmer, and sweeter.

Spätlese

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

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

Sauvignon Blanc

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

Expect: Expect it to be leaner and more cutting, and stronger and warmer.

Loureiro

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.

Mtsvane Kakhuri

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

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

Malvazija Istarska

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

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

Koshu

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

Expect: Expect it to be more restrained in fruit, and lighter.

Albana

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

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

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.

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 stronger and warmer, and sweeter.

Spätlese

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

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

Loureiro

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

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

Similar but softer

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

Auxerrois

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

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

Pošip

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Roussanne

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

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

Malagousia

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

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 more savoury, 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 more savoury, 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 more savoury, and more restrained in fruit.

Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore

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

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

Similar but sweeter

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

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.

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 stronger and warmer, and fresher.

Scheurebe

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

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

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.

Loureiro

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

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

Colombard

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

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

Riesling

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.

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 stronger and warmer, and sweeter.

Sauvignon Blanc

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

Expect: Expect it to be leaner and more cutting, and stronger and warmer.

Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc

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

Expect: Expect it to be leaner and more cutting, and fruitier.

Similar but more aromatic

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

Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc

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

Expect: Expect it to be leaner and more cutting, and fruitier.

Moschofilero

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

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

Mantinia Moschofilero

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.

Similar but more restrained

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

Pinot Blanc

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

Expect: Expect it to be more restrained in fruit, and softer and rounder.

Cortese

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

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

Koshu

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

Expect: Expect it to be more restrained in fruit, and lighter.

Seyval Blanc

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

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

Similar but more floral

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

Loureiro

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.

Moschofilero

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

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

Mantinia Moschofilero

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.

Colombard

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

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

Štajerska Šipon

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

Expect: Expect it to be more restrained in fruit, and stronger and warmer.

Šipon

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

Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and more restrained in fruit.

Gros 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.

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

Both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and more restrained in fruit.

Hunter Valley Semillon

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and less oaky.

Franken Silvaner

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and softer and rounder.

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.

Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc

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

Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and leaner and more cutting.

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 stronger and warmer, and sweeter.

Loureiro

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

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

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 lighter, and more savoury.

Soave

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

Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and softer and rounder.

Chilean Chardonnay

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

Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, 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 more savoury, 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 lighter, and more savoury.

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 more savoury, and rounder and creamier in texture.

Austrian Sekt

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

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

Same grape, warmer climate

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

Soave

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

Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and softer and rounder.

Chilean Chardonnay

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

Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and stronger and warmer.

English still white

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

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and more savoury.

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.

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.

Sauvignon Blanc

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

Expect: Expect it to be leaner and more cutting, and stronger and warmer.

Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc

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

Expect: Expect it to be leaner and more cutting, and fruitier.

Riesling

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

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

Vinho Verde

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

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

Something more adventurous

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

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 stronger and warmer, and sweeter.

Spätlese

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

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

Loureiro

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

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

Colombard

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

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.

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 stronger and warmer, and sweeter.

Spätlese

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

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

Loureiro

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

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

Colombard

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

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.

Albariño

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

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

Rías Baixas Albariño

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

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

Sancerre

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

Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and leaner and more cutting.

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.