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Wines like Sauvignon Blanc

A pungently aromatic variety whose character swings from flinty and restrained in the Loire to explosively tropical in Marlborough. Below: what to try next, grouped by the direction you want to travel.

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What do you like about Sauvignon Blanc?

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…

The tropical fruit The citrus and orchard fruit How fresh and crisp it is The herbal, green side How aromatic it is That it is properly dry

But it’s a bit…

too tropical or sweet-smelling too sharp or lemony too sharp or acidic too green or grassy too perfumed too austere

Clear all

What these words mean

The tropical fruit: Passionfruit, mango, pineapple, guava. It comes from riper fruit and warmer sites, and it is the difference between Marlborough and Sancerre in the same grape.
The citrus and orchard fruit: Lemon, lime, green apple, pear. The signature of a cool-climate white — quieter and less perfumed than tropical fruit, and a different thing from the acidity it usually travels with.
How fresh and crisp it is: Acidity is what makes your mouth water and makes a wine feel refreshing rather than heavy. It is the single most useful thing to know about your own taste.
The herbal, green side: Grass, blackcurrant leaf, green pepper, mint. It divides people more sharply than almost any other character.
How aromatic it is: Some grapes announce themselves from across the room — Gewürztraminer, Muscat, Sauvignon Blanc. Others are far quieter, and quiet is not the same as dull.
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 perfumed, too sharp or acidic, too tropical or sweet-smelling and too sharp or lemony.

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.

Grüner Veltliner

curated

Both are dry, high-acid, herbal whites with a green, savoury edge.

Substantially less perfumed.
Substantially less sharp or acidic.
A little less tropical or sweet-smelling.
A little less sharp or lemony.

White Bordeaux

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

Substantially less perfumed.
Substantially less sharp or acidic.
A little less tropical or sweet-smelling.
A little less sharp or lemony.

Verdejo

curated

Rueda Verdejo is the closest Spanish equivalent — herbal, citrusy and crisp.

Substantially less perfumed.
Substantially less sharp or acidic.
About as tropical or sweet-smelling as the wine you started from.
A little less sharp or lemony.

Pecorino

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

Substantially less perfumed.
Substantially less sharp or acidic.
A little less tropical or sweet-smelling.
A little less sharp or lemony.

Brda Rebula

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

Substantially less perfumed.
A little less sharp or acidic.
Substantially less tropical or sweet-smelling.
A little less sharp or lemony.

Retsina

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

Substantially less perfumed.
Substantially less sharp or acidic.
A little less tropical or sweet-smelling.
A little less sharp or lemony.

Chenin Blanc

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Substantially less perfumed.
A little less sharp or acidic.
Substantially less tropical or sweet-smelling.
A little less sharp or lemony.

Ribolla Gialla

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Substantially less perfumed.
A little less sharp or acidic.
Substantially less tropical or sweet-smelling.
A little less sharp or lemony.

Closest overall

Nearest neighbours, no change of direction.

Closest matches

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

Grüner Veltliner

curated

Both are dry, high-acid, herbal whites with a green, savoury edge.

Expect: White pepper and lentil-like savouriness in place of gooseberry and passionfruit.

White Bordeaux

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

Expect: Expect it to be more neutral and subtle, and softer and rounder.

Verdejo

curated

Rueda Verdejo is the closest Spanish equivalent — herbal, citrusy and crisp.

Expect: A touch rounder, with a bitter-almond finish.

Pecorino

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

Expect: Expect it to be more neutral and subtle, and softer and rounder.

Different grape, similar feel

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

Grüner Veltliner

curated

Both are dry, high-acid, herbal whites with a green, savoury edge.

Expect: White pepper and lentil-like savouriness in place of gooseberry and passionfruit.

Pecorino

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

Expect: Expect it to be more neutral and subtle, and softer and rounder.

Brda Rebula

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

Expect: Expect it to be more neutral and subtle, and riper and less green.

Retsina

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

Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and more neutral and subtle.

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.

Parellada

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be more neutral and subtle, and softer and rounder.

Trebbiano Romagnolo

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be more neutral and subtle, and softer and rounder.

Txakoli

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be more neutral and subtle, and fresher.

Hondarrabi Zuri

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be more neutral and subtle, and fresher.

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.

Hunter Valley Semillon

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be more neutral and subtle, and fresher.

Alpine white

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be more neutral and subtle, and fresher.

Vinho Verde

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be more neutral and subtle, and fresher.

Colombard

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be more neutral and subtle, and fresher.

Similar but fuller

Keeps the character but adds weight, concentration and mouthfeel.

Assyrtiko

curated

For someone who wants the bracing acidity without the herbaceous aromatics.

Expect: Far more mineral and saline, fuller in body, and considerably more serious.

Friuli white

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

Expect: Expect it to be more neutral and subtle, and softer and rounder.

Savagnin

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be more neutral and subtle, and riper and less green.

Vin Jaune

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

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

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.

White Bordeaux

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

Expect: Expect it to be more neutral and subtle, and softer and rounder.

Grüner Veltliner

curated

Both are dry, high-acid, herbal whites with a green, savoury edge.

Expect: White pepper and lentil-like savouriness in place of gooseberry and passionfruit.

Pecorino

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

Expect: Expect it to be more neutral and subtle, and softer and rounder.

Chenin Blanc

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be more neutral and subtle, and sweeter.

Similar but more structured

More tannic architecture, for food or for ageing.

Rkatsiteli

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be more neutral and subtle, and riper and less green.

Brda Rebula

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

Expect: Expect it to be more neutral and subtle, and riper and less green.

Ribolla Gialla

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be more neutral and subtle, and riper and less green.

Friuli white

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

Expect: Expect it to be more neutral and subtle, and softer and rounder.

Similar but softer

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

White Bordeaux

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

Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and more neutral and subtle.

Grüner Veltliner

curated

Both are dry, high-acid, herbal whites with a green, savoury edge.

Expect: White pepper and lentil-like savouriness in place of gooseberry and passionfruit.

Pecorino

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and more neutral and subtle.

Friuli white

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

Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and more neutral and subtle.

The sparkling version

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

Glera

Glera scores closest to Sauvignon Blanc across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and more neutral and subtle.

Champagne

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be more neutral and subtle, and fresher.

Crémant

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be more neutral and subtle, and fresher.

English sparkling wine

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be more neutral and subtle, and fresher.

Similar but sweeter

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

Chenin Blanc

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be more neutral and subtle, and sweeter.

Welschriesling

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be more neutral and subtle, and softer and rounder.

Albana

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be more neutral and subtle, and softer and rounder.

Szamorodni

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be more neutral and subtle, and fruitier.

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.

Pecorino

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

Expect: Expect it to be more neutral and subtle, and softer and rounder.

Retsina

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

Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and more neutral and subtle.

Ribolla Gialla

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

Expect: Expect it to be more neutral and subtle, and riper and less green.

Rkatsiteli

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

Expect: Expect it to be more neutral and subtle, and riper and less green.

Similar but more oaky

Adds barrel character, toast and a creamier texture.

White Bordeaux

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

Expect: Expect it to be more neutral and subtle, and softer and rounder.

Chenin Blanc

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be more neutral and subtle, and sweeter.

Friuli white

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

Expect: Expect it to be more neutral and subtle, and softer and rounder.

Chardonnay

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be more neutral and subtle, and softer and rounder.

Similar but more aromatic

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

Scheurebe

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

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

Torrontés

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

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

Mantinia Moschofilero

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

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

Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc

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

Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and fresher.

Similar but more restrained

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

Grüner Veltliner

curated

Both are dry, high-acid, herbal whites with a green, savoury edge.

Expect: White pepper and lentil-like savouriness in place of gooseberry and passionfruit.

White Bordeaux

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

Expect: Expect it to be more neutral and subtle, and softer and rounder.

Retsina

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be more neutral and subtle, and softer and rounder.

Pecorino

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be more neutral and subtle, and softer and rounder.

Similar but more floral

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

Scheurebe

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

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

Torrontés

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

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

Mantinia Moschofilero

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Moschofilero

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Similar but less floral

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

White Bordeaux

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

Expect: Expect it to be more neutral and subtle, and softer and rounder.

Grüner Veltliner

curated

Both are dry, high-acid, herbal whites with a green, savoury edge.

Expect: White pepper and lentil-like savouriness in place of gooseberry and passionfruit.

Pecorino

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

Expect: Expect it to be more neutral and subtle, and softer and rounder.

Brda Rebula

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

Expect: Expect it to be more neutral and subtle, and riper and less green.

Similar but more savoury

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

Grüner Veltliner

curated

Both are dry, high-acid, herbal whites with a green, savoury edge.

Expect: White pepper and lentil-like savouriness in place of gooseberry and passionfruit.

Pouilly-Fumé

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

Expect: Expect it to be more neutral and subtle, and fresher.

White Bordeaux

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

Expect: Expect it to be more neutral and subtle, and softer and rounder.

Assyrtiko

curated

For someone who wants the bracing acidity without the herbaceous aromatics.

Expect: Far more mineral and saline, fuller in body, and considerably more serious.

Similar but fruitier

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

Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc

Both are made from sauvignon blanc, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure, both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and fresher.

Spätlese

Spätlese scores closest to Sauvignon Blanc across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and fresher.

Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains

Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains scores closest to Sauvignon Blanc across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

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

Petit Manseng

Petit Manseng scores closest to Sauvignon Blanc across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and fresher.

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.

White Bordeaux

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

Expect: Expect it to be more neutral and subtle, and softer and rounder.

Friuli white

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

Expect: Expect it to be more neutral and subtle, and softer and rounder.

Sancerre

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

Expect: Expect it to be more neutral and subtle, and fresher.

Pouilly-Fumé

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

Expect: Expect it to be more neutral and subtle, and fresher.

Same grape, cooler climate

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

Sancerre

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

Expect: Expect it to be more neutral and subtle, and fresher.

Pouilly-Fumé

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

Expect: Expect it to be more neutral and subtle, and fresher.

Chilean Sauvignon Blanc

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

Expect: Expect it to be fresher, and more neutral and subtle.

South African Sauvignon Blanc

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

Expect: Expect it to be more neutral and subtle, and fresher.

Same grape, warmer climate

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

Friuli white

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

Expect: Expect it to be more neutral and subtle, and softer and rounder.

White Bordeaux

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

Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and more neutral and subtle.

Rueda Verdejo

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

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

Sancerre

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

Expect: Expect it to be more neutral and subtle, and fresher.

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.

Grüner Veltliner

curated

Both are dry, high-acid, herbal whites with a green, savoury edge.

Expect: White pepper and lentil-like savouriness in place of gooseberry and passionfruit.

Chenin Blanc

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be more neutral and subtle, and sweeter.

Sancerre

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

Expect: Expect it to be more neutral and subtle, and fresher.

Pouilly-Fumé

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

Expect: Expect it to be more neutral and subtle, and fresher.

Something more adventurous

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

White Bordeaux

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

Expect: Expect it to be more neutral and subtle, and softer and rounder.

Pecorino

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

Expect: Expect it to be more neutral and subtle, and softer and rounder.

Assyrtiko

curated

For someone who wants the bracing acidity without the herbaceous aromatics.

Expect: Far more mineral and saline, fuller in body, and considerably more serious.

Brda Rebula

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

Expect: Expect it to be more neutral and subtle, and riper and less green.

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.

White Bordeaux

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

Expect: Expect it to be more neutral and subtle, and softer and rounder.

Verdejo

curated

Rueda Verdejo is the closest Spanish equivalent — herbal, citrusy and crisp.

Expect: A touch rounder, with a bitter-almond finish.

Pecorino

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

Expect: Expect it to be more neutral and subtle, and softer and rounder.

Brda Rebula

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

Expect: Expect it to be more neutral and subtle, and riper and less green.

A step up

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

Chardonnay

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be more neutral and subtle, and softer and rounder.

White Burgundy

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be more neutral and subtle, and softer and rounder.

South African Chenin Blanc

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be more neutral and subtle, and fruitier.

Santorini Assyrtiko

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be more neutral and subtle, and fresher.

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.