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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.
Refine
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.
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 keeping how much it smells of, before you even taste it, that it is properly dry and the herbal, green edge, while moving away from too austere.
- You said you like that it is properly dry and that it is too austere. Both are about sweetness, so they pull the same axis in opposite directions — the dislike is applied and the like is set aside.
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.
Bacchus
curatedEngland’s signature white variety occupies very similar aromatic territory — elderflower, nettle and grapefruit.
- Has some of how much it smells of, before you even taste it, though less of it.
- Has some of that it is properly dry, though less of it.
- Keeps the herbal, green edge.
- Substantially less austere.
English Bacchus
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
- Has some of how much it smells of, before you even taste it, though less of it.
- Has some of that it is properly dry, though less of it.
- Keeps the herbal, green edge.
- Substantially less austere.
Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc
Both are made from sauvignon blanc, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure, both come from the same country.
- Keeps how much it smells of, before you even taste it.
- Keeps that it is properly dry.
- Keeps the herbal, green edge.
- About as austere as the wine you started from.
Verdejo
curatedRueda Verdejo is the closest Spanish equivalent — herbal, citrusy and crisp.
- Has some of how much it smells of, before you even taste it, though less of it.
- Keeps that it is properly dry.
- Keeps the herbal, green edge.
- About as austere as the wine you started from.
Chilean Sauvignon Blanc
Both are made from sauvignon blanc.
- Has some of how much it smells of, before you even taste it, though less of it.
- Keeps that it is properly dry.
- Keeps the herbal, green edge.
- About as austere as the wine you started from.
Sancerre
Both are made from sauvignon blanc.
- Has some of how much it smells of, before you even taste it, though less of it.
- Keeps that it is properly dry.
- Keeps the herbal, green edge.
- About as austere as the wine you started from.
Welsh white wine
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
- Has some of how much it smells of, before you even taste it, though less of it.
- Has some of that it is properly dry, though less of it.
- Has some of the herbal, green edge, though less of it.
- Substantially less austere.
Scheurebe
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
- Keeps how much it smells of, before you even taste it.
- Has noticeably less of that it is properly dry.
- Has noticeably less of the herbal, green edge.
- 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.
Bacchus
curatedEngland’s signature white variety occupies very similar aromatic territory — elderflower, nettle and grapefruit.
Expect: Lighter in body and more floral, with an English-specific hedgerow character.
English Bacchus
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and more neutral and subtle.
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 drier, and more herbal and green.
Verdejo
curatedRueda Verdejo is the closest Spanish equivalent — herbal, citrusy and crisp.
Expect: A touch rounder, with a bitter-almond finish.
Different grape, similar feel
Deliberately excludes the variety you already know, to find a genuinely new wine that fills the same role.
Bacchus
curatedEngland’s signature white variety occupies very similar aromatic territory — elderflower, nettle and grapefruit.
Expect: Lighter in body and more floral, with an English-specific hedgerow character.
English Bacchus
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and more neutral and subtle.
Welsh white wine
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and more neutral and subtle.
Scheurebe
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and more floral.
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.
Bacchus
curatedEngland’s signature white variety occupies very similar aromatic territory — elderflower, nettle and grapefruit.
Expect: Lighter in body and more floral, with an English-specific hedgerow character.
English Bacchus
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and more neutral and subtle.
Mosel Riesling
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and more neutral and subtle.
Riesling
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and more neutral and subtle.
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.
Mosel Riesling
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and more neutral and subtle.
Riesling
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and more neutral and subtle.
Spätlese
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and more neutral and subtle.
Kabinett
Kabinett scores closest to Sauvignon Blanc across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and drier.
Similar but fuller
Keeps the character but adds weight, concentration and mouthfeel.
Muscat of Alexandria
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and softer and rounder.
Gewürztraminer
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and softer and rounder.
Petit Manseng
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and more neutral and subtle.
Condrieu
Condrieu scores closest to Sauvignon Blanc across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and drier.
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.
Bacchus
curatedEngland’s signature white variety occupies very similar aromatic territory — elderflower, nettle and grapefruit.
Expect: Lighter in body and more floral, with an English-specific hedgerow character.
English Bacchus
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and more neutral and subtle.
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 drier, and more herbal and green.
Scheurebe
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and more floral.
Similar but more structured
More tannic architecture, for food or for ageing.
Malvasia
Malvasia scores closest to Sauvignon Blanc across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and more neutral and subtle.
Albana
Albana scores closest to Sauvignon Blanc across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and more neutral and subtle.
Mtsvane Kakhuri
Mtsvane Kakhuri scores closest to Sauvignon Blanc across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and riper and less green.
Rkatsiteli
Rkatsiteli scores closest to Sauvignon Blanc across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and riper and less green.
Similar but softer
Lowers acidity and sharpness in favour of a broader, gentler feel.
Bacchus
curatedEngland’s signature white variety occupies very similar aromatic territory — elderflower, nettle and grapefruit.
Expect: Lighter in body and more floral, with an English-specific hedgerow character.
Scheurebe
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and more floral.
Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and more floral.
Rueda Verdejo
Both are made from sauvignon blanc.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and more neutral and subtle.
The sparkling version
Moves to a sparkling expression while holding the flavour and weight as close as possible.
Asti
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and sweeter.
Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore
Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore scores closest to Sauvignon Blanc across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and drier.
Prosecco
Prosecco scores closest to Sauvignon Blanc across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and drier.
Sekt
Sekt scores closest to Sauvignon Blanc across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and drier.
Similar but sweeter
Adds perceptible sweetness, which also softens acidity and chilli heat.
Scheurebe
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and more floral.
Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and softer and rounder.
Muscat of Alexandria
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and softer and rounder.
Gewürztraminer
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and softer and rounder.
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.
Scheurebe
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and more floral.
Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and softer and rounder.
Muscat of Alexandria
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and softer and rounder.
Gewürztraminer
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and softer and rounder.
Similar but more oaky
Adds barrel character, toast and a creamier texture.
White Bordeaux
Both are made from sauvignon blanc.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and more neutral and subtle.
Chenin Blanc
Chenin Blanc scores closest to Sauvignon Blanc across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and more neutral and subtle.
Furmint
Furmint scores closest to Sauvignon Blanc across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and more neutral and subtle.
California Chardonnay
California Chardonnay scores closest to Sauvignon Blanc across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and more neutral and subtle.
Similar but more aromatic
More to smell before you taste — floral, fruity or spiced aromatics.
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.
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 drier, and more herbal and green.
Scheurebe
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and less oaky.
Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and softer and rounder.
Muscat of Alexandria
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and softer and rounder.
Similar but more restrained
For readers who find intensely aromatic wines tiring over a whole glass. Keeps the structure, turns the volume down.
Chilean Sauvignon Blanc
Both are made from sauvignon blanc, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and more neutral and subtle.
South African Sauvignon Blanc
Both are made from sauvignon blanc.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and more neutral and subtle.
Rueda Verdejo
Both are made from sauvignon blanc.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and more neutral and subtle.
Verdejo
curatedRueda Verdejo is the closest Spanish equivalent — herbal, citrusy and crisp.
Expect: A touch rounder, with a bitter-almond finish.
Similar but more floral
Pushes specifically towards rose, violet, blossom and elderflower character.
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 drier, and more herbal and green.
Scheurebe
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and less oaky.
Bacchus
curatedEngland’s signature white variety occupies very similar aromatic territory — elderflower, nettle and grapefruit.
Expect: Lighter in body and more floral, with an English-specific hedgerow character.
Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and softer and rounder.
Similar but less floral
Some drinkers read floral aromatics as soapy or perfumed. This holds the structure and removes them.
Chilean Sauvignon Blanc
Both are made from sauvignon blanc.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and more neutral and subtle.
South African Sauvignon Blanc
Both are made from sauvignon blanc.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and more neutral and subtle.
Rueda Verdejo
Both are made from sauvignon blanc.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and more neutral and subtle.
Verdejo
curatedRueda Verdejo is the closest Spanish equivalent — herbal, citrusy and crisp.
Expect: A touch rounder, with a bitter-almond finish.
Similar but more savoury
Moves away from primary fruit towards earth, herb, meat and umami character.
Pouilly-Fumé
Both are made from sauvignon blanc.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and more neutral and subtle.
Sancerre
Both are made from sauvignon blanc.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and more neutral and subtle.
Retsina
Retsina scores closest to Sauvignon Blanc across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and more neutral and subtle.
Chilean Sauvignon Blanc
Both are made from sauvignon blanc.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and more neutral and subtle.
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 drier, and more herbal and green.
Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and softer and rounder.
Muscat of Alexandria
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and softer and rounder.
Gewürztraminer
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and softer and rounder.
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.
Chilean Sauvignon Blanc
Both are made from sauvignon blanc.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and more neutral and subtle.
Sancerre
Both are made from sauvignon blanc.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and more neutral and subtle.
South African Sauvignon Blanc
Both are made from sauvignon blanc.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and more neutral and subtle.
Pouilly-Fumé
Both are made from sauvignon blanc.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and more neutral and subtle.
Same grape, cooler climate
Typically fresher, lighter and more herbal, with lower 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.
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 drier, and more herbal and green.
Chilean Sauvignon Blanc
Both are made from sauvignon blanc.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and more neutral and subtle.
Sancerre
Both are made from sauvignon blanc.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and more neutral and subtle.
South African Sauvignon Blanc
Both are made from sauvignon blanc.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and more neutral and subtle.
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.
Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc
Both are made from sauvignon blanc, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and more herbal and green.
Rueda Verdejo
Both are made from sauvignon blanc.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and more neutral and subtle.
Chilean Sauvignon Blanc
Both are made from sauvignon blanc.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and more neutral and subtle.
South African Sauvignon Blanc
Both are made from sauvignon blanc.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and more neutral and subtle.
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.
English Bacchus
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and more neutral and subtle.
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 drier, and more herbal and green.
Sancerre
Both are made from sauvignon blanc.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and more neutral and subtle.
Pouilly-Fumé
Both are made from sauvignon blanc.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and more neutral and subtle.
Something more adventurous
Less familiar wines that occupy similar territory — the interesting end of the shelf.
Bacchus
curatedEngland’s signature white variety occupies very similar aromatic territory — elderflower, nettle and grapefruit.
Expect: Lighter in body and more floral, with an English-specific hedgerow character.
Chilean Sauvignon Blanc
Both are made from sauvignon blanc.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and more neutral and subtle.
Welsh white wine
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and more neutral and subtle.
Scheurebe
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and more floral.
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.
Bacchus
curatedEngland’s signature white variety occupies very similar aromatic territory — elderflower, nettle and grapefruit.
Expect: Lighter in body and more floral, with an English-specific hedgerow character.
Verdejo
curatedRueda Verdejo is the closest Spanish equivalent — herbal, citrusy and crisp.
Expect: A touch rounder, with a bitter-almond finish.
Chilean Sauvignon Blanc
Both are made from sauvignon blanc.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and more neutral and subtle.
Welsh white wine
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and more neutral and subtle.
A step up
The benchmark expressions of the same territory, usually with more concentration, structure and ageing potential.
California Chardonnay
California Chardonnay scores closest to Sauvignon Blanc across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and more neutral and subtle.
Chardonnay
Chardonnay scores closest to Sauvignon Blanc across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and riper and less green.
South African Chenin Blanc
South African Chenin Blanc scores closest to Sauvignon Blanc across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and riper and less green.
Santorini Assyrtiko
Santorini Assyrtiko scores closest to Sauvignon Blanc across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and riper and less green.
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.