If you like this, try…
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 the fresh, crisp acidity and the herbal, green edge, while moving away from too sharp or acidic and too austere.
- You said you like the fresh, crisp acidity and that it is too sharp or acidic. Both are about acidity, so they pull the same axis in opposite directions — the dislike is applied and the like is set aside.
- You said you like the fresh, crisp acidity and that it is too sharp or acidic. Both are about perceived freshness, 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 the fresh, crisp acidity, though less of it.
- Keeps the herbal, green edge.
- A little less sharp or acidic.
- Substantially less austere.
Verdejo
curatedRueda Verdejo is the closest Spanish equivalent — herbal, citrusy and crisp.
- Has some of the fresh, crisp acidity, though less of it.
- Keeps the herbal, green edge.
- Substantially less sharp or acidic.
- About as austere as the wine you started from.
English Bacchus
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Has some of the fresh, crisp acidity, though less of it.
- Keeps the herbal, green edge.
- A little less sharp or acidic.
- Substantially less austere.
Grüner Veltliner
curatedBoth are dry, high-acid, herbal whites with a green, savoury edge.
- Has some of the fresh, crisp acidity, though less of it.
- Has some of the herbal, green edge, though less of it.
- Substantially less sharp or acidic.
- About as austere as the wine you started from.
Rueda Verdejo
Both are made from sauvignon blanc, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
- Has some of the fresh, crisp acidity, though less of it.
- Keeps the herbal, green edge.
- Substantially less sharp or acidic.
- About as austere as the wine you started from.
Welsh white wine
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
- Has some of the fresh, crisp acidity, though less of it.
- Has some of the herbal, green edge, though less of it.
- A little less sharp or acidic.
- Substantially less austere.
Scheurebe
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Has some of the fresh, crisp acidity, though less of it.
- Has noticeably less of the herbal, green edge.
- Substantially less sharp or acidic.
- Substantially less austere.
Welschriesling
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
- Has some of the fresh, crisp acidity, though less of it.
- Has noticeably less of the herbal, green edge.
- Substantially less sharp or acidic.
- 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.
Verdejo
curatedRueda Verdejo is the closest Spanish equivalent — herbal, citrusy and crisp.
Expect: A touch rounder, with a bitter-almond finish.
English Bacchus
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and fresher.
Grüner Veltliner
curatedBoth are dry, high-acid, herbal whites with a green, savoury edge.
Expect: White pepper and lentil-like savouriness in place of gooseberry and passionfruit.
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
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and fresher.
Verdejo
curatedRueda Verdejo is the closest Spanish equivalent — herbal, citrusy and crisp.
Expect: A touch rounder, with a bitter-almond finish.
Welsh white wine
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and fresher.
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.
Trebbiano Toscano
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and more neutral and subtle.
English Bacchus
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and fresher.
Welsh white wine
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, 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.
Mosel Riesling
Mosel Riesling scores closest to Sauvignon Blanc across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and fresher and more acidic.
Riesling
Riesling scores closest to Sauvignon Blanc across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and fresher and more acidic.
Spätlese
Spätlese scores closest to Sauvignon Blanc across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and fresher and more acidic.
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.
Vidal
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and broader and softer.
Wachau Grüner Veltliner
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and riper and less green.
Malvasia
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and softer and rounder.
Alsace Pinot Gris
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and softer and rounder.
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.
Rueda Verdejo
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.
Verdejo
curatedRueda Verdejo is the closest Spanish equivalent — herbal, citrusy and crisp.
Expect: A touch rounder, with a bitter-almond finish.
Scheurebe
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and more floral.
Similar but more structured
More tannic architecture, for food or for ageing.
Albana
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and more neutral and subtle.
Malvasia
Malvasia scores closest to Sauvignon Blanc across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and softer and rounder.
Friuli white
Both are made from sauvignon blanc.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and riper and less green.
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.
Similar but softer
Lowers acidity and sharpness in favour of a broader, gentler feel.
Rueda Verdejo
Both are made from sauvignon blanc, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
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.
Scheurebe
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and more floral.
Welschriesling
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, 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 softer and rounder.
Franciacorta
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and drier.
Méthode Cap Classique
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and drier.
California traditional-method sparkling
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
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.
Welschriesling
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and more neutral and subtle.
Albana
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and more neutral and subtle.
Trebbiano Toscano
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and more neutral and subtle.
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
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and more floral.
Welschriesling
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and more neutral and subtle.
Albana
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and more neutral and subtle.
Trebbiano Toscano
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and more neutral and subtle.
Similar but more oaky
Adds barrel character, toast and a creamier texture.
Sémillon
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and broader and softer.
White Bordeaux
Both are made from sauvignon blanc, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and riper and less green.
Chenin Blanc
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and fresher and more acidic.
Furmint
Furmint scores closest to Sauvignon Blanc across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and fresher and more acidic.
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.
Scheurebe
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
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.
English Bacchus
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, 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
curatedBoth are dry, high-acid, herbal whites with a green, savoury edge.
Expect: White pepper and lentil-like savouriness in place of gooseberry and passionfruit.
Albana
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, 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 drier, and more savoury.
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.
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
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and less oaky.
English Bacchus
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and fresher.
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.
Rueda Verdejo
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.
Verdejo
curatedRueda Verdejo is the closest Spanish equivalent — herbal, citrusy and crisp.
Expect: A touch rounder, with a bitter-almond finish.
Albana
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and more neutral and subtle.
Trebbiano Toscano
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and more neutral and subtle.
Similar but more savoury
Moves away from primary fruit towards earth, herb, meat and umami character.
Grüner Veltliner
curatedBoth are dry, high-acid, herbal whites with a green, savoury edge.
Expect: White pepper and lentil-like savouriness in place of gooseberry and passionfruit.
Silvaner
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and softer and rounder.
Retsina
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and more herbal and green.
Pecorino
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and less oaky.
Similar but fruitier
More obvious, generous fruit flavour, usually from a warmer climate.
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.
Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc
Both are made from sauvignon blanc, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and fresher and more acidic.
Spätlese
Spätlese scores closest to Sauvignon Blanc across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and fresher and more acidic.
Petit Manseng
Petit Manseng scores closest to Sauvignon Blanc across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and fresher and more acidic.
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.
Rueda Verdejo
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.
White Bordeaux
Both are made from sauvignon blanc, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and riper and less green.
Sancerre
Both are made from sauvignon blanc.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and fresher and more acidic.
Chilean Sauvignon Blanc
Both are made from sauvignon blanc.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and fresher and more acidic.
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.
Rueda Verdejo
Both are made from sauvignon blanc, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and fuller and richer.
Sancerre
Both are made from sauvignon blanc.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and fresher and more acidic.
Chilean Sauvignon Blanc
Both are made from sauvignon blanc.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and fresher and more acidic.
Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc
Both are made from sauvignon blanc, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and fresher and more acidic.
Same grape, warmer climate
Typically riper, fuller and more generous in fruit, with higher alcohol.
Friuli white
Both are made from sauvignon blanc.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and riper and less green.
Rueda Verdejo
Both are made from sauvignon blanc, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and lighter.
Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc
Both are made from sauvignon blanc, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and fresher and more acidic.
White Bordeaux
Both are made from sauvignon blanc, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and riper and less green.
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
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and fresher.
Grüner Veltliner
curatedBoth 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 riper and less green, and fresher and more acidic.
Sancerre
Both are made from sauvignon blanc.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and fresher and more acidic.
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.
Rueda Verdejo
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.
Verdejo
curatedRueda Verdejo is the closest Spanish equivalent — herbal, citrusy and crisp.
Expect: A touch rounder, with a bitter-almond finish.
Welsh white wine
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and fresher.
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.
Rueda Verdejo
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.
Welsh white wine
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and fresher.
A step up
The benchmark expressions of the same territory, usually with more concentration, structure and ageing potential.
Chardonnay
Chardonnay scores closest to Sauvignon Blanc across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and riper and less green.
Australian Chardonnay
Australian Chardonnay scores closest to Sauvignon Blanc across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and riper and less green.
White Burgundy
White Burgundy scores closest to Sauvignon Blanc across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and riper and less green.
California Chardonnay
California Chardonnay scores closest to Sauvignon Blanc across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and broader and softer.
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.