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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 keeping that it is properly dry, how much it smells of, before you even taste it and the citrus and green-apple character, while moving away from too green or grassy.

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.

Albariño

curated

A comparably crisp, high-acid Atlantic white for seafood.

Keeps that it is properly dry.
Has some of how much it smells of, before you even taste it, though less of it.
Keeps the citrus and green-apple character.
Substantially less green or grassy.

Mantinia Moschofilero

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

Keeps that it is properly dry.
Keeps how much it smells of, before you even taste it.
Keeps the citrus and green-apple character.
Substantially less green or grassy.

Moschofilero

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

Keeps that it is properly dry.
Keeps how much it smells of, before you even taste it.
Keeps the citrus and green-apple character.
Substantially less green or grassy.

Australian Riesling

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

Keeps that it is properly dry.
Has some of how much it smells of, before you even taste it, though less of it.
Keeps the citrus and green-apple character.
Substantially less green or grassy.

Torrontés

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Keeps that it is properly dry.
Keeps how much it smells of, before you even taste it.
Has some of the citrus and green-apple character, though less of it.
Substantially less green or grassy.

German dry Riesling (trocken)

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

Keeps that it is properly dry.
Has some of how much it smells of, before you even taste it, though less of it.
Keeps the citrus and green-apple character.
Substantially less green or grassy.

Rías Baixas Albariño

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Keeps that it is properly dry.
Has some of how much it smells of, before you even taste it, though less of it.
Keeps the citrus and green-apple character.
Substantially less green or grassy.

Bacchus

curated

England’s signature white variety occupies very similar aromatic territory — elderflower, nettle and grapefruit.

Has some of that it is properly dry, though less of it.
Has some of how much it smells of, before you even taste it, though less of it.
Keeps the citrus and green-apple character.
About as green or grassy as the wine you started from.

Closest overall

Nearest neighbours, no change of direction.

Closest matches

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

Albariño

curated

A comparably crisp, high-acid Atlantic white for seafood.

Expect: Less pungent, more saline and stone-fruited, with more texture.

Mantinia Moschofilero

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

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

Moschofilero

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

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

Australian Riesling

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

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

Different grape, similar feel

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

Mantinia Moschofilero

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

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

Moschofilero

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

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

Albariño

curated

A comparably crisp, high-acid Atlantic white for seafood.

Expect: Less pungent, more saline and stone-fruited, with more texture.

Australian Riesling

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 structure

Same idea, different weight, grip or freshness.

Similar but lighter

Keeps the character but reduces weight, alcohol and density in the mouth.

Mantinia Moschofilero

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

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

Moschofilero

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

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

Loureiro

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Kabinett

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.

Mantinia Moschofilero

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

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

Moschofilero

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

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

Loureiro

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Kabinett

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Similar but fuller

Keeps the character but adds weight, concentration and mouthfeel.

Austrian Riesling

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

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

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.

Wachau Grüner Veltliner

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

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

Vin Jaune

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

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.

Moschofilero

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

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

Albariño

curated

A comparably crisp, high-acid Atlantic white for seafood.

Expect: Less pungent, more saline and stone-fruited, with more texture.

Torrontés

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and broader and softer.

German dry Riesling (trocken)

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

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

Similar but more structured

More tannic architecture, for food or for ageing.

Mtsvane Kakhuri

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

Expect: Expect it to be broader and softer, and riper and less green.

Rkatsiteli

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

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

Trebbiano Spoletino

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.

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

Similar but softer

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

Moschofilero

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

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

Torrontés

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

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

Wachau Grüner Veltliner

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

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

The sparkling version

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

Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Prosecco

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Sekt

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Champagne

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Similar but sweeter

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

Alsace Riesling

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and riper and less green.

Rheingau Riesling

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and riper and less green.

Bacchus

curated

England’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.

Nahe Riesling

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and riper and less green.

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.

Mantinia Moschofilero

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

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

Moschofilero

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

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

Australian Riesling

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

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

Torrontés

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and broader and softer.

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 broader and softer.

Dry Furmint

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

New Zealand Chardonnay

Both come from the same country.

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

Similar but more aromatic

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

Mantinia Moschofilero

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

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

Moschofilero

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

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

Torrontés

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

Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and broader and softer.

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 more herbal and green, 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.

German dry Riesling (trocken)

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Austrian Riesling

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

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 more neutral and subtle, and more herbal and green.

Alvarinho (Monção e Melgaço)

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Similar but more floral

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

Mantinia Moschofilero

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

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

Moschofilero

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

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

Torrontés

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

Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and broader and softer.

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 more herbal and green, and fruitier.

Similar but less floral

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

German dry Riesling (trocken)

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

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

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 more neutral and subtle, and more herbal and green.

Alvarinho (Monção e Melgaço)

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Austrian 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 more savoury

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

Albariño

curated

A comparably crisp, high-acid Atlantic white for seafood.

Expect: Less pungent, more saline and stone-fruited, with more texture.

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.

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 more restrained in fruit.

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 more herbal and green, and fruitier.

Spätlese

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

Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and riper and less green.

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 sweeter, and riper and less green.

Petit Manseng

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

Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and riper and less green.

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

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

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 broader and softer.

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 more herbal and green.

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 more herbal and green.

Same grape, cooler climate

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

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 more neutral and subtle, and more herbal and green.

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 more herbal and green.

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 more herbal and green.

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 more herbal and green, and fruitier.

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 more neutral and subtle, and riper and less green.

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 more herbal and green, and fruitier.

Rueda Verdejo

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 broader and softer.

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 more neutral and subtle, and more herbal and 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.

Albariño

curated

A comparably crisp, high-acid Atlantic white for seafood.

Expect: Less pungent, more saline and stone-fruited, with more texture.

Australian Riesling

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

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

German dry Riesling (trocken)

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

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

Rías Baixas Albariño

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Something more adventurous

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

Mantinia Moschofilero

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

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

Moschofilero

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

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

Torrontés

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and broader and softer.

Bacchus

curated

England’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.

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.

Mantinia Moschofilero

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

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

Moschofilero

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

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

Torrontés

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and broader and softer.

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 more neutral and subtle, and more herbal and green.

A step up

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

Santorini Assyrtiko

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Australian Chardonnay

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

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

Chardonnay

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

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

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.