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Wines like Sémillon

A thin-skinned, botrytis-prone variety essential to Sauternes and to a unique long-lived dry style in the Hunter Valley. Below: what to try next, grouped by the direction you want to travel.

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What do you like about Sémillon?

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 creamy, rounded texture

But it’s a bit…

too sharp or lemony too light or thin too buttery or thick too oaky or woody too savoury or funky too sweet

Clear all

What these words mean

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 light it is: A wine you can drink without it feeling like a commitment. Usually lower in alcohol as well as lighter in the mouth.
The creamy, rounded texture: A soft, almost dairy-like roundness. In white wine it usually comes from malolactic fermentation or from time on the lees, not from the grape.
The vanilla and oak: Vanilla, toast, coconut, sweet spice, sometimes smoke. It comes from the barrel rather than the grape, which is why the same grape can taste completely different with and without it.
The savoury, meaty side: Leather, olive, cured meat, dried herbs, tobacco. It is what people mean by calling a wine "serious" rather than "fruity", and it comes with age as well as with place.
The touch of sweetness: Actual sugar left in the wine, which is a different thing from tasting fruity. A wine can smell of ripe peach and be completely dry.

Looking for something moving away from too buttery or thick.

Based on what you said

Ranked against the qualities you named rather than against the wine as a whole. The directions below are refined the same way.

Chablis

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

Substantially less buttery or thick.

South African Sauvignon Blanc

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

Substantially less buttery or thick.

Hunter Valley Semillon

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

Substantially less buttery or thick.

Alpine white

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

Substantially less buttery or thick.

Brda Rebula

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

Substantially less buttery or thick.

Aligoté

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

Substantially less buttery or thick.

Picpoul de Pinet

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

Substantially less buttery or thick.

English still white

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

Substantially less buttery or thick.

Closest overall

Nearest neighbours, no change of direction.

Closest matches

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

Chablis

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

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and fresher.

South African Sauvignon Blanc

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

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and more herbal and green.

Hunter Valley Semillon

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

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

Alpine white

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

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

Different grape, similar feel

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

Chablis

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

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and fresher.

Alpine white

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

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

Brda Rebula

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

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and more aromatic.

Aligoté

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

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.

Alpine white

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

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

Hunter Valley Semillon

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

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

Jacquère

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

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and lighter.

Mosel Riesling

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

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

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

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

Mosel Riesling

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Alpine white

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

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

Melon de Bourgogne

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

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

Similar but fuller

Keeps the character but adds weight, concentration and mouthfeel.

Furmint

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

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

South African Chenin Blanc

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Savagnin

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

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

Savennières

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

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

Chablis

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

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and fresher.

South African Sauvignon Blanc

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

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and more herbal and green.

Hunter Valley Semillon

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

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

Alpine white

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

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

Similar but more structured

More tannic architecture, for food or for ageing.

Brda Rebula

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

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and more aromatic.

Trebbiano Spoletino

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

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

Mtsvane Kakhuri

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

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

Istrian Malvazija

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

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

Similar but fresher

Raises acidity and overall lift, usually by moving to a cooler-climate expression.

Aligoté

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

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and fresher.

Alpine white

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

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

Alsace Riesling

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

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

Australian Riesling

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

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

Similar but softer

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

Roussanne

Both come from the same country.

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

Pošip

Pošip scores closest to Sémillon across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

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

Malvasia

Malvasia scores closest to Sémillon across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

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

Malagousia

Malagousia scores closest to Sémillon across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

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

The sparkling version

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

Crémant

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

Expect: Expect it to be more sparkling, and fresher.

English sparkling wine

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

Expect: Expect it to be more sparkling, and fresher.

Austrian Sekt

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

Expect: Expect it to be more sparkling, and fresher.

English Blanc de Blancs

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

Expect: Expect it to be more sparkling, and fresher.

Similar but drier

Reduces perceptible sugar while keeping aromatic character.

Aligoté

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

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and fresher.

Alpine white

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

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

Arinto

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

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

Brda Rebula

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

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and more aromatic.

Similar but sweeter

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

Coteaux du Layon

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

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

Moscato d’Asti

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Bual

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

Expect: Expect it to be rounder and creamier in texture, and less oaky.

Auslese

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be rounder and creamier in texture, and more aromatic.

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.

Alsace Riesling

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

Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and more floral.

Arinto

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

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and fresher.

Australian Riesling

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

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

Carricante

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

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and fresher.

Similar but more oaky

Adds barrel character, toast and a creamier texture.

Chenin Blanc

curated

Both are waxy, high-acid, ageworthy varieties made dry and sweet.

Expect: Higher acidity and a quince-and-honey rather than lanolin character.

Chablis

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

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

South African Sauvignon Blanc

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

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

Alpine white

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

Expect: Expect it to be leaner and more cutting, and less oaky.

Similar but more aromatic

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

Albariño

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

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and fresher.

Alsace Riesling

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

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

Australian Riesling

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Finger Lakes Riesling

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

Expect: Expect it to be leaner and more cutting, and less oaky.

Similar but more restrained

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

Gavi

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

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

Melon de Bourgogne

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

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

Muscadet

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

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

Cortese

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

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

Similar but more floral

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

Albariño

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

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and fresher.

Alsace Riesling

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

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

Australian Riesling

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

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

Finger Lakes Riesling

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

Expect: Expect it to be leaner and more cutting, and less oaky.

Similar but more savoury

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

Muscadet

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

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

Chablis

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

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and fresher.

Hunter Valley Semillon

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

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

Etna Bianco

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

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and fresher.

Similar but fruitier

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

Spätlese

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

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

Montlouis-sur-Loire

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

Expect: Expect it to be fresher, and more floral.

Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Gros Manseng

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

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

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.

South African Sauvignon Blanc

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

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and more herbal and green.

Hunter Valley Semillon

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

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

Same grape, cooler climate

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

Hunter Valley Semillon

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

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

South African Sauvignon Blanc

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

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and more herbal and green.

White Bordeaux

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

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

Same grape, warmer climate

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

South African Sauvignon Blanc

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

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and lighter.

Hunter Valley Semillon

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

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and drier.

White Bordeaux

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

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

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.

Chablis

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

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and fresher.

Sancerre

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

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

German dry Riesling (trocken)

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

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and more aromatic.

Albariño

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

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and more aromatic.

Something more adventurous

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

South African Sauvignon Blanc

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

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and more herbal and green.

Hunter Valley Semillon

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

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

Alpine white

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

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

Brda Rebula

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

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and more aromatic.

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.

South African Sauvignon Blanc

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

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and more herbal and green.

Hunter Valley Semillon

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

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

Alpine white

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

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

Brda Rebula

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

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and more aromatic.

A step up

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

South African Chenin Blanc

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

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

Santorini Assyrtiko

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

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

White Burgundy

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

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

Australian Chardonnay

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

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.