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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 keeping the creamy, rounded mouthfeel, while moving away from too oaky or woody.

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.

Verdicchio

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

Keeps the creamy, rounded mouthfeel.
A little less oaky or woody.

Pfalz Riesling

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

Keeps the creamy, rounded mouthfeel.
A little less oaky or woody.

Douro white

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

Keeps the creamy, rounded mouthfeel.
A little less oaky or woody.

Godello

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

Keeps the creamy, rounded mouthfeel.
A little less oaky or woody.

Encruzado

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

Keeps the creamy, rounded mouthfeel.
A little less oaky or woody.

Vidiano

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

Keeps the creamy, rounded mouthfeel.
A little less oaky or woody.

Soave Classico

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

Keeps the creamy, rounded mouthfeel.
A little less oaky or woody.

Fiano

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

Keeps the creamy, rounded mouthfeel.
A little less oaky or woody.

Closest overall

Nearest neighbours, no change of direction.

Closest matches

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

Verdicchio

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

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

Pfalz Riesling

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

Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and fuller and richer.

Douro white

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

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and fuller and richer.

Godello

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

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and fuller and richer.

Different grape, similar feel

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

Verdicchio

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

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

Pfalz Riesling

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

Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and fuller and richer.

Douro white

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

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and fuller and richer.

Godello

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

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and fuller and richer.

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.

Trebbiano Toscano

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Koshu

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Trebbiano Romagnolo

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Parellada

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

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 they occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Vidal

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

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

Trebbiano Toscano

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Koshu

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Similar but fuller

Keeps the character but adds weight, concentration and mouthfeel.

Pfalz Riesling

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

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

Douro white

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

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

Godello

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

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

Encruzado

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

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

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.

Verdicchio

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

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

Pfalz Riesling

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

Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and fuller and richer.

Douro white

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

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and fuller and richer.

Godello

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

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and fuller and richer.

Similar but more structured

More tannic architecture, for food or for ageing.

Kisi

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

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

Rkatsiteli

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Malvasia

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

Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and softer and rounder.

Mtsvane Kakhuri

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Similar but fresher

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

Jura Savagnin and Chardonnay

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 acidic, and drier.

Savennières

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 acidic, and drier.

Coteaux du Layon

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 acidic, and sweeter.

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.

Similar but softer

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

Roussanne

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

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

Pošip

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

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

Marsanne

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

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

Auxerrois

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

Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and less oaky.

The sparkling version

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

California traditional-method sparkling

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

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

Franciacorta

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

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

Méthode Cap Classique

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

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

Champagne

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 acidic, and more sparkling.

Similar but drier

Reduces perceptible sugar while keeping aromatic character.

Altesse

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.

Douro white

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

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and fuller and richer.

Encruzado

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

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and fuller and richer.

Fiano

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

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

Similar but sweeter

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

Coteaux du Layon

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 acidic, and sweeter.

Canadian Icewine

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Bual

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Eiswein

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

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.

Altesse

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

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

Grechetto

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Xarel·lo

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Friulano

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Similar but more oaky

Adds barrel character, toast and a creamier texture.

California Chardonnay

California Chardonnay scores closest to Sémillon across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and spicier.

Verdicchio

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

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

Pfalz Riesling

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

Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and fuller and richer.

Douro white

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

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and fuller and richer.

Similar but more aromatic

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

Hárslevelű

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

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

Roussanne

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

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

Fiano

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

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and fuller and richer.

Fiano di Avellino

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

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and fuller and richer.

Similar but more restrained

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

Pinot Blanc

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.

Trebbiano d’Abruzzo

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

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

Vernaccia di San Gimignano

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

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

Silvaner

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

Expect: Expect it to be leaner and more cutting, and softer and rounder.

Similar but more floral

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

Fiano

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

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and fuller and richer.

Fiano di Avellino

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

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and fuller and richer.

Hárslevelű

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

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

Roussanne

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

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

Similar but more savoury

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

Savennières

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 acidic, and drier.

Friulano

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

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

Santorini Assyrtiko

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

Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and drier.

Jura Savagnin and Chardonnay

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 acidic, and drier.

Similar but fruitier

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

Vidal

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

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

Hárslevelű

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

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

Pošip

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

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

Petit Manseng

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

Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, 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.

South African Sauvignon Blanc

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

Expect: Expect it to be leaner and more cutting, and fresher and more acidic.

Hunter Valley Semillon

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

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

Same grape, cooler climate

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

Hunter Valley Semillon

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

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

South African Sauvignon Blanc

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

Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and leaner and more cutting.

White Bordeaux

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

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

Same grape, warmer climate

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

White Bordeaux

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

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

South African Sauvignon Blanc

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

Expect: Expect it to be leaner and more cutting, and fresher and more acidic.

Hunter Valley Semillon

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

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

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.

Santorini Assyrtiko

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

Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and drier.

Chardonnay

curated

A comparably low-aromatic, textural white that rewards oak, lees and time.

Expect: Rounder and more overtly fruity, and far more widely available.

Chablis

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 fresher and more acidic.

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.

Something more adventurous

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

Verdicchio

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

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

Pfalz Riesling

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

Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and fuller and richer.

Douro white

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

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and fuller and richer.

Godello

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

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and fuller and richer.

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.

Verdicchio

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

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

Pfalz Riesling

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

Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and fuller and richer.

Douro white

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

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and fuller and richer.

Godello

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

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and fuller and richer.

A step up

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

Santorini Assyrtiko

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

Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and drier.

Australian Chardonnay

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

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

South African Chenin Blanc

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

Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and fresher and more acidic.

White Burgundy

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

Expect: Expect it to be spicier, and more oaky.

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.