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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

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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 sweet, too oaky or woody and too buttery or thick.

You said you like the creamy, rounded mouthfeel and that it is too buttery or thick. Both are about texture, so they pull the same axis in opposite directions — the dislike is applied and the like is set aside.
You said you like the creamy, rounded mouthfeel and that it is too buttery or thick. Both are about acidity, 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.

Montlouis-sur-Loire

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

Has some of the creamy, rounded mouthfeel, though less of it.
Substantially less sweet.
A little less oaky or woody.
Substantially less buttery or thick.

English still white

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

Has some of the creamy, rounded mouthfeel, though less of it.
Substantially less sweet.
A little less oaky or woody.
Substantially less buttery or thick.

Rheingau Riesling

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

Has some of the creamy, rounded mouthfeel, though less of it.
Substantially less sweet.
A little less oaky or woody.
Substantially less buttery or thick.

Valais Petite Arvine

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

Has some of the creamy, rounded mouthfeel, though less of it.
Substantially less sweet.
A little less oaky or woody.
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.

Has some of the creamy, rounded mouthfeel, though less of it.
Substantially less sweet.
A little less oaky or woody.
Substantially less buttery or thick.

Chablis

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

Has some of the creamy, rounded mouthfeel, though less of it.
Substantially less sweet.
A little less oaky or woody.
Substantially less buttery or thick.

Aligoté

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

Has some of the creamy, rounded mouthfeel, though less of it.
Substantially less sweet.
A little less oaky or woody.
Substantially less buttery or thick.

Rheinhessen Riesling

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

Has some of the creamy, rounded mouthfeel, though less of it.
Substantially less sweet.
A little less oaky or woody.
A little 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.

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.

English still white

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

Expect: Expect it to be fresher, and lighter.

Rheingau Riesling

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

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

Valais Petite Arvine

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

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

Different grape, similar feel

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

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.

English still white

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

Expect: Expect it to be fresher, and lighter.

Rheingau Riesling

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

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

Valais Petite Arvine

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

Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, 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.

Hunter Valley Semillon

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

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

Jacquère

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

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

Hondarrabi Zuri

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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 drier, 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 drier, and less oaky.

Kabinett

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Alpine white

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

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

Melon de Bourgogne

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, 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.

Savennières

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

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

Pfalz Riesling

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

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

Assyrtiko

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

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

Santorini Assyrtiko

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

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.

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.

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 drier, and rounder and creamier in texture.

English still white

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

Expect: Expect it to be fresher, and lighter.

Rheingau Riesling

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

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

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.

Mtsvane Kakhuri

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Rkatsiteli

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Istrian Malvazija

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

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

Similar but fresher

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

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 more floral, 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.

English still white

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

Expect: Expect it to be fresher, and lighter.

Rheingau Riesling

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

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

Similar but softer

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

Roussanne

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

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

Pošip

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Malagousia

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

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

Auxerrois

Both come from the same country.

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

The sparkling version

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

Austrian Sekt

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

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

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 Blanc de Blancs

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

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.

Similar but drier

Reduces perceptible sugar while keeping aromatic character.

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.

South African Sauvignon Blanc

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

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

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 still white

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

Expect: Expect it to be fresher, and lighter.

Similar but sweeter

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

Bual

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

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

Moscato d’Asti

Moscato d’Asti scores closest to Sémillon across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

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

Auslese

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

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

Asti

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

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

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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 rounder and creamier in texture.

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 more oaky, 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 drier, and rounder and creamier in texture.

South African Chenin Blanc

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Similar but more aromatic

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

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.

Pouilly-Fumé

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

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

Albariño

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

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and fresher.

Rías Baixas Albariño

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.

Pinot Blanc

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

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

Melon de Bourgogne

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

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

Trebbiano d’Abruzzo

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

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

Vernaccia di San Gimignano

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

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

Similar but more floral

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

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 fruit-driven.

Garganega

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

Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, 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.

Albariño

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

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and fresher.

Similar but more savoury

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

Muscadet

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

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

Savennières

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc

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

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

Kerner

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

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

Change the place

Keep the grape, move it somewhere else.

Same grape, somewhere else

Holds the variety constant and changes the place, which is often a bigger change than swapping the grape.

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 they occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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 drier, and more oaky.

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.

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 drier, and more oaky.

Hunter Valley Semillon

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

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

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.

Pouilly-Fumé

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

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

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.

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.

English still white

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

Expect: Expect it to be fresher, and lighter.

Rheingau Riesling

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

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

Valais Petite Arvine

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

Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, 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.

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.

English still white

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

Expect: Expect it to be fresher, and lighter.

Rheingau Riesling

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

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

Valais Petite Arvine

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

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

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 drier, and rounder and creamier in texture.

South African Chenin Blanc

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Australian Chardonnay

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

White Burgundy

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

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and spicier.

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.