If you like this, try…
Wines like Xarel·lo
The most structured of the three Cava grapes, giving body, acidity and ageing capacity. Below: what to try next, grouped by the direction you want to travel.
Refine
What do you like about Xarel·lo?
Optional — the results below already work without it. But “I like Malbec” is at least four different preferences wearing one name, and saying which one you mean changes the answer substantially. Only qualities this wine actually has are offered.
What these words mean
- 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.
- That it is not too strong
- Alcohol you notice as warmth at the back of the throat. Some people find it a pleasant part of a big red and some find it tiring.
- 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.
- That it is not oaky
- No barrel character — just the fruit and the acidity. Chablis and Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc are the reference points.
- 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.
- 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, while moving away from too savoury or funky, too buttery or thick, too light or thin and too plain or too simple.
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.
Macabeo
curatedIts partner in Cava, and the obvious comparison.
- Keeps that it is properly dry.
- A little less savoury or funky.
- A little less buttery or thick.
- About as light or thin as the wine you started from.
- Substantially less plain or too simple.
Dry Furmint
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Keeps that it is properly dry.
- About as savoury or funky as the wine you started from.
- About as buttery or thick as the wine you started from.
- A little less light or thin.
- Substantially less plain or too simple.
Chilean Chardonnay
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Keeps that it is properly dry.
- About as savoury or funky as the wine you started from.
- About as buttery or thick as the wine you started from.
- Substantially less light or thin.
- Substantially less plain or too simple.
Sauvignon Blanc
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
- Keeps that it is properly dry.
- Substantially less savoury or funky.
- Substantially less buttery or thick.
- About as light or thin as the wine you started from.
- Substantially less plain or too simple.
South African Chenin Blanc
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
- Keeps that it is properly dry.
- More savoury or funky, not less.
- About as buttery or thick as the wine you started from.
- Substantially less light or thin.
- Substantially less plain or too simple.
Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
- Keeps that it is properly dry.
- Substantially less savoury or funky.
- Substantially less buttery or thick.
- About as light or thin as the wine you started from.
- Substantially less plain or too simple.
Chardonnay
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
- Keeps that it is properly dry.
- About as savoury or funky as the wine you started from.
- About as buttery or thick as the wine you started from.
- A little less light or thin.
- Substantially less plain or too simple.
German dry Riesling (trocken)
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
- Keeps that it is properly dry.
- About as savoury or funky as the wine you started from.
- Substantially less buttery or thick.
- A little less light or thin.
- Substantially less plain or too simple.
Closest overall
Nearest neighbours, no change of direction.
Closest matches
The nearest overall neighbours across structure and flavour, with no deliberate change of direction.
Macabeo
curatedIts partner in Cava, and the obvious comparison.
Expect: Macabeo is softer, floral and less structured; Xarel·lo carries the backbone.
Dry Furmint
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and rounder and creamier in texture.
Chilean Chardonnay
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and rounder and creamier in texture.
Sauvignon Blanc
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and less oaky.
Different grape, similar feel
Deliberately excludes the variety you already know, to find a genuinely new wine that fills the same role.
Dry Furmint
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and rounder and creamier in texture.
Chilean Chardonnay
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and rounder and creamier in texture.
Sauvignon Blanc
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and less oaky.
South African Chenin Blanc
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and lighter.
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
Alpine white scores closest to Xarel·lo across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and lighter in alcohol.
Loureiro
Loureiro scores closest to Xarel·lo across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and less oaky.
Koshu
Koshu scores closest to Xarel·lo across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and lighter in alcohol.
Colombard
Colombard scores closest to Xarel·lo across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and less oaky.
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.
Loureiro
Loureiro scores closest to Xarel·lo across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and lighter in alcohol.
Alpine white
Alpine white scores closest to Xarel·lo across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and lighter in alcohol.
Colombard
Colombard scores closest to Xarel·lo across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and lighter in alcohol.
Moschofilero
Moschofilero scores closest to Xarel·lo across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and lighter in alcohol.
Similar but fuller
Keeps the character but adds weight, concentration and mouthfeel.
Condrieu
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be rounder and creamier in texture, and softer and rounder.
Viognier
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be rounder and creamier in texture, and softer and rounder.
Dry Furmint
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and rounder and creamier in texture.
Chilean Chardonnay
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, 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.
Dry Furmint
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and rounder and creamier in texture.
Chilean Chardonnay
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and rounder and creamier in texture.
South African Chenin Blanc
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and lighter.
Chardonnay
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and rounder and creamier in texture.
Similar but more structured
More tannic architecture, for food or for ageing.
Mtsvane Kakhuri
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and less oaky.
Friuli white
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and lighter.
Brda Rebula
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and less oaky.
Istrian Malvazija
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and less oaky.
Similar but fresher
Raises acidity and overall lift, usually by moving to a cooler-climate expression.
Dry Furmint
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and rounder and creamier in texture.
Sauvignon Blanc
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and less oaky.
Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and less oaky.
German dry Riesling (trocken)
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and less oaky.
Similar but softer
Lowers acidity and sharpness in favour of a broader, gentler feel.
Pošip
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and lighter.
Condrieu
Condrieu scores closest to Xarel·lo across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and rounder and creamier in texture.
Viognier
Viognier scores closest to Xarel·lo across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and rounder and creamier in texture.
Roussanne
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and lighter.
The sparkling version
Moves to a sparkling expression while holding the flavour and weight as close as possible.
Austrian Sekt
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and sweeter.
Sekt
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and sweeter.
Crémant
Crémant scores closest to Xarel·lo across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and sweeter.
Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore
Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore scores closest to Xarel·lo across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and less oaky.
Similar but sweeter
Adds perceptible sweetness, which also softens acidity and chilli heat.
Montlouis-sur-Loire
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and lighter.
Pfalz Riesling
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and lighter.
Furmint
Furmint scores closest to Xarel·lo across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and lighter.
Rheingau Riesling
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and lighter.
Change the flavour
Same shape, different aromatic character.
Similar but more oaky
Adds barrel character, toast and a creamier texture.
Dry Furmint
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and rounder and creamier in texture.
Chilean Chardonnay
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and rounder and creamier in texture.
South African Chenin Blanc
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and lighter.
Chardonnay
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and rounder and creamier in texture.
Similar but more aromatic
More to smell before you taste — floral, fruity or spiced aromatics.
Sauvignon Blanc
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and less oaky.
Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and less oaky.
Albariño
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and less oaky.
Rías Baixas Albariño
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, 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.
Pinot Blanc
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and less oaky.
Trebbiano d’Abruzzo
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and less oaky.
Vernaccia di San Gimignano
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and less oaky.
Gavi
Gavi scores closest to Xarel·lo across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and less oaky.
Similar but more floral
Pushes specifically towards rose, violet, blossom and elderflower character.
Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and less oaky.
Albariño
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and less oaky.
Rías Baixas Albariño
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and less oaky.
Roussanne
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and lighter.
Similar but more savoury
Moves away from primary fruit towards earth, herb, meat and umami character.
Savennières
Savennières scores closest to Xarel·lo across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and lighter.
White Burgundy
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and lighter.
Friuli white
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and lighter.
Assyrtiko
Assyrtiko scores closest to Xarel·lo across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and lighter.
Similar but fruitier
More obvious, generous fruit flavour, usually from a warmer climate.
Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and less oaky.
Sauvignon Blanc
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and less oaky.
Pošip
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and lighter.
Wachau Grüner Veltliner
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and lighter.
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.
Sauvignon Blanc
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and less oaky.
South African Chenin Blanc
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and lighter.
Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and less oaky.
Chardonnay
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and rounder and creamier in texture.
Something more adventurous
Less familiar wines that occupy similar territory — the interesting end of the shelf.
Dry Furmint
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and rounder and creamier in texture.
Chilean Chardonnay
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and rounder and creamier in texture.
Štajerska Šipon
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and less oaky.
Godello
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and less oaky.
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.
Dry Furmint
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and rounder and creamier in texture.
Chilean Chardonnay
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and rounder and creamier in texture.
Štajerska Šipon
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and less oaky.
Godello
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and less oaky.
A step up
The benchmark expressions of the same territory, usually with more concentration, structure and ageing potential.
South African Chenin Blanc
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and lighter.
Australian Chardonnay
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and lighter.
White Burgundy
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and lighter.
Chardonnay
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and rounder and creamier in texture.
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.