If you like this, try…

Wines like Australian Chardonnay

A category deliberately reset from heavy and oaky to taut and citrus-driven — now one of the best-value serious whites in the world. Below: what to try next, grouped by the direction you want to travel.

← Back to Australian Chardonnay

Refine

What do you like about Australian Chardonnay?

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…

How full and weighty it is The creamy, rounded texture The savoury, meaty side That it is properly dry

But it’s a bit…

too tropical or sweet-smelling too heavy too buttery or thick too oaky or woody too savoury or funky 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.
How full and weighty it is: Body is how much the wine seems to fill your mouth — the difference between skimmed and whole milk. It comes mostly from alcohol and ripeness.
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.
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 the full body and weight and the savoury, non-fruity character, while 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.

White Burgundy

curated

The model the reset was aimed at, and now genuinely comparable.

Keeps the full body and weight.
Keeps the savoury, non-fruity character.
About as buttery or thick as the wine you started from.

South African Chenin Blanc

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.

Keeps the full body and weight.
Keeps the savoury, non-fruity character.
About as buttery or thick as the wine you started from.

Valais Petite Arvine

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

Has some of the full body and weight, though less of it.
Keeps the savoury, non-fruity character.
Substantially less buttery or thick.

New Zealand Chardonnay

Both are made from chardonnay, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both sit in the same style family.

Keeps the full body and weight.
Keeps the savoury, non-fruity character.
About as buttery or thick as the wine you started from.

Savennières

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.

Keeps the full body and weight.
Keeps the savoury, non-fruity character.
About as buttery or thick as the wine you started from.

Austrian Riesling

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

Keeps the full body and weight.
Keeps the savoury, non-fruity character.
About as buttery or thick as the wine you started from.

Chablis

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

Has some of the full body and weight, though less of it.
Keeps the savoury, non-fruity character.
Substantially less buttery or thick.

Friuli white

Both are made from chardonnay, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both sit in the same style family.

Keeps the full body and weight.
Keeps the savoury, non-fruity character.
About as buttery or thick 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.

White Burgundy

curated

The model the reset was aimed at, and now genuinely comparable.

Expect: More nutty and mineral, at several times the price.

South African Chenin Blanc

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.

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

Valais Petite Arvine

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

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and sweeter.

New Zealand Chardonnay

Both are made from chardonnay, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both sit in the same style family.

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

Different grape, similar feel

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

South African Chenin Blanc

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.

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

Valais Petite Arvine

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

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and sweeter.

Savennières

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.

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

Austrian Riesling

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

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

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.

Chablis

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

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and lighter in alcohol.

Etna Bianco

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

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and lighter in alcohol.

Carricante

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

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and lighter in alcohol.

Juhfark

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

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and lighter in alcohol.

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.

Chablis

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

Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, and lighter.

Etna Bianco

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

Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, and lighter.

Carricante

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

Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, and lighter.

Juhfark

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

Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, and lighter.

Similar but fuller

Keeps the character but adds weight, concentration and mouthfeel.

Pedro Ximénez

Pedro Ximénez scores closest to Australian Chardonnay across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

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

Condrieu

Both sit in the same style family.

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

Viognier

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

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

White Burgundy

curated

The model the reset was aimed at, and now genuinely comparable.

Expect: More nutty and mineral, at several times the price.

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.

White Burgundy

curated

The model the reset was aimed at, and now genuinely comparable.

Expect: More nutty and mineral, at several times the price.

South African Chenin Blanc

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.

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

New Zealand Chardonnay

Both are made from chardonnay, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both sit in the same style family.

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

Savennières

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.

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

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 rounder and creamier in texture, and softer and rounder.

Friuli white

Both are made from chardonnay, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both sit in the same style family.

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

Rkatsiteli

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

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

Brda Rebula

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

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and more fruit-driven.

Similar but fresher

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

Valais Petite Arvine

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

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and sweeter.

Savennières

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.

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

Chablis

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

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and more restrained in fruit.

Austrian Riesling

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

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

Similar but softer

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

California Chardonnay

curated

The style Australia moved away from.

Expect: Riper, rounder and much more overtly oaked and buttery.

Pošip

Both sit in the same style family.

Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and more fruit-driven.

Alsace Pinot Gris

Both sit in the same style family.

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

Grenache Blanc

Grenache Blanc scores closest to Australian Chardonnay 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.

English sparkling wine

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

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and lighter in alcohol.

Austrian Sekt

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

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and more fruit-driven.

Sekt

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

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and more fruit-driven.

Cava

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

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

Similar but sweeter

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

Valais Petite Arvine

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

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

Szamorodni

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

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

Bual

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

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

Madeira

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

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

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.

Austrian Riesling

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

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

Greco

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

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

Sercial

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

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and stronger and warmer.

Carricante

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

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and more restrained in fruit.

Similar but more oaky

Adds barrel character, toast and a creamier texture.

California Chardonnay

curated

The style Australia moved away from.

Expect: Riper, rounder and much more overtly oaked and buttery.

White Burgundy

curated

The model the reset was aimed at, and now genuinely comparable.

Expect: More nutty and mineral, at several times the price.

South African Chenin Blanc

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.

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

New Zealand Chardonnay

Both are made from chardonnay, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both sit in the same style family.

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

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.

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and more fruit-driven.

Valais Petite Arvine

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

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and sweeter.

Australian Riesling

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

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

Albariño

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

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and more fruit-driven.

Similar but more restrained

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

Trebbiano d’Abruzzo

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Franken Silvaner

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Vernaccia di San Gimignano

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Palomino Fino

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and more restrained in fruit.

Similar but more floral

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

Alsace Riesling

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

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and more fruit-driven.

Australian Riesling

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

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

Albariño

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

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and more fruit-driven.

Rías Baixas Albariño

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

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and more fruit-driven.

Similar but more savoury

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

Santorini Assyrtiko

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Vin Jaune

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and more restrained in fruit.

Chianti Classico Riserva

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

Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and more restrained in fruit.

Taurasi

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

Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and more restrained in fruit.

Similar but fruitier

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

Coteaux du Layon

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and more fruit-driven.

Petit Manseng

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be more fruit-driven, and fruitier.

Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc

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

Expect: Expect it to be more fruit-driven, and lighter.

Spätlese

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

Expect: Expect it to be more fruit-driven, and lighter.

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.

White Burgundy

curated

The model the reset was aimed at, and now genuinely comparable.

Expect: More nutty and mineral, at several times the price.

New Zealand Chardonnay

Both are made from chardonnay, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both sit in the same style family.

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

Chablis

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

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and more restrained in fruit.

Friuli white

Both are made from chardonnay, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both sit in the same style family.

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

Same grape, cooler climate

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

Chablis

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

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and more restrained in fruit.

Jura Savagnin and Chardonnay

Both are made from chardonnay, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both sit in the same style family.

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

English still white

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

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and more fruit-driven.

English sparkling wine

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

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and lighter in alcohol.

Same grape, warmer climate

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

New Zealand Chardonnay

Both are made from chardonnay, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both sit in the same style family.

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

Chilean Chardonnay

Both are made from chardonnay, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both sit in the same style family.

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

White Burgundy

curated

The model the reset was aimed at, and now genuinely comparable.

Expect: More nutty and mineral, at several times the price.

California Chardonnay

curated

The style Australia moved away from.

Expect: Riper, rounder and much more overtly oaked and buttery.

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.

White Burgundy

curated

The model the reset was aimed at, and now genuinely comparable.

Expect: More nutty and mineral, at several times the price.

South African Chenin Blanc

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.

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

Chablis

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

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and more restrained in fruit.

German dry Riesling (trocken)

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

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and more fruit-driven.

Something more adventurous

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

Valais Petite Arvine

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

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and sweeter.

New Zealand Chardonnay

Both are made from chardonnay, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both sit in the same style family.

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

Savennières

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.

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

Austrian Riesling

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

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

Valais Petite Arvine

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

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and sweeter.

New Zealand Chardonnay

Both are made from chardonnay, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both sit in the same style family.

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

Savennières

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.

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

Austrian Riesling

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

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

A step up

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

White Burgundy

curated

The model the reset was aimed at, and now genuinely comparable.

Expect: More nutty and mineral, at several times the price.

Santorini Assyrtiko

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

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

South African Chenin Blanc

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.

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

Chablis

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

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and more restrained in fruit.

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.