If you like this, try…
Wines like Chablis
Unoaked Chardonnay from the coolest corner of Burgundy: citrus, green apple, high acidity and a distinctly saline finish. Below: what to try next, grouped by the direction you want to travel.
Refine
What do you like about Chablis?
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
- 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 fresh and crisp it is
- Acidity is what makes your mouth water and makes a wine feel refreshing rather than heavy. It is the single most useful thing to know about your own taste.
- 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 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 austere.
- You said you like that it is properly dry and that it is too austere. Both are about sweetness, 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.
Vouvray
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
- Has noticeably less of that it is properly dry.
- Substantially less austere.
Chenin Blanc
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Has noticeably less of that it is properly dry.
- Substantially less austere.
Sémillon
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
- Has noticeably less of that it is properly dry.
- Substantially less austere.
Furmint
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Has noticeably less of that it is properly dry.
- Substantially less austere.
Albana
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Has noticeably less of that it is properly dry.
- Substantially less austere.
Petite Arvine
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Has noticeably less of that it is properly dry.
- Substantially less austere.
Welschriesling
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Has noticeably less of that it is properly dry.
- Substantially less austere.
Finger Lakes Riesling
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Has noticeably less of that it is properly dry.
- Substantially less austere.
Closest overall
Nearest neighbours, no change of direction.
Closest matches
The nearest overall neighbours across structure and flavour, with no deliberate change of direction.
Vouvray
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 more floral.
Chenin Blanc
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and more fruit-driven.
Sémillon
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be broader and softer, and softer and rounder.
Furmint
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and fruitier.
Different grape, similar feel
Deliberately excludes the variety you already know, to find a genuinely new wine that fills the same role.
Vouvray
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 more floral.
Chenin Blanc
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and more fruit-driven.
Sémillon
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be broader and softer, and softer and rounder.
Furmint
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and fruitier.
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.
Mosel Riesling
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more floral, and lighter.
Trebbiano Toscano
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more fruit-driven, and less oaky.
Riesling
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more fruit-driven, and more floral.
Finger Lakes Riesling
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more floral, and stronger and warmer.
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.
Mosel Riesling
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and lighter in alcohol.
Spätlese
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more floral, and fruitier.
Riesling
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more fruit-driven, and more floral.
Vinho Verde
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and more fruit-driven.
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 fruitier, and more oaky.
Petit Manseng
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and more fruit-driven.
Vidal
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more fruit-driven, and broader and softer.
Malvasia
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and more fruit-driven.
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.
Chenin Blanc
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and more fruit-driven.
Sémillon
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be broader and softer, and softer and rounder.
Furmint
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and fruitier.
Petit Manseng
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and more fruit-driven.
Similar but more structured
More tannic architecture, for food or for ageing.
Albana
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more fruit-driven, and softer and rounder.
Malvasia
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and more fruit-driven.
Rkatsiteli
Rkatsiteli scores closest to Chablis across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and less oaky.
Brda Rebula
Both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and more fruit-driven.
Similar but softer
Lowers acidity and sharpness in favour of a broader, gentler feel.
Sémillon
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be broader and softer, and more oaky.
Vidal
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more fruit-driven, and broader and softer.
Malvasia
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more fruit-driven, and broader and softer.
Hárslevelű
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more floral, and more fruit-driven.
The sparkling version
Moves to a sparkling expression while holding the flavour and weight as close as possible.
Crémant
Both are made from chardonnay, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure, both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and more sparkling.
Vouvray
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be stiller, and more floral.
Champagne
Both are made from chardonnay, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure, both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and more sparkling.
English sparkling wine
Both are made from chardonnay, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and more sparkling.
Similar but sweeter
Adds perceptible sweetness, which also softens acidity and chilli heat.
Albana
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more fruit-driven, and softer and rounder.
Chenin Blanc
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and more fruit-driven.
Finger Lakes Riesling
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more floral, and less oaky.
Furmint
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and fruitier.
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.
Albana
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more fruit-driven, and softer and rounder.
Petite Arvine
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more fruit-driven, and more aromatic.
Welschriesling
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more fruit-driven, and more floral.
Finger Lakes Riesling
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more floral, and lighter.
Similar but more oaky
Adds barrel character, toast and a creamier texture.
Chenin Blanc
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and more fruit-driven.
Sémillon
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 broader and softer.
Furmint
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and fuller and richer.
California Chardonnay
Both are made from chardonnay.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and broader and softer.
Similar but more aromatic
More to smell before you taste — floral, fruity or spiced aromatics.
Scheurebe
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and more fruit-driven.
Finger Lakes Riesling
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and lighter.
Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and softer and rounder.
Spätlese
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, 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.
Sémillon
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be broader and softer, and softer and rounder.
Trebbiano Toscano
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more fruit-driven, and less oaky.
Seyval Blanc
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and more fruit-driven.
Silvaner
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and softer and rounder.
Similar but more floral
Pushes specifically towards rose, violet, blossom and elderflower character.
Finger Lakes Riesling
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and lighter.
Riesling
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more fruit-driven, and less oaky.
Spätlese
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and more fruit-driven.
Muscadelle
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 more fruit-driven.
Similar but more savoury
Moves away from primary fruit towards earth, herb, meat and umami character.
Santorini Assyrtiko
curatedA comparably taut, saline, mineral white with real structure.
Expect: Fuller and more powerfully saline, from a much hotter place.
Vin Jaune
Both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and spicier.
Vouvray
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be more fruit-driven, and more sparkling.
Chenin Blanc
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more fruit-driven, and fruitier.
Similar but fruitier
More obvious, generous fruit flavour, usually from a warmer climate.
Petit Manseng
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and fuller and richer.
Spätlese
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and more floral.
Furmint
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and more oaky.
Petite Arvine
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
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.
English still white
Both are made from chardonnay, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure, both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and lighter.
California Chardonnay
Both are made from chardonnay.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and broader and softer.
Soave
Both are made from chardonnay, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and more floral.
Friuli white
Both are made from chardonnay.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and fuller and richer.
Same grape, cooler climate
Typically fresher, lighter and more herbal, with lower alcohol.
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.
English still white
Both are made from chardonnay, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure, both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and more fruit-driven.
Jura Savagnin and Chardonnay
Both are made from chardonnay, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and fuller and richer.
Same grape, warmer climate
Typically riper, fuller and more generous in fruit, with higher alcohol.
California Chardonnay
Both are made from chardonnay.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and broader and softer.
Australian Chardonnay
Both are made from chardonnay.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and more oaky.
New Zealand Chardonnay
Both are made from chardonnay.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and more oaky.
Chilean Chardonnay
Both are made from chardonnay.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and more 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.
Chenin Blanc
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and more fruit-driven.
Riesling
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more fruit-driven, and more floral.
Mosel Riesling
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and more floral.
Vinho Verde
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and more fruit-driven.
Something more adventurous
Less familiar wines that occupy similar territory — the interesting end of the shelf.
Vouvray
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 more floral.
Sémillon
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be broader and softer, and softer and rounder.
Furmint
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and fruitier.
Albana
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more fruit-driven, and softer and rounder.
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.
Vouvray
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 more floral.
Sémillon
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be broader and softer, and softer and rounder.
Furmint
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and fruitier.
Albana
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more fruit-driven, and softer and rounder.
A step up
The benchmark expressions of the same territory, usually with more concentration, structure and ageing potential.
Santorini Assyrtiko
curatedA comparably taut, saline, mineral white with real structure.
Expect: Fuller and more powerfully saline, from a much hotter place.
White Burgundy
curatedThe same grape and region, with barrel and lees influence added.
Expect: Vanilla, hazelnut, butter and considerably more weight.
Australian Chardonnay
Both are made from chardonnay.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and fuller and richer.
South African Chenin Blanc
South African Chenin Blanc scores closest to Chablis across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and fuller and richer.
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.