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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.

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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.

I like…

The citrus and orchard fruit How fresh and crisp it is The savoury, meaty side That it is properly dry

But it’s a bit…

too sharp or lemony too sharp or acidic too light or thin too alcoholic or warming too savoury or funky too austere

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 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 the savoury, non-fruity character, while moving away from too austere.

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 some of the savoury, non-fruity character, though less of it.
Substantially less austere.

Sémillon

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

Has some of the savoury, non-fruity character, though less of it.
Substantially less austere.

Chenin Blanc

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

Has some of the savoury, non-fruity character, though less of it.
Substantially less austere.

Furmint

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

Has some of the savoury, non-fruity character, though less of it.
Substantially less austere.

Sercial

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

Keeps the savoury, non-fruity character.
Substantially less austere.

Bual

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Keeps the savoury, non-fruity character.
Substantially less austere.

English still white

Both are made from chardonnay, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure, both sit in the same style family.

Has some of the savoury, non-fruity character, though less of it.
Substantially less austere.

Finger Lakes Riesling

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Has some of the savoury, non-fruity character, though less of it.
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 fruit-driven, and more sparkling.

Sémillon

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 broader and softer.

Chenin Blanc

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

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

Furmint

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

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

Sémillon

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 broader and softer.

Chenin Blanc

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

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

Furmint

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

Expect: Expect it to be more fruit-driven, 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

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Muscadet

curated

The Loire’s lean, saline, unoaked white does a very similar job for far less money.

Expect: More neutral and lighter, with a bready lees texture.

Trebbiano Toscano

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Riesling

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

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

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Riesling

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Hunter Valley Semillon

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.

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

Muscadet

curated

The Loire’s lean, saline, unoaked white does a very similar job for far less money.

Expect: More neutral and lighter, with a bready lees texture.

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 more fruit-driven, and fruitier.

Bual

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and fruitier.

White Burgundy

curated

The same grape and region, with barrel and lees influence added.

Expect: Vanilla, hazelnut, butter and considerably more weight.

Santorini Assyrtiko

curated

A comparably taut, saline, mineral white with real structure.

Expect: Fuller and more powerfully saline, from a much hotter place.

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.

Sémillon

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 broader and softer.

Chenin Blanc

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

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

Furmint

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

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

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.

Similar but more structured

More tannic architecture, for food or for ageing.

Albana

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Malvasia

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Rkatsiteli

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Friuli white

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

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

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 more fruit-driven, and broader and softer.

Grechetto

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Alsace Pinot Gris

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

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

Malvasia

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

The sparkling version

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

Cava

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

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

Champagne

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

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

Corpinnat

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

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

English Blanc de Blancs

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

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

Similar but sweeter

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

Chenin Blanc

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

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

Finger Lakes Riesling

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

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

Furmint

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

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

Madeira

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

Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, 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.

Sercial

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

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

Bual

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and fruitier.

Finger Lakes Riesling

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

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

Mosel Riesling

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Similar but more oaky

Adds barrel character, toast and a creamier texture.

Sémillon

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 less oaky.

Chenin Blanc

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

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

Furmint

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

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

White Burgundy

curated

The same grape and region, with barrel and lees influence added.

Expect: Vanilla, hazelnut, butter and considerably more weight.

Similar but more aromatic

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

Finger Lakes Riesling

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

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

Mosel Riesling

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Aidani

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Scheurebe

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

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 more fruit-driven, and broader and softer.

Trebbiano Toscano

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Silvaner

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Muscadet

curated

The Loire’s lean, saline, unoaked white does a very similar job for far less money.

Expect: More neutral and lighter, with a bready lees texture.

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 more fruit-driven, and fruitier.

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.

Mosel Riesling

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Aidani

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Similar but more savoury

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

Santorini Assyrtiko

curated

A 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 more savoury.

Sercial

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

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

Etna Bianco

curated

Volcanic Sicilian Carricante has the same taut, saline, unoaked logic.

Expect: An ashy, volcanic note in place of the chalk.

Similar but fruitier

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

Furmint

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Finger Lakes Riesling

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Mosel Riesling

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Bual

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and fruitier.

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 more fruit-driven.

California Chardonnay

Both are made from chardonnay.

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

Friuli white

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

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

Australian Chardonnay

Both are made from chardonnay.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and fruitier.

Same grape, cooler climate

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

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

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

English Blanc de Blancs

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

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

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.

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 fruitier.

White Burgundy

curated

The 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 fruitier.

New Zealand Chardonnay

Both are made from chardonnay.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and fruitier.

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 fruit-driven, and more oaky.

Mosel Riesling

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Riesling

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

White Burgundy

curated

The same grape and region, with barrel and lees influence added.

Expect: Vanilla, hazelnut, butter and considerably more weight.

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 fruit-driven, and more sparkling.

Sémillon

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 broader and softer.

Furmint

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

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

Sercial

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

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

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 fruit-driven, and more sparkling.

Sémillon

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 broader and softer.

Furmint

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

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

Sercial

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

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

A step up

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

White Burgundy

curated

The same grape and region, with barrel and lees influence added.

Expect: Vanilla, hazelnut, butter and considerably more weight.

Santorini Assyrtiko

curated

A comparably taut, saline, mineral white with real structure.

Expect: Fuller and more powerfully saline, from a much hotter place.

Australian Chardonnay

Both are made from chardonnay.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and fruitier.

South African Chenin Blanc

South African Chenin Blanc scores closest to Chablis across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and fruitier.

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.