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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 moving away from too sharp or acidic.

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

Substantially less sharp or acidic.

Soave

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

Substantially less sharp or acidic.

Chardonnay

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

Substantially less sharp or acidic.

Verdicchio

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

Substantially less sharp or acidic.

Trebbiano d’Abruzzo

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

Substantially less sharp or acidic.

Vernaccia di San Gimignano

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

Substantially less sharp or acidic.

Friuli white

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

Substantially less sharp or acidic.

Vermentino

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

Substantially less sharp or acidic.

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

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

Soave

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 more floral, and more fruit-driven.

Chardonnay

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 fuller and richer, and more oaky.

Verdicchio

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 fruit-driven.

Different grape, similar feel

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

Verdicchio

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 fruit-driven.

Trebbiano d’Abruzzo

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

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

Vernaccia di San Gimignano

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

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

Vermentino

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

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

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.

Koshu

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

Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and more neutral and subtle.

Parellada

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

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

Trebbiano Romagnolo

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

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

Trebbiano Toscano

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

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

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.

Moschofilero

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

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

Mantinia Moschofilero

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

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

Hunter Valley Semillon

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

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

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.

Australian Chardonnay

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

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

Chardonnay

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 more oaky, and more fruit-driven.

Chilean Chardonnay

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

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

Douro white

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

Expect: Expect it to be stronger and warmer, 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.

White Burgundy

curated

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

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

Chardonnay

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 fuller and richer, and more oaky.

Verdicchio

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 fruit-driven.

Australian Chardonnay

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

Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and more oaky.

Similar but more structured

More tannic architecture, for food or for ageing.

Friuli white

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

Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and more oaky.

Istrian Malvazija

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

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

Kisi

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

Expect: Expect it to be broader and softer, and fuller and richer.

Mtsvane Kakhuri

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

Expect: Expect it to be broader and softer, and more floral.

Similar but softer

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

Altesse

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 fruit-driven.

Australian Chardonnay

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

Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and more oaky.

Chardonnay

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 fuller and richer, and more oaky.

Chilean Chardonnay

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

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

The sparkling version

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

California traditional-method sparkling

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

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

Franciacorta

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

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

Glera

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

Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and more floral.

Méthode Cap Classique

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

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

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 sweeter, 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 sweeter.

Slavonian Graševina

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

Expect: Expect it to be more fruit-driven.

Welschriesling

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

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

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.

Altesse

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

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

Pinot Grigio

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

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

Retsina

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

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

Catarratto

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

Expect: Expect it to be more fruit-driven.

Similar but more oaky

Adds barrel character, toast and a creamier texture.

Australian Chardonnay

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

Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and fuller and richer.

Chardonnay

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 less oaky, and fuller and richer.

Friuli white

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

Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and fuller and richer.

New Zealand Chardonnay

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

Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and fuller and richer.

Similar but more aromatic

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

Torrontés

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

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

Scheurebe

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

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

Falanghina

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

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

Kerner

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

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

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

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

Expect: Expect it to be more fruit-driven.

Vernaccia di San Gimignano

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

Expect: Expect it to be more fruit-driven.

Pinot Blanc

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.

Koshu

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

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

Similar but more floral

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

Falanghina

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

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

Kerner

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

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

Phoenix

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

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

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 broader and softer.

Similar but more savoury

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

Vin Jaune

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

Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and spicier.

Santorini Assyrtiko

curated

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

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

Amontillado sherry

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

Expect: Expect it to be broader and softer, and more aromatic.

Palo Cortado

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

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

Similar but fruitier

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

Chilean Chardonnay

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

Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and more oaky.

Rheinhessen Riesling

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

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

Godello

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

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

Rueda Verdejo

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

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

Soave

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 more floral, and more fruit-driven.

Friuli white

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

Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and more oaky.

Australian Chardonnay

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

Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and more oaky.

New Zealand Chardonnay

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

Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and more oaky.

Same grape, cooler climate

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

Soave

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 fuller and richer, and more floral.

White Burgundy

curated

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

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

Chardonnay

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 fuller and richer, and more oaky.

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 fresher and more acidic, and fuller and richer.

Same grape, warmer climate

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

Australian Chardonnay

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

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

Chilean Chardonnay

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

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

New Zealand Chardonnay

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

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

White Burgundy

curated

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

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

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

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

Chardonnay

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 fuller and richer, and more oaky.

Australian Chardonnay

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

Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and more oaky.

Pinot Grigio

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

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

Something more adventurous

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

Soave

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 more floral, and more fruit-driven.

Verdicchio

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 fruit-driven.

Trebbiano d’Abruzzo

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

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

Vernaccia di San Gimignano

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

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

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.

Soave

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 more floral, and more fruit-driven.

Verdicchio

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 fruit-driven.

Trebbiano d’Abruzzo

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

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

Vernaccia di San Gimignano

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

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

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.

Australian Chardonnay

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

Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and more oaky.

Santorini Assyrtiko

curated

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

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

South African Chenin Blanc

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and fuller and richer.

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.