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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 that it is properly dry and the savoury, non-fruity character, while moving away from too sharp or acidic and 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.

White Burgundy

curated

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

Keeps that it is properly dry.
Keeps the savoury, non-fruity character.
Substantially less sharp or acidic.
About as austere as the wine you started from.

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

Garganega

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

Has some of that it is properly dry, though less of it.
Has some of the savoury, non-fruity character, though less of it.
Substantially less sharp or acidic.
Substantially less austere.

Grechetto

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

Has some of that it is properly dry, though less of it.
Has some of the savoury, non-fruity character, though less of it.
Substantially less sharp or acidic.
Substantially less austere.

Friuli white

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

Keeps that it is properly dry.
Keeps the savoury, non-fruity character.
Substantially less sharp or acidic.
About as austere as the wine you started from.

Albana

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

Has noticeably less of that it is properly dry.
Has noticeably less of the savoury, non-fruity character.
Substantially less sharp or acidic.
Substantially less austere.

Welschriesling

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

Has noticeably less of that it is properly dry.
Has noticeably less of the savoury, non-fruity character.
Substantially less sharp or acidic.
Substantially less austere.

Retsina

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

Keeps that it is properly dry.
Keeps the savoury, non-fruity character.
Substantially less sharp or acidic.
About as austere 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 same grape and region, with barrel and lees influence added.

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

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.

Garganega

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

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

Grechetto

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

Expect: Expect it to be drier, 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.

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.

Garganega

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

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

Grechetto

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

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

Albana

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

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

Trebbiano Toscano

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

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

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 Romagnolo

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Koshu

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, 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.

Mosel Riesling

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Hunter Valley Semillon

Both sit in the same style family.

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

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.

Alpine white

Both sit in the same style family.

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

Similar but fuller

Keeps the character but adds weight, concentration and mouthfeel.

White Burgundy

curated

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

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

Friuli white

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

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

Australian Chardonnay

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

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and fruitier.

New Zealand Chardonnay

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

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and fruitier.

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.

White Burgundy

curated

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

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

Grechetto

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

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

Chenin Blanc

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

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

Similar but more structured

More tannic architecture, for food or for ageing.

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.

Albana

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

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

Kisi

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Rkatsiteli

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

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.

White Burgundy

curated

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

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

Friuli white

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

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

Grechetto

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

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

The sparkling version

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

Franciacorta

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

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and fruitier.

Méthode Cap Classique

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

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and fruitier.

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 drier, and fruitier.

Cava

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

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and fresher.

Similar but sweeter

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

Marsala

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

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

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.

White Port

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

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

Albana

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

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

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.

Grechetto

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

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

Albana

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

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

Welschriesling

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

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

Retsina

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

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

Similar but more oaky

Adds barrel character, toast and a creamier texture.

White Burgundy

curated

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

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

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.

Friuli white

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

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

California Chardonnay

Both are made from chardonnay.

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

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 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.

Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Hárslevelű

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

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.

Silvaner

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, 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 more restrained in fruit.

Franken Silvaner

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

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

Similar but more floral

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

Scheurebe

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

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.

Hárslevelű

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Garganega

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

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

Similar but more savoury

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

Vin Jaune

Both come from the same country.

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

Santorini Assyrtiko

curated

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

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

White Burgundy

curated

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

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

Franken Silvaner

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

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

Similar but fruitier

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

Rheinhessen Riesling

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and fruitier.

Pfalz Riesling

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and fruitier.

Scheurebe

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

California Chardonnay

Both are made from chardonnay.

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

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.

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.

Soave

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.

Australian Chardonnay

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

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and fruitier.

New Zealand Chardonnay

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

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 fresher and more acidic, and drier.

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 fresher and more acidic.

Soave

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.

White Burgundy

curated

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

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

Same grape, warmer climate

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

Australian Chardonnay

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

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.

New Zealand Chardonnay

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

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and fruitier.

Friuli white

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

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.

White Burgundy

curated

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

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

Chenin Blanc

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

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

Australian Chardonnay

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

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and fruitier.

Grüner Veltliner

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and spicier.

Something more adventurous

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

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.

Garganega

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

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

Grechetto

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

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.

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.

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.

Garganega

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

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

Grechetto

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

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.

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 they occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and fruitier.

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 drier, and fresher and more acidic.

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.