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Wines like Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc

Explosively aromatic passionfruit, gooseberry and cut grass — a flavour that had no real precedent when it appeared in the 1980s. Below: what to try next, grouped by the direction you want to travel.

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What do you like about Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc?

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 tropical fruit The citrus and orchard fruit How fresh and crisp it is The herbal, green side How aromatic it is That it is properly dry

But it’s a bit…

too tropical or sweet-smelling too sharp or lemony too sharp or acidic too green or grassy too perfumed too floral or soapy

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.
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.
The herbal, green side: Grass, blackcurrant leaf, green pepper, mint. It divides people more sharply than almost any other character.
How aromatic it is: Some grapes announce themselves from across the room — Gewürztraminer, Muscat, Sauvignon Blanc. Others are far quieter, and quiet is not the same as dull.
The floral character: Rose, violet, elderflower, orange blossom.
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 fresh, crisp acidity and that it is properly dry, while moving away from too floral or soapy.

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.

Chilean Sauvignon Blanc

curated

Casablanca sits stylistically between the Loire and Marlborough.

Keeps the fresh, crisp acidity.
Keeps that it is properly dry.
Substantially less floral or soapy.

Sauvignon Blanc

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

Keeps the fresh, crisp acidity.
Keeps that it is properly dry.
Substantially less floral or soapy.

South African Sauvignon Blanc

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

Keeps the fresh, crisp acidity.
Keeps that it is properly dry.
Substantially less floral or soapy.

Pouilly-Fumé

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

Keeps the fresh, crisp acidity.
Keeps that it is properly dry.
Substantially less floral or soapy.

Sancerre

curated

The same grape at the restrained end of the spectrum.

Keeps the fresh, crisp acidity.
Keeps that it is properly dry.
About as floral or soapy as the wine you started from.

German dry Riesling (trocken)

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

Keeps the fresh, crisp acidity.
Keeps that it is properly dry.
Substantially less floral or soapy.

Austrian Riesling

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

Keeps the fresh, crisp acidity.
Keeps that it is properly dry.
Substantially less floral or soapy.

Rueda Verdejo

curated

Rueda Verdejo is herbal and crisp in a similar register.

Has some of the fresh, crisp acidity, though less of it.
Keeps that it is properly dry.
Substantially less floral or soapy.

Closest overall

Nearest neighbours, no change of direction.

Closest matches

The nearest overall neighbours across structure and flavour, with no deliberate change of direction.

Chilean Sauvignon Blanc

curated

Casablanca sits stylistically between the Loire and Marlborough.

Expect: More citrus and herb, less tropical exuberance.

Sauvignon Blanc

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

Expect: Expect it to be more restrained in fruit, and riper and less green.

South African Sauvignon Blanc

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

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

Pouilly-Fumé

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

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

Different grape, similar feel

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

German dry Riesling (trocken)

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

Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and riper and less green.

Austrian Riesling

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

Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and riper and less green.

Alvarinho (Monção e Melgaço)

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

Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and riper and less green.

Chablis

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

Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and riper and less green.

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.

Alpine white

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

Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and riper and less green.

Colombard

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

Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and riper and less green.

Hondarrabi Zuri

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

Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and riper and less green.

Hunter Valley Semillon

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

Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and riper and less green.

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.

Hunter Valley Semillon

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

Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and riper and less green.

Alpine white

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

Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and riper and less green.

Colombard

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

Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and riper and less green.

Txakoli

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

Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and riper and less green.

Similar but fuller

Keeps the character but adds weight, concentration and mouthfeel.

Assyrtiko

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

Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and riper and less green.

Austrian Riesling

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

Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and riper and less green.

Dry Furmint

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

Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and riper and less green.

Greco

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

Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and riper and less green.

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.

South African Sauvignon Blanc

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

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

Pouilly-Fumé

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

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

Chilean Sauvignon Blanc

curated

Casablanca sits stylistically between the Loire and Marlborough.

Expect: More citrus and herb, less tropical exuberance.

German dry Riesling (trocken)

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

Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and riper and less green.

Similar but more structured

More tannic architecture, for food or for ageing.

Rkatsiteli

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

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

Trebbiano Spoletino

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

Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and riper and less green.

Brda Rebula

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

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

Ribolla Gialla

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

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

Similar but softer

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

Rueda Verdejo

curated

Rueda Verdejo is herbal and crisp in a similar register.

Expect: A bitter-almond finish and much less aromatic volume.

White Bordeaux

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

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

Grüner Veltliner

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

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

Weinviertel Grüner Veltliner

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

The sparkling version

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

Austrian Sekt

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

Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and sweeter.

Champagne

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

Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and sweeter.

Crémant

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

Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and sweeter.

English sparkling wine

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

Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and sweeter.

Similar but sweeter

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

English still white

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

Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and less floral.

Rheingau Riesling

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

Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and less floral.

Nahe Riesling

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

Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and less floral.

Crémant

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and less floral.

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, and both sit in the same style family.

Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and riper and less green.

Šipon

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

Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and riper and less green.

Picpoul de Pinet

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

Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and riper and less green.

Arinto

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

Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and riper and less green.

Similar but more oaky

Adds barrel character, toast and a creamier texture.

Dry Furmint

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

Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and riper and less green.

South African Chenin Blanc

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

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

White Bordeaux

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

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

New Zealand Chardonnay

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

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

Similar but more aromatic

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

Sauvignon Blanc

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

Expect: Expect it to be more restrained in fruit, and riper and less green.

Chilean Sauvignon Blanc

curated

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

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

South African Sauvignon Blanc

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

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

Pouilly-Fumé

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

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

Similar but more restrained

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

Aligoté

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

Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and riper and less green.

Alpine white

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

Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and riper and less green.

Alvarinho (Monção e Melgaço)

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

Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and riper and less green.

Arinto

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

Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and riper and less green.

Similar but more floral

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

Mantinia Moschofilero

Both sit in the same style family.

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

Moschofilero

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

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

Loureiro

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

Expect: Expect it to be more floral, and riper and less green.

Torrontés

Both sit in the same style family.

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

Similar but less floral

Some drinkers read floral aromatics as soapy or perfumed. This holds the structure and removes them.

Aligoté

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

Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and riper and less green.

Alpine white

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

Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and riper and less green.

Alvarinho (Monção e Melgaço)

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

Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and riper and less green.

Arinto

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

Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and riper and less green.

Similar but more savoury

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

Assyrtiko

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

Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and riper and less green.

Austrian Riesling

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

Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and riper and less green.

Carricante

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

Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and riper and less green.

Chablis

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

Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and riper and less green.

Similar but fruitier

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

Sauvignon Blanc

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

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

Chilean Sauvignon Blanc

curated

Casablanca sits stylistically between the Loire and Marlborough.

Expect: More citrus and herb, less tropical exuberance.

South African Sauvignon Blanc

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

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

Štajerska Šipon

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

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

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.

Chilean Sauvignon Blanc

curated

Casablanca sits stylistically between the Loire and Marlborough.

Expect: More citrus and herb, less tropical exuberance.

South African Sauvignon Blanc

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

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

Pouilly-Fumé

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

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

Sancerre

curated

The same grape at the restrained end of the spectrum.

Expect: Chalk, flint and blackcurrant leaf in place of passionfruit — a much quieter wine.

Same grape, cooler climate

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

Chilean Sauvignon Blanc

curated

Casablanca sits stylistically between the Loire and Marlborough.

Expect: More citrus and herb, less tropical exuberance.

South African Sauvignon Blanc

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

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

Sauvignon Blanc

Both are made from sauvignon blanc, 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 restrained in fruit.

Pouilly-Fumé

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

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

Same grape, warmer climate

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

Friuli white

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

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

Chilean Sauvignon Blanc

curated

Casablanca sits stylistically between the Loire and Marlborough.

Expect: More citrus and herb, less tropical exuberance.

South African Sauvignon Blanc

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

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

Sauvignon Blanc

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

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

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.

Sauvignon Blanc

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

Expect: Expect it to be more restrained in fruit, and riper and less green.

Pouilly-Fumé

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

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

German dry Riesling (trocken)

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

Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and riper and less green.

Chablis

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

Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and riper and less green.

Something more adventurous

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

Chilean Sauvignon Blanc

curated

Casablanca sits stylistically between the Loire and Marlborough.

Expect: More citrus and herb, less tropical exuberance.

South African Sauvignon Blanc

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

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

Austrian Riesling

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

Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and riper and less green.

Alvarinho (Monção e Melgaço)

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

Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and riper and less green.

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.

Chilean Sauvignon Blanc

curated

Casablanca sits stylistically between the Loire and Marlborough.

Expect: More citrus and herb, less tropical exuberance.

South African Sauvignon Blanc

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

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

Rueda Verdejo

curated

Rueda Verdejo is herbal and crisp in a similar register.

Expect: A bitter-almond finish and much less aromatic volume.

Austrian Riesling

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

Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and riper and less green.

A step up

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

Santorini Assyrtiko

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

Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and riper and less green.

South African Chenin Blanc

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

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

Australian Chardonnay

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Chardonnay

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

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.