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Wines like Savennières

The most austere and long-lived dry Chenin Blanc in the world, from steep schist above the Loire. Below: what to try next, grouped by the direction you want to travel.

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What do you like about Savennières?

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 How full and weighty it is The creamy, rounded texture The savoury, meaty side That it is properly dry

But it’s a bit…

too sharp or lemony too sharp or acidic too heavy too earthy or musty 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 full and weighty it is: Body is how much the wine seems to fill your mouth — the difference between skimmed and whole milk. It comes mostly from alcohol and ripeness.
The creamy, rounded texture: A soft, almost dairy-like roundness. In white wine it usually comes from malolactic fermentation or from time on the lees, not from the grape.
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.
The earthy, mineral side: Forest floor, wet stone, mushroom, damp earth. Widely described and much less well explained than wine writing implies — the sensation is real, the causal story usually is not.
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, the fresh, crisp acidity and the full body and weight, while moving away from too savoury or funky.

You said you like the savoury, non-fruity character and that it is too savoury or funky. Both are about savoury character, so they pull the same axis in opposite directions — the dislike is applied and the like is set aside.
You said you like the savoury, non-fruity character and that it is too savoury or funky. Both are about fruit intensity, so they pull the same axis in opposite directions — the dislike is applied and the like is set aside.

Based on what you said

Ranked against the qualities you named rather than against the wine as a whole. The directions below are refined the same way.

Vouvray

curated

The same grape on the same river, made without the residual sugar.

Has some of the savoury, non-fruity character, though less of it.
Keeps the fresh, crisp acidity.
Has some of the full body and weight, though less of it.
A little less savoury or funky.

Dry Furmint

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

Has some of the savoury, non-fruity character, though less of it.
Keeps the fresh, crisp acidity.
Keeps the full body and weight.
Substantially less savoury or funky.

Coteaux du Layon

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

Has noticeably less of the savoury, non-fruity character.
Keeps the fresh, crisp acidity.
Keeps the full body and weight.
Substantially less savoury or funky.

South African Chenin Blanc

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

Keeps the savoury, non-fruity character.
Keeps the fresh, crisp acidity.
Keeps the full body and weight.
About as savoury or funky as the wine you started from.

Furmint

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

Has some of the savoury, non-fruity character, though less of it.
Keeps the fresh, crisp acidity.
Keeps the full body and weight.
Substantially less savoury or funky.

Austrian Riesling

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

Keeps the savoury, non-fruity character.
Keeps the fresh, crisp acidity.
Keeps the full body and weight.
About as savoury or funky as the wine you started from.

Petit Manseng

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

Has noticeably less of the savoury, non-fruity character.
Keeps the fresh, crisp acidity.
Keeps the full body and weight.
Substantially less savoury or funky.

German dry Riesling (trocken)

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

Has some of the savoury, non-fruity character, though less of it.
Keeps the fresh, crisp acidity.
Has some of the full body and weight, though less of it.
Substantially less savoury or funky.

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

curated

The same grape on the same river, made without the residual sugar.

Expect: Considerably drier, firmer and more austere in youth.

Dry Furmint

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

Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.

Coteaux du Layon

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

Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, and fruitier.

South African Chenin Blanc

Both are made from chenin 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 savoury, and broader and softer.

Different grape, similar feel

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

Dry Furmint

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

Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.

Furmint

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

Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, and sweeter.

White Burgundy

curated

Both are full-bodied, textured, ageworthy dry whites built on savoury depth rather than fruit.

Expect: Higher acidity, no butter, and a distinctly waxy character.

Austrian Riesling

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

Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.

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.

Vouvray

curated

The same grape on the same river, made without the residual sugar.

Expect: Considerably drier, firmer and more austere in youth.

Alvarinho (Monção e Melgaço)

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

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and lighter in alcohol.

Rheingau Riesling

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

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and lighter in alcohol.

Nahe Riesling

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

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and lighter in alcohol.

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.

Dry Furmint

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

Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.

Coteaux du Layon

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

Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, and fruitier.

Furmint

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

Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, and sweeter.

Vouvray

curated

The same grape on the same river, made without the residual sugar.

Expect: Considerably drier, firmer and more austere in youth.

Similar but fuller

Keeps the character but adds weight, concentration and mouthfeel.

Pedro Ximénez

Pedro Ximénez scores closest to Savennières across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

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

Condrieu

Both sit in the same style family.

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

Viognier

Both come from the same country.

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

Sauternes

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

Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, 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.

Dry Furmint

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

Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.

Coteaux du Layon

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

Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, and fruitier.

South African Chenin Blanc

Both are made from chenin 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 savoury, and broader and softer.

Furmint

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

Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, and sweeter.

Similar but more structured

More tannic architecture, for food or for ageing.

Trebbiano Spoletino

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

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

Rkatsiteli

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Kisi

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Ribolla Gialla

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

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

Similar but softer

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

Chilean Chardonnay

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

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

Godello

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

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

Douro white

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

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

Pfalz Riesling

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

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

The sparkling version

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

Crémant

Both are made from chenin 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 lighter in alcohol.

Austrian Sekt

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

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and lighter in alcohol.

Sekt

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

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and lighter in alcohol.

Vouvray

curated

The same grape on the same river, made without the residual sugar.

Expect: Considerably drier, firmer and more austere in youth.

Similar but sweeter

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

Coteaux du Layon

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

Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and lighter in alcohol.

Furmint

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

Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, and sweeter.

Petit Manseng

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 fruitier.

Vouvray

curated

Both are made from chenin 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 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.

Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.

Petit Manseng

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 fruitier.

Alsace Riesling

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

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

Greco

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

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

Similar but more oaky

Adds barrel character, toast and a creamier texture.

Dry Furmint

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

Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, and less oaky.

South African Chenin Blanc

Both are made from chenin 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 savoury, and broader and softer.

Furmint

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

Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, and sweeter.

Chilean Chardonnay

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

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

Similar but more aromatic

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

Alsace Riesling

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

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

Sauvignon Blanc

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

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

Coteaux du Layon

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

Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, and fruitier.

Albariño

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

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and lighter in alcohol.

Similar but more restrained

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

Gavi

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Trebbiano d’Abruzzo

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Vernaccia di San Gimignano

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Sémillon

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

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

Similar but more floral

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

Alsace Riesling

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

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

Albariño

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

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and lighter in alcohol.

Rías Baixas Albariño

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

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and lighter in alcohol.

Australian Riesling

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

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and lighter in alcohol.

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 more savoury, and more restrained in fruit.

Assyrtiko

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

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

Greco di Tufo

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

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

Greco

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

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

Similar but fruitier

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

Coteaux du Layon

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

Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and lighter in alcohol.

Dry Furmint

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

Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.

Furmint

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

Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, and sweeter.

Petit Manseng

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 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.

South African Chenin Blanc

Both are made from chenin 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 savoury, and broader and softer.

Chenin Blanc

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

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

Same grape, cooler climate

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

Vouvray

curated

The same grape on the same river, made without the residual sugar.

Expect: Considerably drier, firmer and more austere in youth.

Montlouis-sur-Loire

Both are made from chenin 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 fruit-driven.

Chenin Blanc

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

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

Coteaux du Layon

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

Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, and fruitier.

Same grape, warmer climate

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

South African Chenin Blanc

Both are made from chenin 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 savoury, and broader and softer.

Coteaux du Layon

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

Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and lighter in alcohol.

Montlouis-sur-Loire

Both are made from chenin blanc, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure, both come from the same country.

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

Vouvray

curated

The same grape on the same river, made without the residual sugar.

Expect: Considerably drier, firmer and more austere in youth.

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.

South African Chenin Blanc

Both are made from chenin 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 savoury, and broader and softer.

German dry Riesling (trocken)

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

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

White Burgundy

curated

Both are full-bodied, textured, ageworthy dry whites built on savoury depth rather than fruit.

Expect: Higher acidity, no butter, and a distinctly waxy character.

Albariño

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

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and lighter in alcohol.

Something more adventurous

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

Dry Furmint

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

Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.

Coteaux du Layon

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

Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, and fruitier.

Furmint

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

Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, and sweeter.

Austrian Riesling

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

Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.

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.

Dry Furmint

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

Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.

Coteaux du Layon

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

Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, and fruitier.

Furmint

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

Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, and sweeter.

Austrian Riesling

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

Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.

A step up

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

South African Chenin Blanc

Both are made from chenin 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 savoury, and broader and softer.

Santorini Assyrtiko

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

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

White Burgundy

curated

Both are full-bodied, textured, ageworthy dry whites built on savoury depth rather than fruit.

Expect: Higher acidity, no butter, and a distinctly waxy character.

Australian Chardonnay

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

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

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.