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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.
Refine
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.
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 that it is properly dry, the fresh, crisp acidity and the full body and weight.
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.
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 that it is properly dry.
- Keeps the fresh, crisp acidity.
- Keeps the full body and weight.
Assyrtiko
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Keeps that it is properly dry.
- Keeps the fresh, crisp acidity.
- Keeps the full body and weight.
Santorini Assyrtiko
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Keeps that it is properly dry.
- Keeps the fresh, crisp acidity.
- Keeps the full body and weight.
Greco di Tufo
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Keeps that it is properly dry.
- Keeps the fresh, crisp acidity.
- Keeps the full body and weight.
Greco
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Keeps that it is properly dry.
- Keeps the fresh, crisp acidity.
- Keeps the full body and weight.
Austrian Riesling
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Keeps that it is properly dry.
- Keeps the fresh, crisp acidity.
- Keeps the full body and weight.
White Burgundy
curatedBoth are full-bodied, textured, ageworthy dry whites built on savoury depth rather than fruit.
- Keeps that it is properly dry.
- Has some of the fresh, crisp acidity, though less of it.
- Keeps the full body and weight.
Dry Furmint
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.
- Keeps that it is properly dry.
- Keeps the fresh, crisp acidity.
- Keeps the full body and weight.
Closest overall
Nearest neighbours, no change of direction.
Closest matches
The nearest overall neighbours across structure and flavour, with no deliberate change of direction.
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 broader and softer, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.
Assyrtiko
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be cleaner and more fruit-focused.
Santorini Assyrtiko
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be cleaner and more fruit-focused, and more savoury.
Greco di Tufo
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be cleaner and more fruit-focused.
Different grape, similar feel
Deliberately excludes the variety you already know, to find a genuinely new wine that fills the same role.
White Burgundy
curatedBoth are full-bodied, textured, ageworthy dry whites built on savoury depth rather than fruit.
Expect: Higher acidity, no butter, and a distinctly waxy character.
Assyrtiko
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be cleaner and more fruit-focused.
Santorini Assyrtiko
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be cleaner and more fruit-focused, and more savoury.
Greco di Tufo
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be 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.
Jura Savagnin and Chardonnay
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and lighter in alcohol.
Etna Bianco
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and lighter in alcohol.
Alvarinho (Monção e Melgaço)
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and lighter in alcohol.
Carricante
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.
Etna Bianco
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, and lighter.
Alvarinho (Monção e Melgaço)
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, and lighter.
Carricante
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, and lighter.
Similar but fuller
Keeps the character but adds weight, concentration and mouthfeel.
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.
Oloroso sherry
Oloroso sherry scores closest to Savennières across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and broader and softer.
Priorat
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and broader and softer.
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 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 broader and softer, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.
Assyrtiko
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be cleaner and more fruit-focused.
Santorini Assyrtiko
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be cleaner and more fruit-focused, and more savoury.
Greco di Tufo
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be cleaner and more fruit-focused.
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 lighter, and broader and softer.
Friuli 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.
Trebbiano Spoletino
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and lighter in alcohol.
Kisi
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be broader and softer, and softer and rounder.
Similar but softer
Lowers acidity and sharpness in favour of a broader, gentler feel.
White Burgundy
curatedBoth 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 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.
New Zealand 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.
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 they occupy similar territory for weight and structure, both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and sweeter.
Champagne
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and lighter.
Corpinnat
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and lighter.
Australian traditional-method sparkling
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and lighter.
Similar but sweeter
Adds perceptible sweetness, which also softens acidity and chilli heat.
Alsace Riesling
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and lighter.
Gros Manseng
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and lighter.
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 sweeter, and lighter.
Valais Petite Arvine
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and lighter.
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 cleaner and more fruit-focused, and more aromatic.
Greco
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be cleaner and more fruit-focused.
Carricante
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and lighter in alcohol.
Juhfark
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and lighter in alcohol.
Similar but more oaky
Adds barrel character, toast and a creamier texture.
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 broader and softer, and less oaky.
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.
White Burgundy
curatedBoth 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 softer and rounder, and broader and softer.
Similar but more aromatic
More to smell before you taste — floral, fruity or spiced aromatics.
Austrian Riesling
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be cleaner and more fruit-focused, and less oaky.
Sauvignon Blanc
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and lighter in alcohol.
Vin Jaune
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 spicier.
Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc
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 lighter in alcohol.
Cortese
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and lighter in alcohol.
Trebbiano d’Abruzzo
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and lighter.
Pinot Blanc
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and softer and rounder.
Similar but more floral
Pushes specifically towards rose, violet, blossom and elderflower character.
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.
Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc
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.
Similar but more savoury
Moves away from primary fruit towards earth, herb, meat and umami character.
Vin Jaune
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 cleaner and more fruit-focused.
Qvevri amber wine
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be broader and softer, and less oaky.
Chianti Classico Riserva
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be broader and softer, and more herbal and green.
Taurasi
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.
Alvarinho (Monção e Melgaço)
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and lighter in alcohol.
Austrian Riesling
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be cleaner and more fruit-focused, and less oaky.
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.
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.
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 broader and softer, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.
Chenin Blanc
Both are made from chenin blanc, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and lighter.
Same grape, cooler climate
Typically fresher, lighter and more herbal, with lower alcohol.
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 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 broader and softer, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.
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 sweeter.
Vouvray
curatedThe same grape on the same river, made without the residual sugar.
Expect: Considerably drier, firmer and more austere in youth.
Chenin Blanc
Both are made from chenin blanc, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and lighter.
Same grape, warmer climate
Typically riper, fuller and more generous in fruit, with higher alcohol.
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 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 broader and softer, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.
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 sweeter.
Coteaux du Layon
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 sweeter, and lighter in alcohol.
Vouvray
curatedThe 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 broader and softer, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.
Santorini Assyrtiko
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be cleaner and more fruit-focused, and more savoury.
White Burgundy
curatedBoth are full-bodied, textured, ageworthy dry whites built on savoury depth rather than fruit.
Expect: Higher acidity, no butter, and a distinctly waxy character.
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.
Something more adventurous
Less familiar wines that occupy similar territory — the interesting end of the shelf.
Assyrtiko
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be cleaner and more fruit-focused.
Greco di Tufo
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be cleaner and more fruit-focused.
Greco
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be cleaner and more fruit-focused, and less oaky.
Austrian Riesling
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be cleaner and more fruit-focused, and less oaky.
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.
Assyrtiko
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be cleaner and more fruit-focused.
Greco di Tufo
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be cleaner and more fruit-focused.
Greco
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be cleaner and more fruit-focused, and less oaky.
Austrian Riesling
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be cleaner and more fruit-focused, and less oaky.
A step up
The benchmark expressions of the same territory, usually with more concentration, structure and ageing potential.
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.
Santorini Assyrtiko
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be cleaner and more fruit-focused.
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 broader and softer, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.
White Burgundy
curatedBoth 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 softer and rounder, and broader and softer.
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.