If you like this, try…
Wines like White Burgundy
Barrel-fermented Chardonnay from the Côte de Beaune and Mâconnais — the model every serious oaked Chardonnay in the world is measured against. Below: what to try next, grouped by the direction you want to travel.
Refine
What do you like about White Burgundy?
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
- 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 vanilla and oak
- Vanilla, toast, coconut, sweet spice, sometimes smoke. It comes from the barrel rather than the grape, which is why the same grape can taste completely different with and without it.
- The spice
- Black pepper, clove, cinnamon. Some of it is the grape — the pepper in Syrah is a measured compound called rotundone — and some is the barrel.
- 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, while moving away from too heavy, too buttery or thick and too savoury or funky.
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.
Chablis
curatedThe same grape and region without the barrel influence.
- Keeps that it is properly dry.
- Substantially less heavy.
- Substantially less buttery or thick.
- About as savoury or funky as the wine you started from.
Albariño
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Keeps that it is properly dry.
- Substantially less heavy.
- Substantially less buttery or thick.
- Substantially less savoury or funky.
Rías Baixas Albariño
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Keeps that it is properly dry.
- Substantially less heavy.
- Substantially less buttery or thick.
- Substantially less savoury or funky.
South African Sauvignon Blanc
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Keeps that it is properly dry.
- Substantially less heavy.
- Substantially less buttery or thick.
- Substantially less savoury or funky.
Australian Riesling
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Keeps that it is properly dry.
- Substantially less heavy.
- Substantially less buttery or thick.
- Substantially less savoury or funky.
Chilean Sauvignon Blanc
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Keeps that it is properly dry.
- Substantially less heavy.
- Substantially less buttery or thick.
- Substantially less savoury or funky.
Sauvignon Blanc
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Keeps that it is properly dry.
- Substantially less heavy.
- Substantially less buttery or thick.
- Substantially less savoury or funky.
Sancerre
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
- Keeps that it is properly dry.
- Substantially less heavy.
- Substantially less buttery or thick.
- A little 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.
Chablis
curatedThe same grape and region without the barrel influence.
Expect: No vanilla or butter at all — citrus, green apple and a saline finish.
Albariño
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less spicy, and more floral.
Rías Baixas Albariño
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less spicy, and more floral.
South African Sauvignon Blanc
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more herbal and green, and less spicy.
Different grape, similar feel
Deliberately excludes the variety you already know, to find a genuinely new wine that fills the same role.
Albariño
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less spicy, and more floral.
Rías Baixas Albariño
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less spicy, and more floral.
South African Sauvignon Blanc
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more herbal and green, and less spicy.
Australian Riesling
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be leaner and more cutting, 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.
Albariño
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less spicy, and more floral.
Aligoté
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 restrained in fruit.
Arinto
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more restrained in fruit, and less oaky.
Australian Riesling
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be leaner and more cutting, and less oaky.
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.
Albariño
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less spicy, and more floral.
Alpine white
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, and lighter.
Australian Riesling
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be leaner and more cutting, and less oaky.
Chablis
curatedThe same grape and region without the barrel influence.
Expect: No vanilla or butter at all — citrus, green apple and a saline finish.
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 fuller and richer, and rounder and creamier in texture.
Viognier
Both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and rounder and creamier in 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 fuller and richer, and rounder and creamier in texture.
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 fuller and richer, and rounder and creamier in texture.
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.
Alvarinho (Monção e Melgaço)
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be rounder and creamier in texture, and less spicy.
Albariño
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less spicy, and more floral.
Rías Baixas Albariño
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less spicy, and more floral.
South African Sauvignon Blanc
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more herbal and green, and less spicy.
Similar but more structured
More tannic architecture, for food or for ageing.
Mtsvane Kakhuri
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more fruit-driven, and softer and rounder.
Brda Rebula
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more restrained in fruit, and less spicy.
Trebbiano Spoletino
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more restrained in fruit, and less oaky.
Istrian Malvazija
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and more restrained in fruit.
Similar but fresher
Raises acidity and overall lift, usually by moving to a cooler-climate expression.
Albariño
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less spicy, and more floral.
Aligoté
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 restrained in fruit.
Alpine white
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and leaner and more cutting.
Arinto
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more restrained in fruit, and less oaky.
Similar but softer
Lowers acidity and sharpness in favour of a broader, gentler feel.
Auxerrois
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and rounder and creamier in texture.
California Chardonnay
Both are made from chardonnay, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and rounder and creamier in texture.
Pošip
Both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and fuller and richer.
Antão Vaz
Antão Vaz scores closest to White Burgundy across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and fuller and richer.
The sparkling version
Moves to a sparkling expression while holding the flavour and weight as close as possible.
Austrian Sekt
Both are made from chardonnay, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and more sparkling.
Crémant
Both are made from chardonnay, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and more restrained in fruit.
Sekt
Both are made from chardonnay, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and more sparkling.
Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and softer and rounder.
Similar but sweeter
Adds perceptible sweetness, which also softens acidity and chilli heat.
Austrian Sekt
Both are made from chardonnay, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and more sparkling.
Sekt
Both are made from chardonnay, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and more sparkling.
Crémant
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 sweeter, and more restrained in fruit.
Montlouis-sur-Loire
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and more fruit-driven.
Change the flavour
Same shape, different aromatic character.
Similar but less oaky
One of the commonest requests in wine. Strips oak influence while holding grape character and weight.
Arinto
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more restrained in fruit, and less spicy.
Australian Riesling
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be leaner and more cutting, and less spicy.
Avesso
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more fruit-driven, and softer and rounder.
Chablis
curatedThe same grape and region without the barrel influence.
Expect: No vanilla or butter at all — citrus, green apple and a saline finish.
Similar but more oaky
Adds barrel character, toast and a creamier texture.
California Chardonnay
Both are made from chardonnay, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be rounder and creamier in texture, and softer and rounder.
White Bordeaux
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be rounder and creamier in texture, and softer and rounder.
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 fuller and richer, and rounder and creamier in texture.
Chardonnay
Both are made from chardonnay, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and rounder and creamier in texture.
Similar but more aromatic
More to smell before you taste — floral, fruity or spiced aromatics.
Albariño
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less spicy, and less oaky.
Australian Riesling
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be leaner and more cutting, and less oaky.
Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more fruit-driven, and leaner and more cutting.
Rías Baixas Albariño
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less spicy, and less oaky.
Similar but more restrained
For readers who find intensely aromatic wines tiring over a whole glass. Keeps the structure, turns the volume down.
Gavi
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and leaner and more cutting.
Cortese
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and more fruit-driven.
Pinot Blanc
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be more fruit-driven, and softer and rounder.
Trebbiano d’Abruzzo
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and more restrained in fruit.
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 less spicy, and less oaky.
Australian Riesling
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be leaner and more cutting, and less oaky.
Falanghina
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more fruit-driven, and softer and rounder.
Loureiro
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, 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 more savoury, and fuller and richer.
Santorini Assyrtiko
Santorini Assyrtiko scores closest to White Burgundy across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and fuller and richer.
Pouilly-Fumé
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be more restrained in fruit, and more herbal and green.
Chablis
curatedThe same grape and region without the barrel influence.
Expect: No vanilla or butter at all — citrus, green apple and a saline finish.
Similar but fruitier
More obvious, generous fruit flavour, usually from a warmer climate.
Albariño
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less spicy, and more floral.
Australian Riesling
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be leaner and more cutting, and less oaky.
Chilean Sauvignon Blanc
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be leaner and more cutting, and more herbal and green.
Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
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.
Soave
Both are made from chardonnay, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and more restrained in fruit.
English still white
Both are made from chardonnay, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and lighter.
Chilean Chardonnay
Both are made from chardonnay, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and rounder and creamier in texture.
Australian Chardonnay
curatedModern Australian Chardonnay was deliberately reset towards this model and now gets remarkably close.
Expect: A touch more citrus and a leaner finish, at much lower prices.
Same grape, cooler climate
Typically fresher, lighter and more herbal, with lower alcohol.
Chablis
curatedThe same grape and region without the barrel influence.
Expect: No vanilla or butter at all — citrus, green apple and a saline finish.
English still white
Both are made from chardonnay, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and sweeter.
Jura Savagnin and Chardonnay
Both are made from chardonnay, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and rounder and creamier in texture.
Austrian Sekt
Both are made from chardonnay, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and more sparkling.
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.
Chilean Chardonnay
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 fuller and richer, and rounder and creamier in texture.
Australian Chardonnay
curatedModern Australian Chardonnay was deliberately reset towards this model and now gets remarkably close.
Expect: A touch more citrus and a leaner finish, at much lower prices.
Soave
Both are made from chardonnay, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and more restrained in fruit.
New Zealand Chardonnay
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 fuller and richer, and more savoury.
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.
Albariño
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less spicy, and more floral.
Rías Baixas Albariño
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less spicy, and more floral.
Australian Riesling
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be leaner and more cutting, and less oaky.
Sauvignon Blanc
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more fruit-driven, and leaner and more cutting.
Something more adventurous
Less familiar wines that occupy similar territory — the interesting end of the shelf.
South African Sauvignon Blanc
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more herbal and green, and less spicy.
Chilean Sauvignon Blanc
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be leaner and more cutting, and more herbal and green.
Arinto
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more restrained in fruit, and less oaky.
Brda Rebula
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more restrained in fruit, and less spicy.
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.
South African Sauvignon Blanc
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more herbal and green, and less spicy.
Chilean Sauvignon Blanc
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be leaner and more cutting, and more herbal and green.
Arinto
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more restrained in fruit, and less oaky.
Brda Rebula
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more restrained in fruit, and less spicy.
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.
Chablis
curatedThe same grape and region without the barrel influence.
Expect: No vanilla or butter at all — citrus, green apple and a saline finish.
Australian Chardonnay
curatedBoth 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 fuller and richer, and more savoury.
South African Chenin Blanc
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and more savoury.
Santorini Assyrtiko
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and fuller and richer.
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.