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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.

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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.

I like…

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 heavy too buttery or thick too oaky or woody too peppery too savoury or funky too austere

Clear all

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 the savoury, non-fruity character, the creamy, rounded mouthfeel and that it is properly dry, while moving away from too peppery.

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.

Australian Chardonnay

curated

Modern Australian Chardonnay was deliberately reset towards this model and now gets remarkably close.

Keeps the savoury, non-fruity character.
Keeps the creamy, rounded mouthfeel.
Keeps that it is properly dry.
Substantially less peppery.

Friuli white

Both are made from chardonnay, 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 creamy, rounded mouthfeel.
Keeps that it is properly dry.
Substantially less peppery.

New Zealand Chardonnay

Both are made from chardonnay, 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 creamy, rounded mouthfeel.
Keeps that it is properly dry.
Substantially less peppery.

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.

Keeps the savoury, non-fruity character.
Keeps the creamy, rounded mouthfeel.
Keeps that it is properly dry.
Substantially less peppery.

Chablis

curated

The same grape and region without the barrel influence.

Keeps the savoury, non-fruity character.
Has some of the creamy, rounded mouthfeel, though less of it.
Keeps that it is properly dry.
Substantially less peppery.

Godello

curated

Galician Godello has comparable texture and stone fruit and takes oak similarly.

Has some of the savoury, non-fruity character, though less of it.
Keeps the creamy, rounded mouthfeel.
Keeps that it is properly dry.
Substantially less peppery.

Chardonnay

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

Has some of the savoury, non-fruity character, though less of it.
Keeps the creamy, rounded mouthfeel.
Keeps that it is properly dry.
Substantially less peppery.

Savennières

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

Keeps the savoury, non-fruity character.
Keeps the creamy, rounded mouthfeel.
Keeps that it is properly dry.
Substantially less peppery.

Closest overall

Nearest neighbours, no change of direction.

Closest matches

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

Australian Chardonnay

curated

Modern 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.

Friuli white

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 less spicy, and more tannic and structured.

New Zealand 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 less spicy, and fruitier.

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 less spicy, and fresher and more acidic.

Different grape, similar feel

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

Savennières

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

Expect: Expect it to be less spicy, and fresher and more acidic.

Friulano

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

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

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 less spicy, and more fruit-driven.

Soave Classico

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

Expect: Expect it to be less spicy, and fruitier.

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.

Altesse

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

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

Carricante

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

Expect: Expect it to be less spicy, and leaner and more cutting.

Chablis

curated

The same grape and region without the barrel influence.

Expect: No vanilla or butter at all — citrus, green apple and a saline finish.

Etna Bianco

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

Expect: Expect it to be less spicy, and leaner and more cutting.

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.

Chablis

curated

The same grape and region without the barrel influence.

Expect: No vanilla or butter at all — citrus, green apple and a saline finish.

Hunter Valley Semillon

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

Expect: Expect it to be less spicy, and leaner and more cutting.

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 less spicy, and fresher and more acidic.

Muscadet

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

Expect: Expect it to be less spicy, and leaner and more cutting.

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 more fruit-driven, and softer and rounder.

Viognier

Both come from the same country.

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

Pedro Ximénez

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

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

Priorat

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

Expect: Expect it to be rounder and creamier in texture, and spicier.

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.

Australian Chardonnay

curated

Modern 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.

New Zealand 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 less spicy, and fruitier.

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 less spicy, and fresher and more acidic.

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 more fruit-driven, and more floral.

Similar but more structured

More tannic architecture, for food or for ageing.

Friuli white

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 less spicy.

Kisi

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

Expect: Expect it to be less spicy, and fruitier.

Rkatsiteli

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

Expect: Expect it to be less spicy, and fresher and more acidic.

Ribolla Gialla

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

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

Similar but fresher

Raises acidity and overall lift, usually by moving to a cooler-climate expression.

Assyrtiko

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

Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and less spicy.

Austrian Riesling

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

Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and less spicy.

Chablis

curated

The same grape and region without the barrel influence.

Expect: No vanilla or butter at all — citrus, green apple and a saline finish.

Greco

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

Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and less spicy.

Similar but softer

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

Marsanne

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.

Grenache Blanc

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 spicy.

Roussanne

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

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

Pošip

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

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

The sparkling version

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

California traditional-method sparkling

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

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

Champagne

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 less spicy.

Corpinnat

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

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

Franciacorta

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

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

Similar but sweeter

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

Champagne

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 less spicy.

Franciacorta

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

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

Méthode Cap Classique

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

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

California traditional-method sparkling

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

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

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.

Altesse

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

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

Austrian Riesling

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

Expect: Expect it to be less spicy, and fresher and more acidic.

Carricante

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

Expect: Expect it to be less spicy, and leaner and more cutting.

Catarratto

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

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

Similar but more oaky

Adds barrel character, toast and a creamier texture.

California 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 sweeter, and rounder and creamier in texture.

Rioja

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

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

Rioja Reserva

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

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

Tempranillo

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

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

Similar but more aromatic

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

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 less spicy, and more fruit-driven.

Roussanne

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

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

Pouilly-Fumé

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

Expect: Expect it to be leaner and more cutting, and less spicy.

Austrian Riesling

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

Expect: Expect it to be less spicy, and fresher and more acidic.

Similar but more restrained

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

Franken Silvaner

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

Expect: Expect it to be less spicy, and leaner and more cutting.

Trebbiano d’Abruzzo

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

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

Muscadet

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

Expect: Expect it to be less spicy, and leaner and more cutting.

Vernaccia di San Gimignano

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

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

Similar but more floral

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

Roussanne

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

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

Fiano di Avellino

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

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

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 more fruit-driven, and less floral.

Soave

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

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

Similar but more savoury

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

Santorini Assyrtiko

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and less spicy.

Vin Jaune

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

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

Qvevri amber wine

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and less spicy.

Fino and Manzanilla sherry

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and leaner and more cutting.

Similar but fruitier

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

Australian Chardonnay

curated

Modern 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.

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 fruitier, and less spicy.

Fiano di Avellino

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

Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and less spicy.

Godello

curated

Galician Godello has comparable texture and stone fruit and takes oak similarly.

Expect: More mineral and less nutty, and a fraction of the price.

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.

Australian Chardonnay

curated

Modern 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.

Friuli white

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 less spicy, and more tannic and structured.

New Zealand 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 less spicy, and fruitier.

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 less spicy, and more fruit-driven.

Same grape, cooler climate

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

Chablis

curated

The same grape and region without the barrel influence.

Expect: No vanilla or butter at all — citrus, green apple and a saline finish.

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 fresher and more acidic, and less spicy.

English still white

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

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

Champagne

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 fresher and more acidic, and sweeter.

Same grape, warmer climate

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

Australian Chardonnay

curated

Modern 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.

New Zealand 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 less spicy, and fruitier.

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 less spicy, and more fruit-driven.

Friuli white

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 less spicy, and lighter.

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.

Australian Chardonnay

curated

Modern 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.

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 more fruit-driven, and more floral.

Chablis

curated

The same grape and region without the barrel influence.

Expect: No vanilla or butter at all — citrus, green apple and a saline finish.

South African Chenin Blanc

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

Expect: Expect it to be less spicy, and fresher and more acidic.

Something more adventurous

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

Friuli white

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 less spicy, and more tannic and structured.

Godello

curated

Galician Godello has comparable texture and stone fruit and takes oak similarly.

Expect: More mineral and less nutty, and a fraction of the price.

New Zealand 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 less spicy, and fruitier.

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 less spicy, and fresher and more acidic.

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.

Friuli white

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 less spicy, and more tannic and structured.

Godello

curated

Galician Godello has comparable texture and stone fruit and takes oak similarly.

Expect: More mineral and less nutty, and a fraction of the price.

New Zealand 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 less spicy, and fruitier.

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 less spicy, and fresher and more acidic.

A step up

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

Ribera del Duero

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

Expect: Expect it to be spicier, and fruitier.

Priorat

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

Expect: Expect it to be spicier, and rounder and creamier in texture.

Santorini Assyrtiko

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

Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and less spicy.

Australian Chardonnay

curated

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 less spicy, and fruitier.

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.