Comparison
Australian Riesling vs Soave
How Australian Riesling and Soave differ, dimension by dimension.
The short answer
The main differences: Australian Riesling has more acidity; Australian Riesling has more fruit intensity; Australian Riesling has more aromatic intensity.
Choose
Australian Riesling
Choose Australian Riesling if you want something fresher and more acidic, fruitier, more aromatic.
Where they genuinely differ
Only differences large enough to notice in the glass are listed here. A gap of half a point on a five-point scale is noise, and WineHQ does not dress it up as a finding.
Acidity
Clear differenceTotal perceived acidity. Rises in cooler climates and with earlier picking; falls with heat and ripeness.
Australian Riesling is fresher and more acidic: high against medium-plus.
Fruit intensity
Clear differenceHow loudly the fruit flavours speak, independent of whether they are ripe or tart.
Australian Riesling is fruitier: medium-plus against medium.
Aromatic intensity
Clear differenceHow strongly the wine smells before it is tasted. Some grapes are intrinsically aromatic; others express mainly on the palate.
Australian Riesling is more aromatic: medium-plus against medium.
Oak influence
Clear differencePerceptible impact of barrel or alternative oak contact — vanilla, toast, coconut, smoke, cedar and added texture.
Soave is more oaky: low-medium against low.
Perceived freshness
Clear differenceThe overall impression of liveliness — a composite of acidity, alcohol balance, fruit character and the absence of tiredness. Distinct from raw acidity: a wine can be high in acid yet taste heavy.
Australian Riesling is fresher: high against medium-plus.
Texture
Clear differenceMouthfeel independent of weight — from lean and cutting through to creamy, waxy or velvety. Driven by lees contact, malolactic conversion, skin contact and ageing.
Soave is rounder and creamier in texture: medium against low-medium.
Where they are much the same
Just as useful: knowing which parts of the choice do not matter.
- Sweetness: Similar — both low.
- Tannin: Similar — both low.
- Alcohol: Similar — both medium.
- Body: Similar — both medium.
- Savoury character: Similar — both medium.
Full side by side
| Dimension | Australian Riesling | Soave |
|---|---|---|
| Acidity | typically high, ranging from medium-plus to high (5/5) | typically medium-plus, ranging from medium to medium-plus (4/5) |
| Fruit intensity | typically medium-plus, ranging from medium to high (4/5) | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium-plus (3/5) |
| Aromatic intensity | typically medium-plus, ranging from medium to high (4/5) | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium (3/5) |
| Oak influence | low (1/5) | typically low-medium, ranging from low to medium (2/5) |
| Perceived freshness | typically high, ranging from medium-plus to high (5/5) | typically medium-plus, ranging from medium to medium-plus (4/5) |
| Texture | typically low-medium, ranging from low to medium (2/5) | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium-plus (3/5) |
| Sweetness | low (1/5) | low (1/5) |
| Tannin | low (1/5) | low (1/5) |
| Alcohol | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium-plus (3/5) | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium-plus (3/5) |
| Body | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium (3/5) | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium-plus (3/5) |
| Savoury character | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium-plus (3/5) | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium-plus (3/5) |
| Floral character | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium-plus (3/5) | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium (3/5) |
| Herbal / green character | low (1/5) | low (1/5) |
| Spice | low (1/5) | low (1/5) |
| Earthy character | low (1/5) | low (1/5) |
| Carbonation | low (1/5) | low (1/5) |
| Serve at | 8–10°C | 9–11°C |
| Typical flavours | lime, grapefruit, green apple, wet stone, jasmine | ripe pear, white peach, almond, lemon peel, chamomile |
Values are typical points within each wine’s range. Both wines vary — see the individual pages for how much.
Read more
Style
Australian Riesling
Bone dry, intensely limey and steely — a category of its own, with almost nothing in common with German Riesling beyond the grape.
Style
Soave
Garganega from volcanic hills near Verona: subtle, almond-scented and far better than its bulk-wine reputation.
Comparison
German vs Australian Riesling
Both are called Riesling and one is bone dry. Which is which?
Comparison
Soave vs Pinot Grigio
Two Italian whites at the same price — which has more to say?