Comparison
Melon de Bourgogne vs Vermentino
How Melon de Bourgogne and Vermentino differ, dimension by dimension.
The short answer
The main differences: Vermentino has more herbal / green character; Melon de Bourgogne has more acidity; Vermentino has more alcohol.
Choose
Vermentino
Choose Vermentino if you want something more herbal and green, stronger and warmer, fuller and richer.
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.
Herbal / green character
Clear differenceHerbs, grass, blackcurrant leaf, capsicum and other green notes, largely driven by methoxypyrazines and picking decisions.
Vermentino is more herbal and green: medium against low.
Acidity
Clear differenceTotal perceived acidity. Rises in cooler climates and with earlier picking; falls with heat and ripeness.
Melon de Bourgogne is fresher and more acidic: high against medium-plus.
Alcohol
Clear differencePerceived alcoholic strength, which tracks actual ABV but is modified by sweetness, acidity and body.
Vermentino is stronger and warmer: medium against low-medium.
Body
Clear differenceThe overall weight and viscosity of the wine in the mouth — a composite of alcohol, sugar, extract and glycerol.
Vermentino is fuller and richer: medium against low-medium.
Fruit intensity
Clear differenceHow loudly the fruit flavours speak, independent of whether they are ripe or tart.
Vermentino is fruitier: medium against low-medium.
Aromatic intensity
Clear differenceHow strongly the wine smells before it is tasted. Some grapes are intrinsically aromatic; others express mainly on the palate.
Vermentino is more aromatic: 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.
- Savoury character: Similar — both medium.
- Floral character: Similar — both low.
- Spice: Similar — both low.
Full side by side
| Dimension | Melon de Bourgogne | Vermentino |
|---|---|---|
| Herbal / green character | low (1/5) | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium-plus (3/5) |
| Acidity | typically high, ranging from medium-plus to high (5/5) | typically medium-plus, ranging from medium to medium-plus (4/5) |
| Alcohol | typically low-medium, ranging from low to medium (2/5) | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium-plus (3/5) |
| Body | typically low-medium, ranging from low to medium (2/5) | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium (3/5) |
| Fruit intensity | typically low-medium, ranging from low to medium (2/5) | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium-plus (3/5) |
| Aromatic intensity | typically low-medium, ranging from low to medium (2/5) | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium-plus (3/5) |
| Oak influence | low (1/5) | typically low-medium, ranging from low to low-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) |
| Carbonation | typically low-medium, ranging from low to low-medium (2/5) | low (1/5) |
| Sweetness | low (1/5) | low (1/5) |
| Tannin | low (1/5) | low (1/5) |
| 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 | low (1/5) | low (1/5) |
| Spice | low (1/5) | low (1/5) |
| Earthy character | low (1/5) | low (1/5) |
| Texture | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium-plus (3/5) | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium (3/5) |
| Serve at | 9–12°C | 10–13°C |
| Typical flavours | green apple, lemon, sea salt, bread dough, crushed shell | lime, green almond, sea salt, wild fennel, grapefruit |
Values are typical points within each wine’s range. Both wines vary — see the individual pages for how much.