Comparison
Riesling vs Vermentino
How Riesling and Vermentino differ, dimension by dimension.
The short answer
The main differences: Riesling has more sweetness; Riesling has more floral character; Vermentino has more herbal / green character.
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.
Sweetness
Clear differencePerceived sugar in the finished wine, driven mainly by residual sugar but modified by acidity, alcohol and fruit ripeness.
Riesling is sweeter: medium against low.
Floral character
Clear differenceBlossom, rose, violet, elderflower, acacia and related aromatic notes.
Riesling is more floral: medium against low.
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.
Riesling 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.
Where they are much the same
Just as useful: knowing which parts of the choice do not matter.
- Tannin: Similar — both low.
- Earthy character: Similar — both low.
- Carbonation: Similar — both low.
Full side by side
| Dimension | Riesling | Vermentino |
|---|---|---|
| Sweetness | typically medium, ranging from low to high (3/5) | low (1/5) |
| Floral character | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium-plus (3/5) | low (1/5) |
| 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 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-plus (3/5) |
| Oak influence | low (1/5) | typically low-medium, ranging from low to low-medium (2/5) |
| Savoury character | typically low-medium, ranging from low to medium (2/5) | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium-plus (3/5) |
| Spice | typically low-medium, ranging from low to low-medium (2/5) | low (1/5) |
| 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 (3/5) |
| Tannin | low (1/5) | low (1/5) |
| Earthy character | low (1/5) | low (1/5) |
| Carbonation | low (1/5) | low (1/5) |
| Serve at | 8–11°C | 10–13°C |
| Typical flavours | lime, green apple, white peach, apricot, honey | 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.
Read more
Grape
Riesling
The most transparent and longest-lived white variety, made from bone dry to intensely sweet and almost never oaked.
Grape
Vermentino
A saline, citrusy Mediterranean white grown in Sardinia, Liguria, Tuscany and Provence.
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