White grape variety
Phoenix
A disease-resistant German crossing grown in the UK for aromatic still whites.
What is Phoenix?
Phoenix inherits aromatic character from Bacchus and disease resistance from its other parent, making it well suited to damp northern conditions.
Bred at Geilweilerhof, Germany, from Bacchus and a disease-resistant hybrid.
The Vitis International Variety Catalogue, maintained by the Julius Kühn Institute, holds this variety as accession 9224 under the prime name PHOENIX, with berry skin colour blanc and country of origin germany, and the pedigree "BACCHUS X S.V. 12-375". Checked 2026-08-17.
What it tastes like
This is the envelope across every expression of Phoenix, not a description of one bottle. Wide ranges are the honest answer.
| Dimension | Typical | Range | Variation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sweetness | low-medium | Some variation | |
| Acidity | medium-plus | Some variation | |
| Alcohol | medium | Some variation | |
| Body | low-medium | Some variation | |
| Fruit intensity | medium-plus | Some variation | |
| Aromatic intensity | medium-plus | Some variation | |
| Oak influence | low | Consistent | |
| Savoury character | low-medium | Consistent | |
| Floral character | medium-plus | Some variation | |
| Herbal / green character | low | Consistent | |
| Spice | low | Consistent | |
| Earthy character | low | Consistent | |
| Perceived freshness | medium-plus | Some variation | |
| Texture | medium | Consistent |
Common flavours
Wines made from it
The same grape in different places and different hands. These are where the wide ranges above resolve into something specific.
Where it grows
- Monmouthshire — Wales
- East Anglia — England
If you like Phoenix, try…
Every suggestion says why it is connected and what will be different.
Closest matches
What is most like this?
Welsh white wine
Both are made from phoenix, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect it to be more herbal and green, and more oaky.
Kerner
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect it to be fuller and richer, and less floral.
Ortega
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect it to be sweeter, and fuller and richer.
Similar but lighter
Something like this, but lighter?
Kabinett
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and fresher.
Mosel Riesling
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and lighter in alcohol.
Jacquère
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect it to be more neutral and subtle, and less floral.
Similar but lower in alcohol
Something like this, but less alcoholic?
Kabinett
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and lighter in alcohol.
Moschofilero
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect it to be drier, and more aromatic.
Loureiro
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect it to be drier, and fresher and more acidic.
Similar but fuller
Something like this, but richer?
Hárslevelű
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect it to be sweeter, and broader and softer.
Malagousia
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect it to be fuller and richer, and drier.
Grechetto
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect it to be less floral, and more neutral and subtle.
What to eat with it
Ranked by WineHQ's pairing engine, which reasons from the structure of the dish.
Fillet steak
Works because the finished dish, not the raw ingredient, sets the target.
Salmon
Works because the dish is rich, and acidity cuts through fat and refreshes the palate.
White fish
Works because low tannin avoids the metallic interaction with fish.
Asparagus
Works because bitterness in the dish and tannin in the wine accumulate rather than balance.
Cod
Works because low tannin avoids the metallic interaction with fish.
Fresh cheese
Works because a heavy wine would bury a delicate dish.
How to serve it
Temperature
9–12°C
48–54°F · Fridge cold
From a 20°C room, roughly two to three hours in the fridge, or about 20 minutes in a bucket of ice and water.
Decanting
No need to decant
Nothing about this wine suggests it needs decanting. Light, aromatic and sparkling wines generally lose more than they gain.
Glass
Universal wine glass
A medium tulip-shaped glass handles almost everything well. If you own one set of glasses, this is the set to own — the difference between a good universal glass and a grape-specific one is far smaller than the difference between a good glass and a bad one.
Ageing
Wines made from this grape are generally at their best within a few years.
A disease-resistant crossing planted in England for reliability rather than for structure. Made in a light, aromatic style for drinking within a year or two.
Family tree
Established by DNA analysis. Ampelography alone could not have found these relationships.
Parents
Sources
Sources consulted
- Vitis International Variety Catalogue (VIVC) — Julius Kühn-Institut, Institute for Grapevine Breeding Geilweilerhof
- WineGB industry data — Wines of Great Britain (WineGB)