If you like this, try…
Wines like Bacchus
England’s most distinctive still white variety: aromatic, hedgerow-scented and often compared to Sauvignon Blanc. Below: what to try next, grouped by the direction you want to travel.
Refine
What do you like about Bacchus?
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.
What these words mean
- The citrus and orchard fruit
- Lemon, lime, green apple, pear. The signature of a cool-climate white — quieter and less perfumed than tropical fruit, and a different thing from the acidity it usually travels with.
- The tropical fruit
- Passionfruit, mango, pineapple, guava. It comes from riper fruit and warmer sites, and it is the difference between Marlborough and Sancerre in the same grape.
- How light it is
- A wine you can drink without it feeling like a commitment. Usually lower in alcohol as well as lighter in the mouth.
- The floral character
- Rose, violet, elderflower, orange blossom.
- The herbal, green side
- Grass, blackcurrant leaf, green pepper, mint. It divides people more sharply than almost any other character.
- How aromatic it is
- Some grapes announce themselves from across the room — Gewürztraminer, Muscat, Sauvignon Blanc. Others are far quieter, and quiet is not the same as dull.
Looking for something keeping the citrus and green-apple character and the herbal, green edge, while moving away from too floral or soapy and too perfumed.
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.
Grüner Veltliner
curatedA comparably light, high-acid, herbal white.
- Has some of the citrus and green-apple character, though less of it.
- Has some of the herbal, green edge, though less of it.
- Substantially less floral or soapy.
- Substantially less perfumed.
Sauvignon Blanc
curatedThe nearest widely available equivalent in aromatic style.
- Keeps the citrus and green-apple character.
- Keeps the herbal, green edge.
- Substantially less floral or soapy.
- More perfumed, not less.
English Bacchus
Both are made from bacchus, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both come from the same country.
- Keeps the citrus and green-apple character.
- Keeps the herbal, green edge.
- About as floral or soapy as the wine you started from.
- About as perfumed as the wine you started from.
Sancerre
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Keeps the citrus and green-apple character.
- Keeps the herbal, green edge.
- Substantially less floral or soapy.
- About as perfumed as the wine you started from.
Chilean Sauvignon Blanc
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
- Keeps the citrus and green-apple character.
- Keeps the herbal, green edge.
- Substantially less floral or soapy.
- About as perfumed as the wine you started from.
Weinviertel Grüner Veltliner
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
- Keeps the citrus and green-apple character.
- Has some of the herbal, green edge, though less of it.
- Substantially less floral or soapy.
- Substantially less perfumed.
Welsh white wine
Both are made from bacchus, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Keeps the citrus and green-apple character.
- Has some of the herbal, green edge, though less of it.
- Substantially less floral or soapy.
- About as perfumed as the wine you started from.
Pouilly-Fumé
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
- Keeps the citrus and green-apple character.
- Keeps the herbal, green edge.
- Substantially less floral or soapy.
- About as perfumed as the wine you started from.
Closest overall
Nearest neighbours, no change of direction.
Closest matches
The nearest overall neighbours across structure and flavour, with no deliberate change of direction.
Grüner Veltliner
curatedA comparably light, high-acid, herbal white.
Expect: More peppery and savoury, and less floral.
Sauvignon Blanc
curatedThe nearest widely available equivalent in aromatic style.
Expect: More pungent and tropical, and fuller in body.
English Bacchus
Both are made from bacchus, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and more floral.
Sancerre
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and more restrained in fruit.
Different grape, similar feel
Deliberately excludes the variety you already know, to find a genuinely new wine that fills the same role.
Sancerre
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and more restrained in fruit.
Chilean Sauvignon Blanc
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and more aromatic.
Weinviertel Grüner Veltliner
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and riper and less green.
Pouilly-Fumé
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and more restrained in fruit.
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.
Txakoli
Txakoli scores closest to Bacchus across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and less floral.
Hondarrabi Zuri
Hondarrabi Zuri scores closest to Bacchus across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and less floral.
Jacquère
Jacquère scores closest to Bacchus across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and less floral.
Kabinett
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and more aromatic.
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.
Vinho Verde
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and more restrained in fruit.
Hunter Valley Semillon
Hunter Valley Semillon scores closest to Bacchus across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and less floral.
Colombard
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and less floral.
Alpine white
Alpine white scores closest to Bacchus across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and less floral.
Similar but fuller
Keeps the character but adds weight, concentration and mouthfeel.
Weinviertel Grüner Veltliner
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and riper and less green.
Pouilly-Fumé
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and more restrained in fruit.
South African Sauvignon Blanc
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and more aromatic.
Grüner Veltliner
curatedA comparably light, high-acid, herbal white.
Expect: More peppery and savoury, and less floral.
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.
Weinviertel Grüner Veltliner
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and riper and less green.
Pouilly-Fumé
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and more restrained in fruit.
South African Sauvignon Blanc
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and more aromatic.
Grüner Veltliner
curatedA comparably light, high-acid, herbal white.
Expect: More peppery and savoury, and less floral.
Similar but more structured
More tannic architecture, for food or for ageing.
Rkatsiteli
Rkatsiteli scores closest to Bacchus across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and less floral.
Trebbiano Spoletino
Trebbiano Spoletino scores closest to Bacchus across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and less floral.
Kisi
Kisi scores closest to Bacchus across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and broader and softer.
Ribolla Gialla
Ribolla Gialla scores closest to Bacchus across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and less floral.
Similar but fresher
Raises acidity and overall lift, usually by moving to a cooler-climate expression.
Sancerre
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and more restrained in fruit.
Chilean Sauvignon Blanc
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and more aromatic.
Pouilly-Fumé
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and more restrained in fruit.
South African Sauvignon Blanc
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and more aromatic.
Similar but softer
Lowers acidity and sharpness in favour of a broader, gentler feel.
Franken Silvaner
Franken Silvaner scores closest to Bacchus across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and broader and softer.
Silvaner
Silvaner scores closest to Bacchus across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and broader and softer.
Pinot Gris
Pinot Gris scores closest to Bacchus across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and broader and softer.
Roero Arneis
Roero Arneis scores closest to Bacchus across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and broader and softer.
The sparkling version
Moves to a sparkling expression while holding the flavour and weight as close as possible.
English Blanc de Noirs
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and less floral.
Austrian Sekt
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and less floral.
Australian traditional-method sparkling
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and less floral.
English sparkling wine
Both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and less floral.
Similar but drier
Reduces perceptible sugar while keeping aromatic character.
Sancerre
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and more restrained in fruit.
Chilean Sauvignon Blanc
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and more aromatic.
Weinviertel Grüner Veltliner
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and riper and less green.
Pouilly-Fumé
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and more restrained in fruit.
Similar but sweeter
Adds perceptible sweetness, which also softens acidity and chilli heat.
Vouvray
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and more restrained in fruit.
Furmint
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and less floral.
Chenin Blanc
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and broader and softer.
Welschriesling
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and broader and softer.
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.
Weinviertel Grüner Veltliner
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and riper and less green.
Pecorino
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and more aromatic.
Vinho Verde
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and more restrained in fruit.
Wachau Grüner Veltliner
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and more aromatic.
Similar but more oaky
Adds barrel character, toast and a creamier texture.
Furmint
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and less floral.
Dry Furmint
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and less floral.
White Bordeaux
White Bordeaux scores closest to Bacchus across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and more aromatic.
Chenin Blanc
Chenin Blanc scores closest to Bacchus across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and broader and softer.
Similar but more aromatic
More to smell before you taste — floral, fruity or spiced aromatics.
Mantinia Moschofilero
Mantinia Moschofilero scores closest to Bacchus across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and riper and less green.
Moschofilero
Moschofilero scores closest to Bacchus across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and riper and less green.
Sauvignon Blanc
curatedThe nearest widely available equivalent in aromatic style.
Expect: More pungent and tropical, and fuller in body.
English Bacchus
Both are made from bacchus, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure, both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and more floral.
Similar but more restrained
For readers who find intensely aromatic wines tiring over a whole glass. Keeps the structure, turns the volume down.
Weinviertel Grüner Veltliner
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and riper and less green.
Grüner Veltliner
curatedA comparably light, high-acid, herbal white.
Expect: More peppery and savoury, and less floral.
Vermentino
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and broader and softer.
Montlouis-sur-Loire
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and fuller and richer.
Similar but more floral
Pushes specifically towards rose, violet, blossom and elderflower character.
Loureiro
Loureiro scores closest to Bacchus across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be more floral, and riper and less green.
Mantinia Moschofilero
Mantinia Moschofilero scores closest to Bacchus across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be more floral, and more aromatic.
Moschofilero
Moschofilero scores closest to Bacchus across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be more floral, and more aromatic.
English Bacchus
Both are made from bacchus, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure, both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be more floral, and more aromatic.
Similar but less floral
Some drinkers read floral aromatics as soapy or perfumed. This holds the structure and removes them.
Pouilly-Fumé
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and more aromatic.
Sancerre
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and more restrained in fruit.
Sauvignon Blanc
curatedThe nearest widely available equivalent in aromatic style.
Expect: More pungent and tropical, and fuller in body.
Weinviertel Grüner Veltliner
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and riper and less green.
Similar but more savoury
Moves away from primary fruit towards earth, herb, meat and umami character.
Grüner Veltliner
curatedA comparably light, high-acid, herbal white.
Expect: More peppery and savoury, and less floral.
Pouilly-Fumé
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and more restrained in fruit.
Franken Silvaner
Franken Silvaner scores closest to Bacchus across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and broader and softer.
Sancerre
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and more restrained in fruit.
Similar but fruitier
More obvious, generous fruit flavour, usually from a warmer climate.
Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and fruitier.
Petit Manseng
Petit Manseng scores closest to Bacchus across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and fruitier.
Spätlese
Spätlese scores closest to Bacchus across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and fruitier.
English Bacchus
Both are made from bacchus, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and more floral.
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.
Same grape, cooler climate
Typically fresher, lighter and more herbal, with lower alcohol.
English still white
Both are made from bacchus, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure, both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and less floral.
English Bacchus
Both are made from bacchus, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and more floral.
Welsh white wine
Both are made from bacchus, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and riper and less green.
Same grape, warmer climate
Typically riper, fuller and more generous in fruit, with higher alcohol.
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.
English Bacchus
Both are made from bacchus, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and more floral.
Welsh white wine
Both are made from bacchus, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and more restrained in fruit.
English still white
Both are made from bacchus, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and less floral.
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.
Sauvignon Blanc
curatedThe nearest widely available equivalent in aromatic style.
Expect: More pungent and tropical, and fuller in body.
English Bacchus
Both are made from bacchus, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and more floral.
Sancerre
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and more restrained in fruit.
Pouilly-Fumé
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and more restrained in fruit.
Something more adventurous
Less familiar wines that occupy similar territory — the interesting end of the shelf.
Chilean Sauvignon Blanc
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and more aromatic.
Weinviertel Grüner Veltliner
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and riper and less green.
Welsh white wine
Both are made from bacchus, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and riper and less green.
South African Sauvignon Blanc
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and more aromatic.
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.
Chilean Sauvignon Blanc
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and more aromatic.
Weinviertel Grüner Veltliner
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and riper and less green.
Welsh white wine
Both are made from bacchus, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and riper and less green.
South African Sauvignon Blanc
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and more aromatic.
A step up
The benchmark expressions of the same territory, usually with more concentration, structure and ageing potential.
Sancerre
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and more restrained in fruit.
Pouilly-Fumé
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and more restrained in fruit.
Grüner Veltliner
curatedA comparably light, high-acid, herbal white.
Expect: More peppery and savoury, and less floral.
Chablis
Chablis scores closest to Bacchus across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and less floral.
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.