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, while moving away from too tropical or sweet-smelling and too floral or soapy.
- You said you like the citrus and green-apple character and that it is too tropical or sweet-smelling. Both are about fruit intensity, so they pull the same axis in opposite directions — the dislike is applied and the like is set aside.
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.
- A little less tropical or sweet-smelling.
- Substantially less floral or soapy.
English still white
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.
- Substantially less tropical or sweet-smelling.
- Substantially less floral or soapy.
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.
- A little less tropical or sweet-smelling.
- Substantially less floral or soapy.
Vinho Verde
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Keeps the citrus and green-apple character.
- Substantially less tropical or sweet-smelling.
- Substantially less floral or soapy.
Vouvray
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Keeps the citrus and green-apple character.
- Substantially less tropical or sweet-smelling.
- Substantially less floral or soapy.
Seyval Blanc
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
- Keeps the citrus and green-apple character.
- Substantially less tropical or sweet-smelling.
- Substantially less floral or soapy.
Weinviertel Grüner Veltliner
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Keeps the citrus and green-apple character.
- A little less tropical or sweet-smelling.
- Substantially less floral or soapy.
Picpoul de Pinet
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Keeps the citrus and green-apple character.
- Substantially less tropical or sweet-smelling.
- Substantially less floral or soapy.
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.
English still white
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 less floral, and fresher and more acidic.
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.
Vinho Verde
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and riper and less green.
Different grape, similar feel
Deliberately excludes the variety you already know, to find a genuinely new wine that fills the same role.
Vinho Verde
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and riper and less green.
Vouvray
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and more sparkling.
Seyval Blanc
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and more neutral and subtle.
Weinviertel Grüner Veltliner
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and spicier.
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
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and fresher and more acidic.
Hondarrabi Zuri
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and fresher and more acidic.
Jacquère
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and more restrained in fruit.
Kabinett
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and more floral.
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.
Hunter Valley Semillon
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and fresher and more acidic.
Vinho Verde
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and riper and less green.
Alpine white
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and fresher and more acidic.
Colombard
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and fresher and more acidic.
Similar but fuller
Keeps the character but adds weight, concentration and mouthfeel.
Vouvray
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and more sparkling.
Chardonnay
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be broader and softer, and less floral.
Assyrtiko
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and fresher and more acidic.
Weinviertel Grüner Veltliner
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and spicier.
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.
English still white
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 less floral, and fresher and more acidic.
Vouvray
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and more sparkling.
Seyval Blanc
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and more neutral and subtle.
Weinviertel Grüner Veltliner
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and spicier.
Similar but more structured
More tannic architecture, for food or for ageing.
Trebbiano Spoletino
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and fresher and more acidic.
Rkatsiteli
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and broader and softer.
Albana
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and broader and softer.
Brda Rebula
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and broader and softer.
Similar but fresher
Raises acidity and overall lift, usually by moving to a cooler-climate expression.
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 fresher and more acidic, and less floral.
Vinho Verde
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and riper and less green.
Vouvray
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and more sparkling.
Picpoul de Pinet
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and less floral.
Similar but softer
Lowers acidity and sharpness in favour of a broader, gentler feel.
Silvaner
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and softer and rounder.
Pinot Gris
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be broader and softer, and softer and rounder.
Franken Silvaner
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and softer and rounder.
Macabeo
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be broader and softer, and softer and rounder.
The sparkling version
Moves to a sparkling expression while holding the flavour and weight as close as possible.
English Blanc de Blancs
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and fresher and more acidic.
English sparkling wine
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and fresher and more acidic.
Cava
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and more sparkling.
Crémant
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and fresher and more acidic.
Similar but drier
Reduces perceptible sugar while keeping aromatic character.
Weinviertel Grüner Veltliner
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and spicier.
Picpoul de Pinet
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and fresher and more acidic.
Alpine white
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and fresher and more acidic.
Aligoté
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and fresher and more acidic.
Similar but sweeter
Adds perceptible sweetness, which also softens acidity and chilli heat.
Vouvray
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and more sparkling.
Welschriesling
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be broader and softer, and riper and less green.
Chenin Blanc
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be broader and softer, and fresher and more acidic.
Albana
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, 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.
Vinho Verde
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and riper and less green.
Seyval Blanc
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and more neutral and subtle.
Weinviertel Grüner Veltliner
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and spicier.
Picpoul de Pinet
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and fresher and more acidic.
Similar but more oaky
Adds barrel character, toast and a creamier texture.
Chardonnay
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be broader and softer, and less floral.
Chenin Blanc
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be broader and softer, and fresher and more acidic.
White Burgundy
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and broader and softer.
Friuli white
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, 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 more floral.
Moschofilero
Moschofilero scores closest to Bacchus across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and more floral.
Scheurebe
Scheurebe scores closest to Bacchus across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and fruitier.
Torrontés
Torrontés scores closest to Bacchus across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
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.
English still white
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 less floral, and fresher and more acidic.
Vinho Verde
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and riper and less green.
Vouvray
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and more sparkling.
Seyval Blanc
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and more neutral and subtle.
Similar but more floral
Pushes specifically towards rose, violet, blossom and elderflower character.
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.
Loureiro
Loureiro scores closest to Bacchus across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be more floral, and more aromatic.
Torrontés
Torrontés scores closest to Bacchus across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
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.
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 less floral, and fresher and more acidic.
Pinot Grigio
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and broader and softer.
Chardonnay
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and broader and softer.
Pouilly-Fumé
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and more aromatic.
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.
Savennières
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and fresher and more acidic.
Pouilly-Fumé
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and fresher and more acidic.
English still white
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 less floral, and fresher and more acidic.
Similar but fruitier
More obvious, generous fruit flavour, usually from a warmer climate.
Petit Manseng
Petit Manseng scores closest to Bacchus across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and less floral.
Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc
Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc scores closest to Bacchus across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and more aromatic.
Spätlese
Spätlese scores closest to Bacchus across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and more floral.
Montlouis-sur-Loire
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and fresher and more acidic.
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 less floral, and fresher and more acidic.
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 fuller and richer.
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 fruitier, and more floral.
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.
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 lighter.
English still white
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 less floral, and fresher and more acidic.
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 fruitier, and more 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.
Vinho Verde
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and riper and less green.
Chablis
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and fresher and more acidic.
Pinot Grigio
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be broader and softer, and more neutral and subtle.
Chardonnay
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be broader and softer, and less floral.
Something more adventurous
Less familiar wines that occupy similar territory — the interesting end of the shelf.
English still white
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 less floral, and fresher and more acidic.
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.
Vouvray
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and more sparkling.
Seyval Blanc
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and more neutral and subtle.
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.
English still white
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 less floral, and fresher and more acidic.
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.
Vouvray
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and more sparkling.
Seyval Blanc
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and more neutral and subtle.
A step up
The benchmark expressions of the same territory, usually with more concentration, structure and ageing potential.
Chablis
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and fresher and more acidic.
Chardonnay
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be broader and softer, and less floral.
Pouilly-Fumé
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and fresher and more acidic.
Sancerre
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and fresher and more acidic.
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.