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 how much it smells of, before you even taste it and how light and easy it feels.
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.
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 how much it smells of, before you even taste it.
- Keeps how light and easy it feels.
Welsh white wine
Both are made from bacchus, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Keeps how much it smells of, before you even taste it.
- Keeps how light and easy it feels.
Phoenix
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
- Keeps how much it smells of, before you even taste it.
- Keeps how light and easy it feels.
Finger Lakes Riesling
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Keeps how much it smells of, before you even taste it.
- Keeps how light and easy it feels.
Aidani
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Keeps how much it smells of, before you even taste it.
- Keeps how light and easy it feels.
Riesling
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Keeps how much it smells of, before you even taste it.
- Keeps how light and easy it feels.
Loureiro
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Keeps how much it smells of, before you even taste it.
- Keeps how light and easy it feels.
Sauvignon Blanc
curatedThe nearest widely available equivalent in aromatic style.
- Keeps how much it smells of, before you even taste it.
- Has some of how light and easy it feels, though less of it.
Closest overall
Nearest neighbours, no change of direction.
Closest matches
The nearest overall neighbours across structure and flavour, with no deliberate change of 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.
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 restrained in fruit, and riper and less green.
Phoenix
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and less oaky.
Finger Lakes Riesling
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and less oaky.
Different grape, similar feel
Deliberately excludes the variety you already know, to find a genuinely new wine that fills the same role.
Phoenix
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and less oaky.
Finger Lakes Riesling
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and less oaky.
Aidani
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and broader and softer.
Riesling
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, and riper and less green.
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.
Kabinett
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and lighter in alcohol.
Mosel Riesling
Mosel Riesling scores closest to Bacchus across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and lighter in alcohol.
Txakoli
Txakoli scores closest to Bacchus across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and more neutral and subtle.
Hondarrabi Zuri
Hondarrabi Zuri scores closest to Bacchus across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and more neutral and subtle.
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.
Riesling
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, and riper and less green.
Loureiro
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, and riper and less green.
Mantinia Moschofilero
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, and more aromatic.
Moschofilero
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, and more aromatic.
Similar but fuller
Keeps the character but adds weight, concentration and mouthfeel.
Ortega
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and riper and less green.
Rueda Verdejo
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and less floral.
Verdejo
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and less floral.
Albariño
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and riper and less green.
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.
Phoenix
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and less oaky.
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: Chosen because you asked for something less tannic.
Aidani
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and broader and softer.
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 restrained in fruit, and riper and less green.
Similar but more structured
More tannic architecture, for food or for ageing.
Mtsvane Kakhuri
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and riper and less green.
Rkatsiteli
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and more neutral and subtle.
Istrian Malvazija
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and more neutral and subtle.
Malvazija Istarska
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and more neutral and subtle.
Similar but fresher
Raises acidity and overall lift, usually by moving to a cooler-climate expression.
Finger Lakes Riesling
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and less oaky.
Riesling
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, and riper and less green.
Loureiro
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, and riper and less green.
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 more neutral and subtle, and riper and less green.
Similar but softer
Lowers acidity and sharpness in favour of a broader, gentler feel.
Aidani
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and broader and softer.
Maria Gomes
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and riper and less green.
Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and riper and less green.
Ortega
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and riper and less green.
The sparkling version
Moves to a sparkling expression while holding the flavour and weight as close as possible.
Asti
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and lighter in alcohol.
Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and riper and less green.
Glera
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more neutral and subtle, and riper and less green.
Prosecco
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and less oaky.
Similar but drier
Reduces perceptible sugar while keeping aromatic character.
Loureiro
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, and riper and less green.
Mantinia Moschofilero
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and lighter in alcohol.
Moschofilero
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and lighter in alcohol.
Sancerre
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and more savoury.
Similar but sweeter
Adds perceptible sweetness, which also softens acidity and chilli heat.
Aidani
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and broader and softer.
Asti
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and lighter in alcohol.
Finger Lakes Riesling
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and less oaky.
Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and riper and less green.
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.
Aidani
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and broader and softer.
Finger Lakes Riesling
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and sweeter.
Loureiro
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, and riper and less green.
Phoenix
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and broader and softer.
Similar but more oaky
Adds barrel character, toast and a creamier texture.
White Bordeaux
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and less oaky.
Chenin Blanc
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and more neutral and subtle.
Chardonnay
Chardonnay scores closest to Bacchus across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and more neutral and subtle.
Furmint
Furmint scores closest to Bacchus across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and more neutral and subtle.
Similar but more aromatic
More to smell before you taste — floral, fruity or spiced aromatics.
Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and riper and less green.
Mantinia Moschofilero
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and lighter in alcohol.
Moschofilero
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and lighter in alcohol.
Torrontés
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and fuller and richer.
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 more neutral and subtle, and riper and less green.
Vinho Verde
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more neutral and subtle, and lighter in alcohol.
Colombard
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more neutral and subtle, and lighter in alcohol.
Picpoul de Pinet
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more neutral and subtle, and riper and less green.
Similar but more floral
Pushes specifically towards rose, violet, blossom and elderflower character.
Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and riper and less green.
Mantinia Moschofilero
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and lighter in alcohol.
Moschofilero
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and lighter in alcohol.
Loureiro
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, and riper and less green.
Similar but less floral
Some drinkers read floral aromatics as soapy or perfumed. This holds the structure and removes them.
Chilean Sauvignon Blanc
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, 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 more neutral and subtle, and less floral.
Finger Lakes Riesling
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and less oaky.
Nahe Riesling
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and less floral.
Similar but more savoury
Moves away from primary fruit towards earth, herb, meat and umami character.
Pouilly-Fumé
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and drier.
Finger Lakes Riesling
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and fruitier.
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 more neutral and subtle, and riper and less green.
Retsina
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and more savoury.
Similar but fruitier
More obvious, generous fruit flavour, usually from a warmer climate.
Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and riper and less green.
Spätlese
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and lighter in alcohol.
Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and more aromatic.
Petit Manseng
Petit Manseng scores closest to Bacchus across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and stronger and warmer.
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 the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be more neutral and subtle, and riper and less green.
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 softer and rounder.
Welsh white wine
Both are made from bacchus, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and more restrained in fruit.
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 restrained in fruit, 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 restrained in fruit, 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 more neutral and subtle, and fresher and more acidic.
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.
English Bacchus
Both are made from bacchus, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both come from the same country.
Riesling
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, and riper and less green.
Sauvignon Blanc
curatedThe nearest widely available equivalent in aromatic style.
Expect: More pungent and tropical, and fuller in body.
Sancerre
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and drier.
Something more adventurous
Less familiar wines that occupy similar territory — the interesting end of the shelf.
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 restrained in fruit, and riper and less green.
Phoenix
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and less oaky.
Finger Lakes Riesling
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and less oaky.
Aidani
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and broader and softer.
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.
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 restrained in fruit, and riper and less green.
Phoenix
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and less oaky.
Finger Lakes Riesling
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and less oaky.
Aidani
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and broader and softer.
A step up
The benchmark expressions of the same territory, usually with more concentration, structure and ageing potential.
Albariño
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and riper and less green.
Australian Riesling
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and riper and less green.
Pouilly-Fumé
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and earthier.
Rías Baixas Albariño
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and riper and less green.
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.