If you like this, try…

Wines like Encruzado

The Dão’s outstanding white variety, capable of Burgundian weight and longevity. Below: what to try next, grouped by the direction you want to travel.

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What do you like about Encruzado?

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.

I like…

How full and weighty it is The creamy, rounded texture That it is properly dry

But it’s a bit…

too sharp or lemony too tropical or sweet-smelling too heavy too buttery or thick too savoury or funky too austere

Clear all

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 full and weighty it is: Body is how much the wine seems to fill your mouth — the difference between skimmed and whole milk. It comes mostly from alcohol and ripeness.
The creamy, rounded texture: A soft, almost dairy-like roundness. In white wine it usually comes from malolactic fermentation or from time on the lees, not from the grape.
The savoury, meaty side: Leather, olive, cured meat, dried herbs, tobacco. It is what people mean by calling a wine "serious" rather than "fruity", and it comes with age as well as with place.
That it is properly dry: No perceptible sugar at all. Almost all red wine is dry and a good deal of white wine is not, which is why this is a more useful thing to say about a white than about a red.

Looking for something keeping that it is properly dry and the creamy, rounded mouthfeel, while moving away from too austere.

You said you like that it is properly dry and that it is too austere. Both are about sweetness, 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.

Sémillon

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Has noticeably less of that it is properly dry.
Keeps the creamy, rounded mouthfeel.
Substantially less austere.

Vidal

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Has noticeably less of that it is properly dry.
Keeps the creamy, rounded mouthfeel.
Substantially less austere.

Hárslevelű

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Has noticeably less of that it is properly dry.
Keeps the creamy, rounded mouthfeel.
Substantially less austere.

Malvasia

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.

Has noticeably less of that it is properly dry.
Keeps the creamy, rounded mouthfeel.
Substantially less austere.

Chenin Blanc

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Has noticeably less of that it is properly dry.
Keeps the creamy, rounded mouthfeel.
Substantially less austere.

Furmint

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Has noticeably less of that it is properly dry.
Keeps the creamy, rounded mouthfeel.
Substantially less austere.

Petit Manseng

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Has noticeably less of that it is properly dry.
Keeps the creamy, rounded mouthfeel.
Substantially less austere.

Pfalz Riesling

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Has some of that it is properly dry, though less of it.
Keeps the creamy, rounded mouthfeel.
Substantially less austere.

Closest overall

Nearest neighbours, no change of direction.

Closest matches

The nearest overall neighbours across structure and flavour, with no deliberate change of direction.

Sémillon

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and more neutral and subtle.

Vidal

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, and less oaky.

Hárslevelű

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be more floral, and less oaky.

Malvasia

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, 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.

Sémillon

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and more neutral and subtle.

Vidal

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, and less oaky.

Hárslevelű

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be more floral, and less oaky.

Malvasia

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and less oaky.

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.

Hárslevelű

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be more floral, and less oaky.

Sémillon

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be more neutral and subtle, and more oaky.

Chenin Blanc

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and more oaky.

Albana

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be leaner and more cutting, and less oaky.

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.

Furmint

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and fresher.

Vidal

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, and less oaky.

Spätlese

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be leaner and more cutting, and fresher and more acidic.

Chenin Blanc

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and lighter.

Similar but fuller

Keeps the character but adds weight, concentration and mouthfeel.

Condrieu

Condrieu scores closest to Encruzado across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and drier.

Viognier

Viognier scores closest to Encruzado across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and drier.

Pedro Ximénez

Pedro Ximénez scores closest to Encruzado across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and softer and rounder.

Touriga Nacional

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be more floral, and fruitier.

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.

Sémillon

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and more neutral and subtle.

Vidal

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, and less oaky.

Alsace Pinot Gris

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be rounder and creamier in texture, and softer and rounder.

Hárslevelű

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be more floral, and less oaky.

Similar but more structured

More tannic architecture, for food or for ageing.

Malvasia

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and less oaky.

Albana

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be leaner and more cutting, and less oaky.

Kisi

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and less oaky.

Friuli white

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and more oaky.

Similar but fresher

Raises acidity and overall lift, usually by moving to a cooler-climate expression.

Furmint

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and more oaky.

Petit Manseng

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and fruitier.

Petite Arvine

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and leaner and more cutting.

Vouvray

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and leaner and more cutting.

Similar but softer

Lowers acidity and sharpness in favour of a broader, gentler feel.

Alsace Pinot Gris

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and rounder and creamier in texture.

Malvasia

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and less oaky.

California Chardonnay

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and softer and rounder.

Muscat of Alexandria

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and more aromatic.

The sparkling version

Moves to a sparkling expression while holding the flavour and weight as close as possible.

Franciacorta

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and more sparkling.

Méthode Cap Classique

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and more sparkling.

California traditional-method sparkling

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and more sparkling.

Champagne

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and fresher and more acidic.

Similar but sweeter

Adds perceptible sweetness, which also softens acidity and chilli heat.

Alsace Pinot Gris

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be rounder and creamier in texture, and softer and rounder.

Chenin Blanc

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and lighter.

Furmint

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and fresher.

Hárslevelű

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be more floral, and less oaky.

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.

Vidal

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, and more aromatic.

Hárslevelű

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be more floral, and lighter.

Malvasia

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and more aromatic.

Petit Manseng

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and fruitier.

Similar but more oaky

Adds barrel character, toast and a creamier texture.

Sémillon

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and lighter.

California Chardonnay

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and rounder and creamier in texture.

Chenin Blanc

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and less oaky.

Furmint

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and less oaky.

Similar but more aromatic

More to smell before you taste — floral, fruity or spiced aromatics.

Hárslevelű

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be more floral, and less oaky.

Scheurebe

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be leaner and more cutting, and more aromatic.

Muscat of Alexandria

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and more aromatic.

Gewürztraminer

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and more aromatic.

Similar but more restrained

For readers who find intensely aromatic wines tiring over a whole glass. Keeps the structure, turns the volume down.

Sémillon

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and more oaky.

Trebbiano Toscano

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be leaner and more cutting, and lighter.

Seyval Blanc

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and leaner and more cutting.

Silvaner

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and leaner and more cutting.

Similar but more floral

Pushes specifically towards rose, violet, blossom and elderflower character.

Hárslevelű

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be more floral, and less oaky.

Alsace Pinot Gris

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be rounder and creamier in texture, and softer and rounder.

Scheurebe

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be leaner and more cutting, and more floral.

Muscat of Alexandria

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and fruitier.

Similar but more savoury

Moves away from primary fruit towards earth, herb, meat and umami character.

Vin Jaune

Vin Jaune scores closest to Encruzado across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and fresher and more acidic.

Savennières

Savennières scores closest to Encruzado across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and fresher and more acidic.

Friuli white

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.

White Burgundy

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and spicier.

Similar but fruitier

More obvious, generous fruit flavour, usually from a warmer climate.

Vidal

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, and less oaky.

Hárslevelű

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be more floral, and less oaky.

Malvasia

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and less oaky.

Petit Manseng

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and fruitier.

Change the place

Keep the grape, move it somewhere else.

Same grape, cooler climate

Typically fresher, lighter and more herbal, with lower alcohol.

Douro white

Both are made from encruzado, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure, both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and fuller and richer.

Same grape, warmer climate

Typically riper, fuller and more generous in fruit, with higher alcohol.

Douro white

Both are made from encruzado, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure, both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and lighter.

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.

Chenin Blanc

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and lighter.

Chardonnay

curated

Comparable structure, texture and response to barrel ageing.

Expect: Rounder and more overtly oaky.

California Chardonnay

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and rounder and creamier in texture.

Pinot Gris

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and leaner and more cutting.

Something more adventurous

Less familiar wines that occupy similar territory — the interesting end of the shelf.

Sémillon

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and more neutral and subtle.

Vidal

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, and less oaky.

Hárslevelű

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be more floral, and less oaky.

Malvasia

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and less oaky.

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.

Sémillon

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and more neutral and subtle.

Vidal

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, and less oaky.

Hárslevelű

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be more floral, and less oaky.

Malvasia

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and less oaky.

A step up

The benchmark expressions of the same territory, usually with more concentration, structure and ageing potential.

Amarone della Valpolicella

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and rounder and creamier in texture.

Ribera del Duero

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and more oaky.

Australian Chardonnay

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and more oaky.

White Burgundy

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and spicier.

How these are chosen

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.