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Wines like Grillo

A Sicilian white with good acidity and body, originally bred for Marsala and now a leading dry white. Below: what to try next, grouped by the direction you want to travel.

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What do you like about Grillo?

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…

The tropical fruit That it is not oaky How aromatic it is That it is properly dry

But it’s a bit…

too tropical or sweet-smelling too heavy too light or thin too plain or too simple too perfumed too austere

Clear all

What these words mean

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.
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.
That it is not oaky: No barrel character — just the fruit and the acidity. Chablis and Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc are the reference points.
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.
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 how much it smells of, before you even taste it, while moving away from too perfumed.

You said you like how much it smells of, before you even taste it and that it is too perfumed. Both are about aromatic 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.

Vermentino

curated

Both are saline, citrusy Mediterranean whites.

Has some of how much it smells of, before you even taste it, though less of it.
Substantially less perfumed.

Catarratto

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

Has some of how much it smells of, before you even taste it, though less of it.
Substantially less perfumed.

Trebbiano Abruzzese

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

Has some of how much it smells of, before you even taste it, though less of it.
Substantially less perfumed.

Vernaccia di San Gimignano

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

Has some of how much it smells of, before you even taste it, though less of it.
Substantially less perfumed.

Friulano

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

Has some of how much it smells of, before you even taste it, though less of it.
Substantially less perfumed.

Trebbiano di Soave

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

Has some of how much it smells of, before you even taste it, though less of it.
Substantially less perfumed.

Verdicchio

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

Has some of how much it smells of, before you even taste it, though less of it.
Substantially less perfumed.

Soave

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

Has some of how much it smells of, before you even taste it, though less of it.
Substantially less perfumed.

Closest overall

Nearest neighbours, no change of direction.

Closest matches

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

Vermentino

curated

Both are saline, citrusy Mediterranean whites.

Expect: More herbal and lighter.

Catarratto

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

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

Trebbiano Abruzzese

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

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

Vernaccia di San Gimignano

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

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

Different grape, similar feel

Deliberately excludes the variety you already know, to find a genuinely new wine that fills the same role.

Vermentino

curated

Both are saline, citrusy Mediterranean whites.

Expect: More herbal and lighter.

Catarratto

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

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

Trebbiano Abruzzese

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

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

Vernaccia di San Gimignano

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

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

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.

Roditis

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

Expect: Expect it to be more restrained in fruit, and more fruit-driven.

Trebbiano Romagnolo

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

Expect: Expect it to be more restrained in fruit, and sweeter.

Picpoul de Pinet

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

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

Picpoul

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

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

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.

Colombard

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

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

Alpine white

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

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

Trebbiano Spoletino

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

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

Carricante

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

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

Similar but fuller

Keeps the character but adds weight, concentration and mouthfeel.

Fiano

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 more oaky.

Fiano di Avellino

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 more oaky.

Soave Classico

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

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

Godello

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

Expect: Expect it to be more oaky.

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.

Friulano

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

Expect: Expect it to be rounder and creamier in texture, and more restrained in fruit.

Verdicchio

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

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

Grechetto

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

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

Soave Classico

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

Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and fuller and richer.

Similar but more structured

More tannic architecture, for food or for ageing.

Kisi

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

Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and broader and softer.

Rkatsiteli

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

Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and rounder and creamier in texture.

Ribolla Gialla

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

Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and rounder and creamier in texture.

Tsolikouri

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

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

Similar but fresher

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

Carricante

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

Expect: Expect it to be more restrained in fruit, and more savoury.

Trebbiano Spoletino

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

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

Arinto

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

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

Etna Bianco

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

Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and more restrained in fruit.

Similar but softer

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

Antão Vaz

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

Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and more fruit-driven.

Grenache Blanc

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

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

Auxerrois

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

Expect: Expect it to be more fruit-driven, and broader and softer.

Pošip

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

Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and fuller and richer.

The sparkling version

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

Glera

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 sweeter.

Franciacorta

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

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

Méthode Cap Classique

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

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

California traditional-method sparkling

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

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

Similar but sweeter

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

Albana

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

Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and more fruit-driven.

Marsala

Both are made from grillo, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both come from the same country.

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

Welschriesling

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

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

Grechetto

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

Expect: Expect it to be rounder and creamier in texture, and more restrained in fruit.

Change the flavour

Same shape, different aromatic character.

Similar but more oaky

Adds barrel character, toast and a creamier texture.

Australian Chardonnay

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

Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and more savoury.

Chardonnay

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

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

Chilean Chardonnay

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

Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer.

Friuli white

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 more restrained in fruit.

Similar but more aromatic

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

Torrontés

Torrontés scores closest to Grillo across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

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

Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains

Both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and sweeter.

Scheurebe

Scheurebe scores closest to Grillo across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and sweeter.

Sauvignon Blanc

Sauvignon Blanc scores closest to Grillo across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and more herbal and green.

Similar but more restrained

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

Vermentino

curated

Both are saline, citrusy Mediterranean whites.

Expect: More herbal and lighter.

Catarratto

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

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

Trebbiano Abruzzese

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

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

Vernaccia di San Gimignano

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

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

Similar but more floral

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

Soave

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

Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and more restrained in fruit.

Fiano

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

Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and fuller and richer.

Fiano di Avellino

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

Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and fuller and richer.

Garganega

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

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

Similar but more savoury

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

Savennières

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

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

Friulano

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

Expect: Expect it to be cleaner and more fruit-focused, and rounder and creamier in texture.

Carricante

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

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

Santorini Assyrtiko

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

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

Similar but fruitier

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

Pedro Ximénez

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

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

Petit Manseng

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and sweeter.

Spätlese

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and sweeter.

Coteaux du Layon

Coteaux du Layon scores closest to Grillo across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and sweeter.

Change the place

Keep the grape, move it somewhere else.

Same grape, warmer climate

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

Marsala

Both are made from grillo, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both come from the same country.

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

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.

Australian Chardonnay

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

Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and fuller and richer.

Chablis

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

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

Pinot Gris

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

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

South African Chenin Blanc

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

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

Something more adventurous

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

Catarratto

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

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

Trebbiano Abruzzese

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

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

Vernaccia di San Gimignano

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

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

Friulano

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

Expect: Expect it to be rounder and creamier in texture, and more restrained in fruit.

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.

Vermentino

curated

Both are saline, citrusy Mediterranean whites.

Expect: More herbal and lighter.

Catarratto

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

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

Trebbiano Abruzzese

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

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

Vernaccia di San Gimignano

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

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

A step up

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

Australian Chardonnay

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

Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and fuller and richer.

South African Chenin Blanc

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

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

White Burgundy

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

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

Santorini Assyrtiko

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

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

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.