If you like this, try…
Wines like Kerner
A German crossing of Riesling and Schiava, grown in Germany and notably in Alto Adige. Below: what to try next, grouped by the direction you want to travel.
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What do you like about Kerner?
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 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.
- That it is not too strong
- Alcohol you notice as warmth at the back of the throat. Some people find it a pleasant part of a big red and some find it tiring.
- 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.
- The floral character
- Rose, violet, elderflower, orange blossom.
Looking for something keeping the tropical, exotic fruit.
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.
Rheinhessen Riesling
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
- Keeps the tropical, exotic fruit.
Falanghina
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Keeps the tropical, exotic fruit.
Phoenix
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Keeps the tropical, exotic fruit.
Pfalz Riesling
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
- Keeps the tropical, exotic fruit.
Mtsvane Kakhuri
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Keeps the tropical, exotic fruit.
Hárslevelű
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Keeps the tropical, exotic fruit.
Grillo
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Keeps the tropical, exotic fruit.
English Bacchus
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Keeps the tropical, exotic fruit.
Closest overall
Nearest neighbours, no change of direction.
Closest matches
The nearest overall neighbours across structure and flavour, with no deliberate change of direction.
Rheinhessen Riesling
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 oaky.
Falanghina
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and more floral.
Phoenix
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and more floral.
Pfalz Riesling
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 less floral.
Different grape, similar feel
Deliberately excludes the variety you already know, to find a genuinely new wine that fills the same role.
Rheinhessen Riesling
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 oaky.
Falanghina
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and more floral.
Phoenix
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and more floral.
Pfalz Riesling
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 less floral.
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.
Bacchus
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more herbal and green, and more oaky.
English Bacchus
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more herbal and green, and more oaky.
Kabinett
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 lighter.
Loureiro
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and drier.
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.
Kabinett
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 lighter.
Loureiro
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and drier.
Mantinia Moschofilero
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and drier.
Moschofilero
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and drier.
Similar but fuller
Keeps the character but adds weight, concentration and mouthfeel.
Alsace Pinot Gris
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and spicier.
Austrian Riesling
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and more savoury.
Fiano
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more neutral and subtle, and drier.
Fiano di Avellino
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more neutral and subtle, and drier.
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.
Pfalz Riesling
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 less floral.
Hárslevelű
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and broader and softer.
Vidal
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and fuller and richer.
Wachau Grüner Veltliner
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be spicier, and more herbal and green.
Similar but more structured
More tannic architecture, for food or for ageing.
Malvasia
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and fuller and richer.
Mtsvane Kakhuri
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and broader and softer.
Kisi
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more neutral and subtle, and more savoury.
Malvazija Istarska
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more restrained in fruit, and more neutral and subtle.
Similar but fresher
Raises acidity and overall lift, usually by moving to a cooler-climate expression.
Albariño
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and drier.
Alsace Riesling
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and more savoury.
Australian Riesling
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and drier.
Finger Lakes Riesling
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and lighter.
Similar but softer
Lowers acidity and sharpness in favour of a broader, gentler feel.
Alsace Pinot Gris
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and spicier.
Malagousia
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and fuller and richer.
Malvasia
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and fuller and richer.
Solaris
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and leaner and more cutting.
The sparkling version
Moves to a sparkling expression while holding the flavour and weight as close as possible.
Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher, and more floral.
Franciacorta
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more neutral and subtle, and more sparkling.
Méthode Cap Classique
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more neutral and subtle, and more sparkling.
Prosecco
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and lighter.
Similar but drier
Reduces perceptible sugar while keeping aromatic character.
Albariño
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and more oaky.
Alvarinho (Monção e Melgaço)
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and less floral.
Australian Riesling
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and more savoury.
Falanghina
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more floral.
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 softer and rounder, and spicier.
Finger Lakes Riesling
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and lighter.
Hárslevelű
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be broader and softer, and rounder and creamier in texture.
Malvasia
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and fuller and richer.
Change the flavour
Same shape, different aromatic character.
Similar but more oaky
Adds barrel character, toast and a creamier texture.
Alsace Pinot Gris
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and less oaky.
Alvarinho (Monção e Melgaço)
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and less oaky.
Australian Chardonnay
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more neutral and subtle, and more savoury.
Chilean Chardonnay
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more neutral and subtle, and fuller and richer.
Similar but more aromatic
More to smell before you taste — floral, fruity or spiced aromatics.
Scheurebe
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and sweeter.
Torrontés
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and drier.
Moschofilero
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and drier.
Mantinia Moschofilero
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and drier.
Similar but more restrained
For readers who find intensely aromatic wines tiring over a whole glass. Keeps the structure, turns the volume down.
Godello
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more neutral and subtle, and fuller and richer.
Soave Classico
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more neutral and subtle, and more savoury.
Australian Chardonnay
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more neutral and subtle, and more oaky.
Chilean Chardonnay
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more neutral and subtle, and more oaky.
Similar but more floral
Pushes specifically towards rose, violet, blossom and elderflower character.
Falanghina
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and drier.
Mantinia Moschofilero
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and drier.
Moschofilero
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and drier.
Phoenix
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and lighter.
Similar but less floral
Some drinkers read floral aromatics as soapy or perfumed. This holds the structure and removes them.
Alvarinho (Monção e Melgaço)
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and less floral.
Australian Chardonnay
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more neutral and subtle, and more oaky.
Austrian Riesling
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and more savoury.
Avesso
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more neutral and subtle, and less floral.
Similar but more savoury
Moves away from primary fruit towards earth, herb, meat and umami character.
Rheinhessen Riesling
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 oaky.
Pfalz Riesling
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 less floral.
Grillo
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and less floral.
Rueda Verdejo
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more herbal and green, and drier.
Similar but fruitier
More obvious, generous fruit flavour, usually from a warmer climate.
Spätlese
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and fresher and more acidic.
Petit Manseng
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and fresher and more acidic.
Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and more aromatic.
Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc
Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc scores closest to Kerner across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and more aromatic.
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.
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
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more herbal and green, and more oaky.
Riesling
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 lighter.
German dry Riesling (trocken)
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 drier.
Australian Riesling
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and drier.
Something more adventurous
Less familiar wines that occupy similar territory — the interesting end of the shelf.
Rheinhessen Riesling
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 oaky.
Falanghina
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and more floral.
Phoenix
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and more floral.
Pfalz Riesling
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 less floral.
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.
Rheinhessen Riesling
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 oaky.
Falanghina
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and more floral.
Phoenix
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and more floral.
Pfalz Riesling
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 less floral.
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 neutral and subtle, and more oaky.
California Chardonnay
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more neutral and subtle, and softer and rounder.
South African Chenin Blanc
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more neutral and subtle, and fresher and more acidic.
Chardonnay
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more restrained in fruit, and more neutral and subtle.
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.