If you like this, try…
Wines like Malvasia
A large family of related varieties spread across the Mediterranean, and the sweetest Madeira style (Malmsey). Below: what to try next, grouped by the direction you want to travel.
Refine
What do you like about Malvasia?
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 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.
- 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 touch of sweetness
- Actual sugar left in the wine, which is a different thing from tasting fruity. A wine can smell of ripe peach and be completely dry.
Looking for something keeping that the fruit is not covered in oak, the creamy, rounded mouthfeel and the tropical, exotic fruit, while moving away from too perfumed.
- You said you like the tropical, exotic fruit 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.
Antão Vaz
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
- Keeps that the fruit is not covered in oak.
- Keeps the creamy, rounded mouthfeel.
- Keeps the tropical, exotic fruit.
- Substantially less perfumed.
Kisi
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Keeps that the fruit is not covered in oak.
- Keeps the creamy, rounded mouthfeel.
- Has some of the tropical, exotic fruit, though less of it.
- Substantially less perfumed.
Auxerrois
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Keeps that the fruit is not covered in oak.
- Keeps the creamy, rounded mouthfeel.
- Has some of the tropical, exotic fruit, though less of it.
- Substantially less perfumed.
Grenache Blanc
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Keeps that the fruit is not covered in oak.
- Keeps the creamy, rounded mouthfeel.
- Has some of the tropical, exotic fruit, though less of it.
- Substantially less perfumed.
Pošip
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Has some of that the fruit is not covered in oak, though less of it.
- Keeps the creamy, rounded mouthfeel.
- Keeps the tropical, exotic fruit.
- Substantially less perfumed.
Bual
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
- Keeps that the fruit is not covered in oak.
- Has some of the creamy, rounded mouthfeel, though less of it.
- Has some of the tropical, exotic fruit, though less of it.
- Substantially less perfumed.
Avesso
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
- Keeps that the fruit is not covered in oak.
- Has some of the creamy, rounded mouthfeel, though less of it.
- Has some of the tropical, exotic fruit, though less of it.
- Substantially less perfumed.
Pedro Ximénez
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Keeps that the fruit is not covered in oak.
- Keeps the creamy, rounded mouthfeel.
- Keeps the tropical, exotic fruit.
- 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.
Antão Vaz
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and less tannic and softer.
Kisi
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and drier.
Auxerrois
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more restrained in fruit, and drier.
Grenache Blanc
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more restrained in fruit, and softer and rounder.
Different grape, similar feel
Deliberately excludes the variety you already know, to find a genuinely new wine that fills the same role.
Antão Vaz
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and less tannic and softer.
Kisi
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and drier.
Auxerrois
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more restrained in fruit, and drier.
Grenache Blanc
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more restrained in fruit, and softer and rounder.
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.
Auxerrois
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more restrained in fruit, and drier.
Avesso
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be leaner and more cutting, and fresher and more acidic.
Grechetto
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more restrained in fruit, and fresher and more acidic.
Xarel·lo
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more restrained in fruit, and fresher and more acidic.
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.
Grechetto
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more restrained in fruit, and fresher and more acidic.
Xarel·lo
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more restrained in fruit, and fresher and more acidic.
Altesse
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more restrained in fruit, and fresher and more acidic.
Auxerrois
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more restrained in fruit, and drier.
Similar but fuller
Keeps the character but adds weight, concentration and mouthfeel.
Pedro Ximénez
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be rounder and creamier in texture, and fruitier.
Condrieu
Condrieu scores closest to Malvasia across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and more oaky.
Viognier
Viognier scores closest to Malvasia across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and more oaky.
Recioto della Valpolicella
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and rounder and creamier in texture.
Similar but less tannic
For readers who find firm reds drying. Reduces tannic grip while holding flavour and weight roughly steady.
Antão Vaz
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be drier.
Pedro Ximénez
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and rounder and creamier in texture.
Auxerrois
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more restrained in fruit, and drier.
Grenache Blanc
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more restrained in fruit, and softer and rounder.
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 fresher and more acidic, and drier.
Rkatsiteli
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and more restrained in fruit.
Mtsvane Kakhuri
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and leaner and more cutting.
Tinta Barroca
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Chosen because you asked for something more structured.
Similar but fresher
Raises acidity and overall lift, usually by moving to a cooler-climate expression.
Grechetto
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and more restrained in fruit.
Xarel·lo
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and more restrained in fruit.
Friulano
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and more restrained in fruit.
Altesse
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and more restrained in fruit.
Similar but softer
Lowers acidity and sharpness in favour of a broader, gentler feel.
Pedro Ximénez
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and rounder and creamier in texture.
Grenache Blanc
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and more restrained in fruit.
Marsanne
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and more oaky.
Muscat of Alexandria
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and softer and rounder.
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 more oaky, and fresher and more acidic.
Méthode Cap Classique
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and fresher and more acidic.
California traditional-method sparkling
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and fresher and more acidic.
Glera
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be leaner and more cutting, and more restrained in fruit.
Similar but drier
Reduces perceptible sugar while keeping aromatic character.
Altesse
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more restrained in fruit, and fresher and more acidic.
Antão Vaz
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and less tannic and softer.
Auxerrois
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more restrained in fruit, and drier.
Avesso
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be leaner and more cutting, and fresher and more acidic.
Similar but sweeter
Adds perceptible sweetness, which also softens acidity and chilli heat.
Pedro Ximénez
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and rounder and creamier in texture.
Bual
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 more savoury.
Recioto della Valpolicella
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and fruitier.
Pedro Ximénez sherry
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and fruitier.
Change the flavour
Same shape, different aromatic character.
Similar but more oaky
Adds barrel character, toast and a creamier texture.
Pošip
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and drier.
Marsanne
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and rounder and creamier in texture.
Douro white
Both are made from malvasia, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure, both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and more restrained in fruit.
Godello
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and fresher and more acidic.
Similar but more aromatic
More to smell before you taste — floral, fruity or spiced aromatics.
Muscat of Alexandria
Muscat of Alexandria scores closest to Malvasia across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and fruitier.
Gewürztraminer
Gewürztraminer scores closest to Malvasia across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and fruitier.
Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains
curatedMuscat Blanc à Petits Grains scores closest to Malvasia across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and leaner and more cutting.
Scheurebe
Scheurebe scores closest to Malvasia across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and leaner and more cutting.
Similar but more restrained
For readers who find intensely aromatic wines tiring over a whole glass. Keeps the structure, turns the volume down.
Antão Vaz
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and less tannic and softer.
Kisi
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and drier.
Auxerrois
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more restrained in fruit, and drier.
Grenache Blanc
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more restrained in fruit, and softer and rounder.
Similar but more floral
Pushes specifically towards rose, violet, blossom and elderflower character.
Malagousia
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and drier.
Hárslevelű
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and fresher and more acidic.
Maria Gomes
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 leaner and more cutting.
Solaris
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and leaner and more cutting.
Similar but more savoury
Moves away from primary fruit towards earth, herb, meat and umami character.
Friulano
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more restrained in fruit, and fresher and more acidic.
Kisi
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and drier.
Grenache Blanc
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more restrained in fruit, and softer and rounder.
Grechetto
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more restrained in fruit, and fresher and more acidic.
Similar but fruitier
More obvious, generous fruit flavour, usually from a warmer climate.
Petit Manseng
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and fresher and more acidic.
Muscat of Alexandria
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and fruitier.
Gewürztraminer
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and fruitier.
Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains
curatedA useful anchor for a grapey, aromatic white made across the sweetness range.
Expect: Malvasia is a family rather than a variety, so the style varies enormously; it is generally less overtly grapey than Muscat.
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.
Douro white
Both are made from malvasia, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure, both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and fresher and more acidic.
Friuli white
Both are made from malvasia, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and fresher and more acidic.
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.
Douro white
Both are made from malvasia, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure, both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and more restrained in fruit.
Friuli white
Both are made from malvasia, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and more restrained in fruit.
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.
Pinot Gris
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and more restrained in fruit.
Glera
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be leaner and more cutting, and more restrained in fruit.
Australian Chardonnay
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and fresher and more acidic.
Santorini Assyrtiko
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and more oaky.
Something more adventurous
Less familiar wines that occupy similar territory — the interesting end of the shelf.
Antão Vaz
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and less tannic and softer.
Kisi
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and drier.
Auxerrois
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more restrained in fruit, and drier.
Grenache Blanc
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more restrained in fruit, and softer and rounder.
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.
Antão Vaz
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and less tannic and softer.
Kisi
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and drier.
Auxerrois
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more restrained in fruit, and drier.
Grenache Blanc
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more restrained in fruit, and softer and rounder.
A step up
The benchmark expressions of the same territory, usually with more concentration, structure and ageing potential.
Châteauneuf-du-Pape
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and fruitier.
Argentine Malbec
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and fruitier.
Priorat
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and rounder and creamier in texture.
Amarone della Valpolicella
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and fruitier.
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.