If you like this, try…
Wines like Phoenix
A disease-resistant German crossing grown in the UK for aromatic still whites. Below: what to try next, grouped by the direction you want to travel.
Refine
What do you like about Phoenix?
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.
- The floral character
- Rose, violet, elderflower, orange blossom.
- 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 the tropical, exotic fruit, while moving away from too tropical or sweet-smelling.
- You said you like the tropical, exotic fruit and that it is too tropical or sweet-smelling. Both are about fruit intensity, so they pull the same axis in opposite directions — the dislike is applied and the like is set aside.
- You said you like the tropical, exotic fruit and that it is too tropical or sweet-smelling. Both are about aromatic intensity, so they pull the same axis in opposite directions — the dislike is applied and the like is set aside.
- You said you like the tropical, exotic fruit and that it is too tropical or sweet-smelling. Both are about acidity, 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.
Parellada
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Has some of how much it smells of, before you even taste it, though less of it.
- Has some of the tropical, exotic fruit, though less of it.
- A little less tropical or sweet-smelling.
Graševina
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Has some of how much it smells of, before you even taste it, though less of it.
- Has some of the tropical, exotic fruit, though less of it.
- A little less tropical or sweet-smelling.
Welschriesling
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Has some of how much it smells of, before you even taste it, though less of it.
- Has some of the tropical, exotic fruit, though less of it.
- A little less tropical or sweet-smelling.
Garganega
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Has some of how much it smells of, before you even taste it, though less of it.
- Has some of the tropical, exotic fruit, though less of it.
- A little less tropical or sweet-smelling.
Roditis
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Has some of how much it smells of, before you even taste it, though less of it.
- Has some of the tropical, exotic fruit, though less of it.
- A little less tropical or sweet-smelling.
Slavonian Graševina
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Has some of how much it smells of, before you even taste it, though less of it.
- Has some of the tropical, exotic fruit, though less of it.
- A little less tropical or sweet-smelling.
Albana
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Has some of how much it smells of, before you even taste it, though less of it.
- Has some of the tropical, exotic fruit, though less of it.
- A little less tropical or sweet-smelling.
Soave
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Has some of how much it smells of, before you even taste it, though less of it.
- Has some of the tropical, exotic fruit, though less of it.
- A little less tropical or sweet-smelling.
Closest overall
Nearest neighbours, no change of direction.
Closest matches
The nearest overall neighbours across structure and flavour, with no deliberate change of direction.
Parellada
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and lighter in alcohol.
Graševina
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and fuller and richer.
Welschriesling
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and fuller and richer.
Garganega
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and fuller and richer.
Different grape, similar feel
Deliberately excludes the variety you already know, to find a genuinely new wine that fills the same role.
Parellada
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and lighter in alcohol.
Graševina
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and fuller and richer.
Welschriesling
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and fuller and richer.
Garganega
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and fuller and richer.
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.
Hondarrabi Zuri
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and less floral.
Txakoli
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and less floral.
Kabinett
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and fruitier.
Mosel Riesling
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and fruitier.
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.
Hunter Valley Semillon
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and less floral.
Vinho Verde
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and more sparkling.
Colombard
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and less floral.
Alpine white
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and less floral.
Similar but fuller
Keeps the character but adds weight, concentration and mouthfeel.
Chardonnay
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and fuller and richer.
Douro white
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and less floral.
Encruzado
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and less floral.
Grechetto
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and more savoury.
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.
Grechetto
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and fuller and richer.
Xarel·lo
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and drier.
Altesse
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and drier.
Verdicchio
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and drier.
Similar but more structured
More tannic architecture, for food or for ageing.
Rkatsiteli
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and less floral.
Albana
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and sweeter.
Malvazija Istarska
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and drier.
Tsolikouri
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and drier.
Similar but fresher
Raises acidity and overall lift, usually by moving to a cooler-climate expression.
English still white
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 less floral.
Vinho Verde
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and more sparkling.
Colombard
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and less floral.
Picpoul de Pinet
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and less floral.
Similar but softer
Lowers acidity and sharpness in favour of a broader, gentler feel.
Auxerrois
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and less floral.
Roussanne
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and more aromatic.
Pošip
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and fruitier.
Pinot Gris
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and less floral.
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.
Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and leaner and more cutting.
Cava
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more sparkling, and less floral.
English Blanc de Blancs
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 sparkling.
English sparkling wine
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 sparkling.
Similar but drier
Reduces perceptible sugar while keeping aromatic character.
Parellada
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, and less floral.
Roditis
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral.
Soave
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and fuller and richer.
Bical
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and fuller and richer.
Similar but sweeter
Adds perceptible sweetness, which also softens acidity and chilli heat.
Welschriesling
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and less floral.
Albana
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and fuller and richer.
Chenin Blanc
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and more oaky.
Vouvray
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and more sparkling.
Change the flavour
Same shape, different aromatic character.
Similar but more oaky
Adds barrel character, toast and a creamier texture.
Chardonnay
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and drier.
Friuli white
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and less floral.
White Burgundy
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and less floral.
Chenin Blanc
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and less floral.
Similar but more aromatic
More to smell before you taste — floral, fruity or spiced aromatics.
Torrontés
Torrontés scores closest to Phoenix across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and fruitier.
Moschofilero
Moschofilero scores closest to Phoenix across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and fruitier.
Mantinia Moschofilero
Mantinia Moschofilero scores closest to Phoenix across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and fruitier.
Scheurebe
Scheurebe scores closest to Phoenix across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and fruitier.
Similar but more restrained
For readers who find intensely aromatic wines tiring over a whole glass. Keeps the structure, turns the volume down.
Parellada
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and lighter in alcohol.
Garganega
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and fuller and richer.
Graševina
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and fuller and richer.
Welschriesling
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and fuller and richer.
Similar but more floral
Pushes specifically towards rose, violet, blossom and elderflower character.
Torrontés
Torrontés scores closest to Phoenix across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and fruitier.
Moschofilero
Moschofilero scores closest to Phoenix across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and fruitier.
Mantinia Moschofilero
Mantinia Moschofilero scores closest to Phoenix across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and fruitier.
Loureiro
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and fruitier.
Similar but less floral
Some drinkers read floral aromatics as soapy or perfumed. This holds the structure and removes them.
Graševina
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and fuller and richer.
Roditis
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and drier.
Slavonian Graševina
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and more oaky.
Albana
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and sweeter.
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 fuller and richer.
Friulano
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and less floral.
Grüner Veltliner
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and spicier.
Garganega
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and fuller and richer.
Similar but fruitier
More obvious, generous fruit flavour, usually from a warmer climate.
Spätlese
Spätlese scores closest to Phoenix across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and more aromatic.
Petit Manseng
Petit Manseng scores closest to Phoenix across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and more aromatic.
Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains
Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains scores closest to Phoenix across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and more aromatic.
Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc
Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc scores closest to Phoenix 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.
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.
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.
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.
Chardonnay
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and more oaky.
Grüner Veltliner
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be spicier, and less floral.
White Burgundy
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and more oaky.
Vinho Verde
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and more sparkling.
Something more adventurous
Less familiar wines that occupy similar territory — the interesting end of the shelf.
Parellada
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and lighter in alcohol.
Graševina
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and fuller and richer.
Welschriesling
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and fuller and richer.
Garganega
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and fuller and richer.
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.
Parellada
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and lighter in alcohol.
Graševina
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and fuller and richer.
Welschriesling
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and fuller and richer.
Garganega
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and fuller and richer.
A step up
The benchmark expressions of the same territory, usually with more concentration, structure and ageing potential.
Chardonnay
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and more oaky.
Grüner Veltliner
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be spicier, and less floral.
White Burgundy
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, 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.
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.