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Wines like Riesling

The most transparent and longest-lived white variety, made from bone dry to intensely sweet and almost never oaked. Below: what to try next, grouped by the direction you want to travel.

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What do you like about Riesling?

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 citrus and orchard fruit How light it is That it is not too strong How fresh and crisp it is That it is not oaky How aromatic it is

But it’s a bit…

too sharp or lemony too light or thin too alcoholic or warming too sharp or acidic too floral or soapy too sweet

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.
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.
How fresh and crisp it is: Acidity is what makes your mouth water and makes a wine feel refreshing rather than heavy. It is the single most useful thing to know about your own taste.
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.
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, while moving away from too sharp or lemony and too sharp or acidic.

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.

Scheurebe

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.
A little less sharp or lemony.
Substantially less sharp or acidic.

Torrontés

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

Keeps that the fruit is not covered in oak.
A little less sharp or lemony.
Substantially less sharp or acidic.

Retsina

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

Keeps that the fruit is not covered in oak.
A little less sharp or lemony.
Substantially less sharp or acidic.

Pecorino

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

Keeps that the fruit is not covered in oak.
A little less sharp or lemony.
Substantially less sharp or acidic.

Aidani

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Keeps that the fruit is not covered in oak.
Substantially less sharp or lemony.
Substantially less sharp or acidic.

Kerner

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.
A little less sharp or lemony.
Substantially less sharp or acidic.

Grüner Veltliner

curated

Both are high-acid, unoaked central European whites of real precision.

Has some of that the fruit is not covered in oak, though less of it.
A little less sharp or lemony.
Substantially less sharp or acidic.

Phoenix

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

Keeps that the fruit is not covered in oak.
A little less sharp or lemony.
Substantially less sharp or acidic.

Closest overall

Nearest neighbours, no change of direction.

Closest matches

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

Scheurebe

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

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

Torrontés

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

Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and drier.

Retsina

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

Expect: Expect it to be more neutral and subtle, and more herbal and green.

Pecorino

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

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

Different grape, similar feel

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

Scheurebe

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

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

Torrontés

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

Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and drier.

Retsina

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

Expect: Expect it to be more neutral and subtle, and more herbal and green.

Pecorino

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

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

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.

Mosel Riesling

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

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

Kabinett

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

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

Txakoli

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Hondarrabi Zuri

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Mosel Riesling

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

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

Kabinett

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

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

Hunter Valley Semillon

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Mantinia Moschofilero

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

Expect: Expect it to be fresher, and fruitier.

Similar but fuller

Keeps the character but adds weight, concentration and mouthfeel.

Scheurebe

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

Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and less spicy.

Torrontés

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

Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and drier.

Pecorino

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

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

Kerner

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

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

Scheurebe

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

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

Torrontés

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

Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and drier.

Pecorino

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

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

Aidani

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Similar but more structured

More tannic architecture, for food or for ageing.

Mtsvane Kakhuri

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

Expect: Expect it to be broader and softer, and more neutral and subtle.

Albana

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

Expect: Expect it to be more neutral and subtle, and less floral.

Malvazija Istarska

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

Expect: Expect it to be more neutral and subtle, and broader and softer.

Tsolikouri

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

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

Similar but softer

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

Pecorino

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

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

Scheurebe

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

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

Torrontés

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

Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and drier.

Kerner

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

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

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 more neutral and subtle, and softer and rounder.

Asti

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

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

Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore

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

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

Moscato d’Asti

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

Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and stiller.

Similar but drier

Reduces perceptible sugar while keeping aromatic character.

Retsina

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

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

Torrontés

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

Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and drier.

Pecorino

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

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

Grüner Veltliner

curated

Both are high-acid, unoaked central European whites of real precision.

Expect: Drier, more peppery and more savoury, with less floral fruit.

Similar but sweeter

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

Moscato d’Asti

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

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

Beerenauslese

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

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

Trockenbeerenauslese

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

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

Asti

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

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

Change the flavour

Same shape, different aromatic character.

Similar but more oaky

Adds barrel character, toast and a creamier texture.

Rheinhessen Riesling

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

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

Pfalz Riesling

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

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

Roussanne

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Grüner Veltliner

curated

Both are high-acid, unoaked central European whites of real precision.

Expect: Drier, more peppery and more savoury, with less floral fruit.

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 fruitier, and fuller and richer.

Torrontés

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

Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and drier.

Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains

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

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

Mantinia Moschofilero

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

Expect: Expect it to be fresher, 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.

Malvazija Istarska

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be more neutral and subtle, and broader and softer.

Albana

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be more neutral and subtle, and fuller and richer.

Graševina

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Roditis

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Similar but more floral

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

Torrontés

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

Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and drier.

Scheurebe

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

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

Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains

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

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

Mantinia Moschofilero

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

Expect: Expect it to be fresher, and fruitier.

Similar but less floral

Some drinkers read floral aromatics as soapy or perfumed. This holds the structure and removes them.

Pecorino

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

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

Retsina

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

Expect: Expect it to be more neutral and subtle, and more herbal and green.

Albana

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

Expect: Expect it to be more neutral and subtle, and less floral.

Graševina

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.

Retsina

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

Expect: Expect it to be more neutral and subtle, and more herbal and green.

Grüner Veltliner

curated

Both are high-acid, unoaked central European whites of real precision.

Expect: Drier, more peppery and more savoury, with less floral fruit.

Pecorino

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

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

Friulano

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

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

Similar but fruitier

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

Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Muscat of Alexandria

Muscat of Alexandria scores closest to Riesling across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

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

Gewürztraminer

Gewürztraminer scores closest to Riesling across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

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

Spätlese

Both are made from riesling, and both come from the same country.

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

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.

Finger Lakes Riesling

Both are made from riesling, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Australian Riesling

Both are made from riesling, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Alsace Riesling

Both are made from riesling, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Austrian Riesling

Both are made from riesling, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Same grape, cooler climate

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

Mosel Riesling

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

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

Kabinett

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

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

Finger Lakes Riesling

Both are made from riesling, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Rheinhessen Riesling

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

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

Same grape, warmer climate

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

Rheinhessen Riesling

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

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

Pfalz Riesling

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

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

Spätlese

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

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

Nahe Riesling

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

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

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.

Glera

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be more neutral and subtle, and softer and rounder.

Pinot Grigio

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

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

Grüner Veltliner

curated

Both are high-acid, unoaked central European whites of real precision.

Expect: Drier, more peppery and more savoury, with less floral fruit.

Pinot Gris

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Something more adventurous

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

Scheurebe

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

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

Torrontés

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

Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and drier.

Retsina

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

Expect: Expect it to be more neutral and subtle, and more herbal and green.

Pecorino

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

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

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.

Scheurebe

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

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

Torrontés

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

Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and drier.

Retsina

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

Expect: Expect it to be more neutral and subtle, and more herbal and green.

Pecorino

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

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

A step up

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

Grüner Veltliner

curated

Both are high-acid, unoaked central European whites of real precision.

Expect: Drier, more peppery and more savoury, with less floral fruit.

Australian Riesling

Both are made from riesling, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Chardonnay

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

White Burgundy

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

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.