If you like this, try…

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.

← Back to Riesling

Refine

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 it is not too alcoholic, the fresh, crisp acidity and the citrus and green-apple character, while moving away from too alcoholic or warming.

You said you like that it is not too alcoholic and that it is too alcoholic or warming. Both are about alcohol, 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.

Albariño

curated

For a Riesling drinker who wants reliable dryness with the same crispness.

Has some of that it is not too alcoholic, though less of it.
Keeps the fresh, crisp acidity.
Keeps the citrus and green-apple character.
Substantially less alcoholic or warming.

German dry Riesling (trocken)

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

Has noticeably less of that it is not too alcoholic.
Keeps the fresh, crisp acidity.
Keeps the citrus and green-apple character.
Substantially less alcoholic or warming.

Alsace Riesling

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

Has noticeably less of that it is not too alcoholic.
Keeps the fresh, crisp acidity.
Keeps the citrus and green-apple character.
Substantially less alcoholic or warming.

Nahe Riesling

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

Has some of that it is not too alcoholic, though less of it.
Keeps the fresh, crisp acidity.
Keeps the citrus and green-apple character.
Substantially less alcoholic or warming.

Austrian Riesling

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

Has noticeably less of that it is not too alcoholic.
Keeps the fresh, crisp acidity.
Keeps the citrus and green-apple character.
Substantially less alcoholic or warming.

Rheingau Riesling

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

Has some of that it is not too alcoholic, though less of it.
Keeps the fresh, crisp acidity.
Keeps the citrus and green-apple character.
Substantially less alcoholic or warming.

Australian Riesling

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

Has some of that it is not too alcoholic, though less of it.
Keeps the fresh, crisp acidity.
Keeps the citrus and green-apple character.
Substantially less alcoholic or warming.

Furmint

curated

Hungary’s Furmint shares searing acidity, a smoky mineral edge and a dry-to-sweet range.

Has some of that it is not too alcoholic, though less of it.
Keeps the fresh, crisp acidity.
Keeps the citrus and green-apple character.
Substantially less alcoholic or warming.

Closest overall

Nearest neighbours, no change of direction.

Closest matches

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

Albariño

curated

For a Riesling drinker who wants reliable dryness with the same crispness.

Expect: Less aromatic and more saline, with stone fruit in place of lime.

German dry Riesling (trocken)

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 drier, and less floral.

Alsace Riesling

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

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

Nahe 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 lighter in alcohol, 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.

Petite Arvine

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

Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and fuller and richer.

Gros Manseng

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

Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and fuller and richer.

Valais Petite Arvine

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

Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and less floral.

Albariño

curated

For a Riesling drinker who wants reliable dryness with the same crispness.

Expect: Less aromatic and more saline, with stone fruit in place of lime.

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 lighter in alcohol, and less spicy.

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 lighter in alcohol, and drier.

Txakoli

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, and more neutral and subtle.

Hondarrabi Zuri

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, and more neutral and subtle.

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 both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, and lighter.

Kabinett

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

Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, and lighter.

Hunter Valley Semillon

Hunter Valley Semillon scores closest to Riesling across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, and more neutral and subtle.

German dry Riesling (trocken)

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 drier, and less floral.

Similar but fuller

Keeps the character but adds weight, concentration and mouthfeel.

Albariño

curated

For a Riesling drinker who wants reliable dryness with the same crispness.

Expect: Less aromatic and more saline, with stone fruit in place of lime.

Alsace Riesling

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

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

Alvarinho (Monção e Melgaço)

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

Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, and drier.

Austrian Riesling

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

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

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.

German dry Riesling (trocken)

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 drier, and less floral.

Alsace Riesling

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

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

Nahe 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 lighter in alcohol, and less floral.

Austrian Riesling

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

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

Similar but more structured

More tannic architecture, for food or for ageing.

Trebbiano Spoletino

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

Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, and more neutral and subtle.

Rkatsiteli

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be broader and softer, and lighter in alcohol.

Ribolla Gialla

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be broader and softer, and lighter in alcohol.

Brda Rebula

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be broader and softer, and lighter in alcohol.

Similar but softer

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

Pfalz 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 softer and rounder, and broader and softer.

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 softer and rounder, and broader and softer.

Kerner

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.

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

Wachau Grüner Veltliner

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

The sparkling version

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

Austrian Sekt

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

Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, and more neutral and subtle.

Sekt

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 lighter in alcohol, and more sparkling.

English Blanc de Noirs

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

Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, and more neutral and subtle.

Champagne

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

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

Similar but drier

Reduces perceptible sugar while keeping aromatic character.

Albariño

curated

For a Riesling drinker who wants reliable dryness with the same crispness.

Expect: Less aromatic and more saline, with stone fruit in place of lime.

Alsace Riesling

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

Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and less spicy.

Alvarinho (Monção e Melgaço)

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

Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, and drier.

Australian Riesling

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

Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, and drier.

Similar but sweeter

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

Coteaux du Layon

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

Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, and fruitier.

Sauternes

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be broader and softer, and lighter in alcohol.

Tokaji Aszú

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

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 lighter in alcohol, and broader and softer.

Change the flavour

Same shape, different aromatic character.

Similar but more oaky

Adds barrel character, toast and a creamier texture.

Dry Furmint

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

Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, and more neutral and subtle.

Furmint

curated

Hungary’s Furmint shares searing acidity, a smoky mineral edge and a dry-to-sweet range.

Expect: Fuller-bodied and smokier, with a firmer, more structured palate.

German dry Riesling (trocken)

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 less oaky, and drier.

Rheingau 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 lighter in alcohol, and less oaky.

Similar but more aromatic

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

Scheurebe

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.

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

Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Torrontés

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Mantinia Moschofilero

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Similar but more restrained

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

Furmint

curated

Hungary’s Furmint shares searing acidity, a smoky mineral edge and a dry-to-sweet range.

Expect: Fuller-bodied and smokier, with a firmer, more structured palate.

Dry Furmint

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

Expect: Expect it to be more neutral and subtle, and lighter in alcohol.

Assyrtiko

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

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

Santorini Assyrtiko

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

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

Similar but more floral

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

Alsace Riesling

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

Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and fuller and richer.

Loureiro

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

Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, and drier.

Torrontés

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Mantinia Moschofilero

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, and softer and rounder.

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 lighter in alcohol, and drier.

Austrian Riesling

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

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

Chilean Sauvignon Blanc

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

Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, and drier.

Furmint

curated

Hungary’s Furmint shares searing acidity, a smoky mineral edge and a dry-to-sweet range.

Expect: Fuller-bodied and smokier, with a firmer, more structured palate.

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 more restrained in fruit, and more neutral and subtle.

Austrian Riesling

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

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

German dry Riesling (trocken)

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 drier, and less floral.

Alsace Riesling

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

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

Similar but fruitier

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

Petit Manseng

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

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

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 lighter in alcohol, and fruitier.

Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and lighter in alcohol.

Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains

Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains scores closest to Riesling across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

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

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.

Alsace Riesling

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

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

Austrian Riesling

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

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

Australian Riesling

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

Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, and drier.

Finger Lakes Riesling

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

Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, and less spicy.

Same grape, cooler climate

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

Finger Lakes Riesling

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

Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, and fuller and richer.

Mosel 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 lighter in alcohol, and less spicy.

Kabinett

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 lighter in alcohol, and drier.

German dry Riesling (trocken)

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 fuller and richer, and drier.

Same grape, warmer climate

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

German dry Riesling (trocken)

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 drier, and less floral.

Alsace Riesling

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

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

Nahe 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 lighter in alcohol, and less floral.

Rheingau 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 lighter in alcohol, and less floral.

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.

German dry Riesling (trocken)

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 drier, and less floral.

Australian Riesling

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

Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, and drier.

Albariño

curated

For a Riesling drinker who wants reliable dryness with the same crispness.

Expect: Less aromatic and more saline, with stone fruit in place of lime.

Rías Baixas Albariño

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

Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, and drier.

Something more adventurous

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

Furmint

curated

Hungary’s Furmint shares searing acidity, a smoky mineral edge and a dry-to-sweet range.

Expect: Fuller-bodied and smokier, with a firmer, more structured palate.

Alsace Riesling

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

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

Nahe 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 lighter in alcohol, and less floral.

Austrian Riesling

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

Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, 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.

Alsace Riesling

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

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

Nahe 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 lighter in alcohol, and less floral.

Austrian Riesling

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

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

Rheingau 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 lighter in alcohol, and less floral.

A step up

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

Albariño

curated

For a Riesling drinker who wants reliable dryness with the same crispness.

Expect: Less aromatic and more saline, with stone fruit in place of lime.

Australian Riesling

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

Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, and drier.

German dry Riesling (trocken)

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 drier, and less floral.

Rías Baixas Albariño

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

Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, and drier.

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.