If you like this, try…
Wines like Solaris
A very early-ripening disease-resistant crossing, important in Wales and Scandinavia. Below: what to try next, grouped by the direction you want to travel.
Refine
What do you like about Solaris?
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.
- 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 floral character
- Rose, violet, elderflower, orange blossom.
Looking for something keeping how much it smells of, before you even taste it, while moving away from too perfumed and too floral or soapy.
- You said you like how much it smells of, before you even taste it 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.
Pinot Gris
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.
- Substantially less perfumed.
- Substantially less floral or soapy.
English still white
Both are made from solaris, and 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.
- Substantially less perfumed.
- Substantially less floral or soapy.
Treixadura
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.
- Substantially less perfumed.
- Substantially less floral or soapy.
Avesso
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.
- Substantially less perfumed.
- Substantially less floral or soapy.
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.
- Substantially less perfumed.
- Substantially less floral or soapy.
Malvazija Istarska
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.
- Substantially less perfumed.
- Substantially less floral or soapy.
Auxerrois
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.
- Substantially less perfumed.
- Substantially less floral or soapy.
Savatiano
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.
- Substantially less perfumed.
- Substantially less floral or soapy.
Closest overall
Nearest neighbours, no change of direction.
Closest matches
The nearest overall neighbours across structure and flavour, with no deliberate change of direction.
Pinot Gris
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and spicier.
English still white
Both are made from solaris, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and fresher and more acidic.
Treixadura
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and drier.
Avesso
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and drier.
Different grape, similar feel
Deliberately excludes the variety you already know, to find a genuinely new wine that fills the same role.
Pinot Gris
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and spicier.
Treixadura
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and drier.
Avesso
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and drier.
Graševina
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and more restrained in fruit.
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.
Trebbiano Romagnolo
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and more restrained in fruit.
Hondarrabi Zuri
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and fresher and more acidic.
Colombard
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and fresher and more acidic.
Txakoli
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, 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.
Hunter Valley Semillon
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and fresher and more acidic.
Trebbiano Romagnolo
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and more restrained in fruit.
Colombard
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and fresher and more acidic.
Alpine white
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and fresher and more acidic.
Similar but fuller
Keeps the character but adds weight, concentration and mouthfeel.
Antão Vaz
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and drier.
Chardonnay
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and drier.
Pošip
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and drier.
Kisi
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.
Auxerrois
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and drier.
Grechetto
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and more savoury.
Chenin Blanc
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and more oaky.
Antão Vaz
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and fuller and richer.
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 less floral, and more savoury.
Rkatsiteli
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and fresher and more acidic.
Malvazija Istarska
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and drier.
Albana
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and fresher.
Similar but fresher
Raises acidity and overall lift, usually by moving to a cooler-climate expression.
English still white
Both are made from solaris, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and fresher and more acidic.
Chenin Blanc
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and fresher and more acidic.
Graševina
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and more restrained in fruit.
Šipon
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and fresher and more acidic.
Similar but softer
Lowers acidity and sharpness in favour of a broader, gentler feel.
Grenache Blanc
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and fuller and richer.
Marsanne
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and fuller and richer.
Pedro Ximénez
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and sweeter.
Palomino Fino
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more neutral and subtle, and less floral.
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 less floral, and more sparkling.
Méthode Cap Classique
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and more sparkling.
California traditional-method sparkling
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and more sparkling.
Austrian Sekt
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and more sparkling.
Similar but drier
Reduces perceptible sugar while keeping aromatic character.
Treixadura
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and more restrained in fruit.
Avesso
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and fresher and more acidic.
Malvazija Istarska
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and fresher and more acidic.
Auxerrois
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and rounder and creamier in texture.
Similar but sweeter
Adds perceptible sweetness, which also softens acidity and chilli heat.
Bual
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and sweeter.
Albana
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and fresher.
Chenin Blanc
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and more oaky.
Pedro Ximénez
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and sweeter.
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 drier, 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 sweeter.
Chilean Chardonnay
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and fuller and richer.
Australian Chardonnay
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and more savoury.
Similar but more aromatic
More to smell before you taste — floral, fruity or spiced aromatics.
Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc
Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc scores closest to Solaris across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and more floral.
English still white
Both are made from solaris, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and fresher and more acidic.
Pinot Gris
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and spicier.
Treixadura
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and drier.
Similar but more restrained
For readers who find intensely aromatic wines tiring over a whole glass. Keeps the structure, turns the volume down.
English still white
Both are made from solaris, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and fresher and more acidic.
Pinot Gris
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and spicier.
Treixadura
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and drier.
Avesso
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and drier.
Similar but more floral
Pushes specifically towards rose, violet, blossom and elderflower character.
Maria Gomes
Maria Gomes scores closest to Solaris across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be more floral, and more aromatic.
Ortega
Ortega scores closest to Solaris across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be more floral, and more aromatic.
Muscadelle
Muscadelle scores closest to Solaris across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be more floral, and more aromatic.
Mtsvane Kakhuri
Mtsvane Kakhuri scores closest to Solaris across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be more floral, and more aromatic.
Similar but less floral
Some drinkers read floral aromatics as soapy or perfumed. This holds the structure and removes them.
English still white
Both are made from solaris, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and fresher and more acidic.
Pinot Gris
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and spicier.
Treixadura
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and drier.
Avesso
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and drier.
Similar but more savoury
Moves away from primary fruit towards earth, herb, meat and umami character.
Savennières
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and fresher and more acidic.
English still white
Both are made from solaris, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and fresher and more acidic.
Sercial
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and fresher and more acidic.
Friulano
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and more savoury.
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 more aromatic, and less floral.
Spätlese
Spätlese scores closest to Solaris across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be more floral, and more aromatic.
Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc
Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc scores closest to Solaris across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and more floral.
Recioto della Valpolicella
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and sweeter.
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.
English still white
Both are made from solaris, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and fresher.
Welsh white wine
Both are made from solaris, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure, both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and more floral.
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.
Pinot Gris
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and spicier.
Chenin Blanc
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and more oaky.
Chardonnay
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and drier.
Chablis
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and fresher and more acidic.
Something more adventurous
Less familiar wines that occupy similar territory — the interesting end of the shelf.
English still white
Both are made from solaris, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and fresher and more acidic.
Treixadura
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and drier.
Avesso
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and drier.
Graševina
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and more restrained in fruit.
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.
English still white
Both are made from solaris, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and fresher and more acidic.
Treixadura
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and drier.
Avesso
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and drier.
Graševina
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and more restrained in fruit.
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 more oaky, and drier.
Australian Chardonnay
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and more oaky.
California Chardonnay
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and more oaky.
South African Chenin Blanc
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and fresher and more acidic.
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.