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.
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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 moving away from too plain or too simple and too floral or soapy.
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.
Chenin Blanc
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Substantially less plain or too simple.
- Substantially less floral or soapy.
Chardonnay
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Substantially less plain or too simple.
- Substantially less floral or soapy.
Sémillon
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Substantially less plain or too simple.
- Substantially less floral or soapy.
White Bordeaux
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Substantially less plain or too simple.
- Substantially less floral or soapy.
Chilean Chardonnay
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Substantially less plain or too simple.
- Substantially less floral or soapy.
Australian Chardonnay
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Substantially less plain or too simple.
- Substantially less floral or soapy.
New Zealand Chardonnay
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Substantially less plain or too simple.
- Substantially less floral or soapy.
Friuli white
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Substantially less plain or too simple.
- 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.
Chenin Blanc
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and sweeter.
Chardonnay
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and fuller and richer.
Sémillon
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and more neutral and subtle.
White Bordeaux
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and more herbal and green.
Different grape, similar feel
Deliberately excludes the variety you already know, to find a genuinely new wine that fills the same role.
Chenin Blanc
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and sweeter.
Chardonnay
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and fuller and richer.
Sémillon
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and more neutral and subtle.
White Bordeaux
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and more herbal and green.
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.
Koshu
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and less floral.
Alpine white
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and less floral.
English still white
Both are made from solaris, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and less floral.
Aligoté
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and less floral.
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.
Koshu
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and less floral.
Alpine white
Alpine white scores closest to Solaris across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and less floral.
Hunter Valley Semillon
Hunter Valley Semillon scores closest to Solaris across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and less floral.
Trebbiano Romagnolo
Trebbiano Romagnolo scores closest to Solaris across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and less floral.
Similar but fuller
Keeps the character but adds weight, concentration and mouthfeel.
Australian Chardonnay
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and more savoury.
Chardonnay
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and more savoury.
Chilean Chardonnay
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and drier.
Dry Furmint
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and fresher and more acidic.
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.
Chenin Blanc
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and sweeter.
Chardonnay
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and fuller and richer.
Sémillon
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and more neutral and subtle.
White Bordeaux
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and more herbal and green.
Similar but more structured
More tannic architecture, for food or for ageing.
Friuli white
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and more savoury.
Istrian Malvazija
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and less floral.
Brda Rebula
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and less floral.
Koshu
Koshu scores closest to Solaris across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and less floral.
Similar but fresher
Raises acidity and overall lift, usually by moving to a cooler-climate expression.
Australian Chardonnay
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and more savoury.
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.
Similar but softer
Lowers acidity and sharpness in favour of a broader, gentler feel.
Marsanne
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and less floral.
Grenache Blanc
Grenache Blanc scores closest to Solaris across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and less floral.
Pedro Ximénez
Pedro Ximénez scores closest to Solaris across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and less floral.
Pedro Ximénez sherry
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and sweeter.
The sparkling version
Moves to a sparkling expression while holding the flavour and weight as close as possible.
Franciacorta
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and less floral.
Méthode Cap Classique
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and less floral.
Sekt
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and less floral.
California traditional-method sparkling
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and less floral.
Similar but drier
Reduces perceptible sugar while keeping aromatic character.
Chardonnay
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and more savoury.
White Bordeaux
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and more herbal and green.
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 sweeter
Adds perceptible sweetness, which also softens acidity and chilli heat.
Chenin Blanc
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and more savoury.
Sémillon
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and more neutral and subtle.
Vin Santo
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and sweeter.
White Port
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and stronger and warmer.
Change the flavour
Same shape, different aromatic character.
Similar but more oaky
Adds barrel character, toast and a creamier texture.
Australian Chardonnay
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and more savoury.
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.
Similar but more aromatic
More to smell before you taste — floral, fruity or spiced aromatics.
Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and more floral.
Condrieu
Condrieu scores closest to Solaris across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be more floral, and less oaky.
Viognier
Viognier scores closest to Solaris across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be more floral, and less oaky.
Scheurebe
Scheurebe scores closest to Solaris across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and more floral.
Similar but more restrained
For readers who find intensely aromatic wines tiring over a whole glass. Keeps the structure, turns the volume down.
Australian Chardonnay
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and more savoury.
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.
Similar but more floral
Pushes specifically towards rose, violet, blossom and elderflower character.
English Bacchus
English Bacchus scores closest to Solaris across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be more floral, and less oaky.
Bacchus
Bacchus scores closest to Solaris across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be more floral, and less oaky.
Condrieu
Condrieu scores closest to Solaris across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be more floral, and less oaky.
Viognier
Viognier scores closest to Solaris across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be more floral, and less oaky.
Similar but less floral
Some drinkers read floral aromatics as soapy or perfumed. This holds the structure and removes them.
Australian Chardonnay
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and more savoury.
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
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and fuller and richer.
Similar but more savoury
Moves away from primary fruit towards earth, herb, meat and umami character.
Friuli white
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and more savoury.
White Burgundy
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
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 sweeter.
Chardonnay
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and fuller and richer.
Similar but fruitier
More obvious, generous fruit flavour, usually from a warmer climate.
Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and more floral.
Petit Manseng
Petit Manseng scores closest to Solaris across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and less floral.
Sauternes
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and sweeter.
Zinfandel
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and spicier.
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 they occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and less floral.
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 less oaky, 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.
Chenin Blanc
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and sweeter.
Chardonnay
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, 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.
South African Chenin Blanc
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.
Sémillon
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and more neutral and subtle.
White Bordeaux
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and more herbal and green.
Chilean Chardonnay
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and fuller and richer.
New Zealand Chardonnay
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and more savoury.
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.
Sémillon
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and more neutral and subtle.
White Bordeaux
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and more herbal and green.
Chilean Chardonnay
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and fuller and richer.
New Zealand Chardonnay
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and more savoury.
A step up
The benchmark expressions of the same territory, usually with more concentration, structure and ageing potential.
Australian Chardonnay
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and fuller and richer.
Chardonnay
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and fuller and richer.
South African Chenin Blanc
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and fresher and more acidic.
White Burgundy
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and fuller and richer.
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.