If you like this, try…
Wines like Verdelho
A medium-dry Madeira variety, also grown in Australia as a still dry white. Below: what to try next, grouped by the direction you want to travel.
Refine
What do you like about Verdelho?
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.
- 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 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.
- How full and weighty it is
- Body is how much the wine seems to fill your mouth — the difference between skimmed and whole milk. It comes mostly from alcohol and ripeness.
- 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 oaky
- No barrel character — just the fruit and the acidity. Chablis and Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc are the reference points.
Looking for something moving away from too heavy.
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.
English still white
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Substantially less heavy.
Picpoul de Pinet
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Substantially less heavy.
Vinho Verde
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
- Substantially less heavy.
Picpoul
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Substantially less heavy.
Aligoté
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Substantially less heavy.
Roditis
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Substantially less heavy.
Colombard
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Substantially less heavy.
Finger Lakes Riesling
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Substantially less heavy.
Closest overall
Nearest neighbours, no change of direction.
Closest matches
The nearest overall neighbours across structure and flavour, with no deliberate change of direction.
English still white
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher, and more oaky.
Picpoul de Pinet
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher, and drier.
Vinho Verde
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, and fresher.
Picpoul
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher, and drier.
Different grape, similar feel
Deliberately excludes the variety you already know, to find a genuinely new wine that fills the same role.
English still white
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher, and more oaky.
Picpoul de Pinet
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher, and drier.
Vinho Verde
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, and fresher.
Picpoul
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher, 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.
Aidani
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and more floral.
Aligoté
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher, and drier.
Alpine white
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, and fresher.
Colombard
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, and fresher.
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.
Vinho Verde
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, and fresher.
Loureiro
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, and more floral.
Colombard
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, and fresher.
Trebbiano Romagnolo
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 fuller
Keeps the character but adds weight, concentration and mouthfeel.
Vidal
Vidal scores closest to Verdelho across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and lighter in alcohol.
Chardonnay
Chardonnay scores closest to Verdelho across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and more oaky.
Furmint
Furmint scores closest to Verdelho across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and more oaky.
Dry Furmint
Dry Furmint scores closest to Verdelho across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and more oaky.
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.
English still white
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher, and more oaky.
Aligoté
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher, and drier.
Roditis
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and softer and rounder.
Colombard
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, and fresher.
Similar but more structured
More tannic architecture, for food or for ageing.
Koshu
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, and more restrained in fruit.
Rkatsiteli
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and drier.
Mtsvane Kakhuri
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and more floral.
Ribolla Gialla
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and drier.
Similar but fresher
Raises acidity and overall lift, usually by moving to a cooler-climate expression.
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.
English still white
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher, and more oaky.
Vinho Verde
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, and fresher.
Picpoul de Pinet
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher, and drier.
Picpoul
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher, and drier.
Similar but softer
Lowers acidity and sharpness in favour of a broader, gentler feel.
Müller-Thurgau
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, and softer and rounder.
Roditis
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and leaner and more cutting.
Trebbiano Romagnolo
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, and more restrained in fruit.
Aidani
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more floral, and softer and rounder.
The sparkling version
Moves to a sparkling expression while holding the flavour and weight as close as possible.
English Blanc de Blancs
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more sparkling, and fresher.
Glera
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and more floral.
Prosecco
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and more floral.
Asti
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, and sweeter.
Similar but drier
Reduces perceptible sugar while keeping aromatic character.
Picpoul de Pinet
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher, and more restrained in fruit.
Picpoul
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher, and more restrained in fruit.
Aligoté
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher, and more oaky.
Loureiro
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, and more floral.
Similar but sweeter
Adds perceptible sweetness, which also softens acidity and chilli heat.
Finger Lakes Riesling
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher, and more floral.
Riesling
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, and fresher.
Trebbiano Toscano
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, and more restrained in fruit.
Aidani
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and more floral.
Change the flavour
Same shape, different aromatic character.
Similar but more oaky
Adds barrel character, toast and a creamier texture.
English still white
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and fresher.
Aligoté
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and fresher.
Chenin Blanc
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and sweeter.
Sémillon
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and more neutral and subtle.
Similar but more aromatic
More to smell before you taste — floral, fruity or spiced aromatics.
Moschofilero
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, and more aromatic.
Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and softer and rounder.
Mantinia Moschofilero
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, and more aromatic.
Finger Lakes Riesling
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher, and sweeter.
Similar but more restrained
For readers who find intensely aromatic wines tiring over a whole glass. Keeps the structure, turns the volume down.
Seyval Blanc
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher, and more restrained in fruit.
Cortese
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher, and drier.
Gavi
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher, and drier.
Trebbiano Toscano
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 more floral
Pushes specifically towards rose, violet, blossom and elderflower character.
Aidani
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and more floral.
Bacchus
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more herbal and green, and fresher.
English Bacchus
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more herbal and green, and fresher.
Finger Lakes Riesling
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher, and sweeter.
Similar but more savoury
Moves away from primary fruit towards earth, herb, meat and umami character.
Muscadet
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, and fresher.
Hunter Valley Semillon
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, and fresher.
Franken Silvaner
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and softer and rounder.
Carricante
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and fresher.
Similar but fruitier
More obvious, generous fruit flavour, usually from a warmer climate.
Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more floral, and softer and rounder.
Spätlese
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and lighter in alcohol.
Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and more herbal and green.
Asti
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, and more sparkling.
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.
Vinho Verde
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, and fresher.
Pinot Grigio
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and more neutral and subtle.
Riesling
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, and fresher.
English Bacchus
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more herbal and green, and more floral.
Something more adventurous
Less familiar wines that occupy similar territory — the interesting end of the shelf.
English still white
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher, and more oaky.
Picpoul de Pinet
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher, and drier.
Picpoul
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher, and drier.
Aligoté
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher, 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.
English still white
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher, and more oaky.
Picpoul de Pinet
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher, and drier.
Picpoul
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher, and drier.
Aligoté
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher, and drier.
A step up
The benchmark expressions of the same territory, usually with more concentration, structure and ageing potential.
South African Chenin Blanc
South African Chenin Blanc scores closest to Verdelho across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and stronger and warmer.
Chardonnay
Chardonnay scores closest to Verdelho across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and more oaky.
Australian Chardonnay
Australian Chardonnay scores closest to Verdelho across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and stronger and warmer.
Santorini Assyrtiko
Santorini Assyrtiko scores closest to Verdelho across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and stronger and warmer.
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.