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Wines like Verdicchio

One of Italy’s most structured and ageworthy white varieties, from the Marche. Below: what to try next, grouped by the direction you want to travel.

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What do you like about Verdicchio?

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 creamy, rounded texture That it is properly dry

But it’s a bit…

too sharp or lemony too light or thin too alcoholic or warming too buttery or thick too savoury or funky too austere

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.
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.
The savoury, meaty side: Leather, olive, cured meat, dried herbs, tobacco. It is what people mean by calling a wine "serious" rather than "fruity", and it comes with age as well as with place.
That it is properly dry: No perceptible sugar at all. Almost all red wine is dry and a good deal of white wine is not, which is why this is a more useful thing to say about a white than about a red.

Looking for something moving away from too austere, too buttery or thick, too alcoholic or warming and too sharp or lemony.

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.

Sercial

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

Substantially less austere.
Substantially less buttery or thick.
Substantially less alcoholic or warming.
A little less sharp or lemony.

Verdelho

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Substantially less austere.
Substantially less buttery or thick.
Substantially less alcoholic or warming.
About as sharp or lemony as the wine you started from.

Bual

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Substantially less austere.
About as buttery or thick as the wine you started from.
Substantially less alcoholic or warming.
About as sharp or lemony as the wine you started from.

Garganega

curated

The same variety under another name in Soave, in a gentler style.

Substantially less austere.
A little less buttery or thick.
About as alcoholic or warming as the wine you started from.
About as sharp or lemony as the wine you started from.

Petite Arvine

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Substantially less austere.
Substantially less buttery or thick.
Substantially less alcoholic or warming.
More sharp or lemony, not less.

Aidani

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Substantially less austere.
A little less buttery or thick.
About as alcoholic or warming as the wine you started from.
A little less sharp or lemony.

Malvasia

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Substantially less austere.
About as buttery or thick as the wine you started from.
Substantially less alcoholic or warming.
A little less sharp or lemony.

Albana

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

Substantially less austere.
A little less buttery or thick.
About as alcoholic or warming as the wine you started from.
About as sharp or lemony as the wine you started from.

Closest overall

Nearest neighbours, no change of direction.

Closest matches

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

Sercial

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

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

Verdelho

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and fruitier.

Bual

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and fruitier.

Garganega

curated

The same variety under another name in Soave, in a gentler style.

Expect: Softer and less structured.

Different grape, similar feel

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

Sercial

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

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

Verdelho

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and fruitier.

Bual

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and fruitier.

Petite Arvine

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be fresher, and fruitier.

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

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Trebbiano Toscano

Both come from the same country.

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

Trebbiano Romagnolo

Both come from the same country.

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

Riesling

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

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.

Riesling

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

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

Trebbiano Toscano

Both come from the same country.

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

Spätlese

Spätlese scores closest to Verdicchio across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

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

Mosel Riesling

Mosel Riesling scores closest to Verdicchio across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

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

Similar but fuller

Keeps the character but adds weight, concentration and mouthfeel.

Bual

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and fruitier.

Alsace Pinot Gris

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be rounder and creamier in texture, and softer and rounder.

Malvasia

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Petit Manseng

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and fresher.

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.

Sercial

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

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

Bual

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and fruitier.

Alsace Pinot Gris

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be rounder and creamier in texture, and softer and rounder.

Verdelho

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and fruitier.

Similar but more structured

More tannic architecture, for food or for ageing.

Malvasia

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Albana

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

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

Mtsvane Kakhuri

Mtsvane Kakhuri scores closest to Verdicchio across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

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

Kisi

Kisi scores closest to Verdicchio across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and fruitier.

Similar but fresher

Raises acidity and overall lift, usually by moving to a cooler-climate expression.

Petite Arvine

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be fresher, and fruitier.

Valais Petite Arvine

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be fresher, and drier.

Alsace Riesling

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be fresher, and drier.

Vouvray

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Similar but softer

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

Alsace Pinot Gris

Alsace Pinot Gris scores closest to Verdicchio across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and rounder and creamier in texture.

Malvasia

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

California Chardonnay

California Chardonnay scores closest to Verdicchio across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and rounder and creamier in texture.

Muscat of Alexandria

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

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

The sparkling version

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

English sparkling wine

English sparkling wine scores closest to Verdicchio across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

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

Crémant

Crémant scores closest to Verdicchio across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

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

English Blanc de Blancs

English Blanc de Blancs scores closest to Verdicchio across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

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

Glera

Both come from the same country.

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

Similar but sweeter

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

Madeira

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

Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and rounder and creamier in texture.

Marsala

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

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

Petite Arvine

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

Expect: Expect it to be fresher, and fruitier.

White Port

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

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

Change the flavour

Same shape, different aromatic character.

Similar but less oaky

One of the commonest requests in wine. Strips oak influence while holding grape character and weight.

Sercial

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

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

Verdelho

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and fruitier.

Bual

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and fruitier.

Petite Arvine

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be fresher, and fruitier.

Similar but more oaky

Adds barrel character, toast and a creamier texture.

Chenin Blanc

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

California Chardonnay

California Chardonnay scores closest to Verdicchio across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be rounder and creamier in texture, and softer and rounder.

Sémillon

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Furmint

Furmint scores closest to Verdicchio across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

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

Similar but more aromatic

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

Aidani

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Muscadelle

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Ortega

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Scheurebe

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.

Sémillon

Sémillon scores closest to Verdicchio across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

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

Trebbiano Toscano

Both come from the same country.

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

Palomino Fino

Palomino Fino scores closest to Verdicchio across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

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

Silvaner

Silvaner scores closest to Verdicchio across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

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

Similar but more floral

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

Aidani

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Muscadelle

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Ortega

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Alsace Riesling

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be fresher, and drier.

Similar but more savoury

Moves away from primary fruit towards earth, herb, meat and umami character.

Sercial

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

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

Vin Jaune

Vin Jaune scores closest to Verdicchio across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and rounder and creamier in texture.

Palomino Fino

Palomino Fino scores closest to Verdicchio across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

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

Savennières

Savennières scores closest to Verdicchio across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and fresher.

Similar but fruitier

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

Petite Arvine

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and fresher.

Malvasia

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Muscadelle

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Ortega

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Change the place

Keep the grape, move it somewhere else.

Same grape, cooler climate

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

Soave

Both come from the same country.

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

Trebbiano di Soave

Both come from the same country.

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

Verdicchio

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

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

Same grape, warmer climate

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

Soave Classico

Both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and fruitier.

Soave

Both come from the same country.

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

Trebbiano di Soave

Both come from the same country.

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

Verdicchio

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

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

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

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Pinot Gris

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

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

Chardonnay

curated

Comparable texture and structure in an unoaked frame.

Expect: Rounder and more oak-influenced.

German dry Riesling (trocken)

German dry Riesling (trocken) scores closest to Verdicchio across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and fresher.

Something more adventurous

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

Sercial

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

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

Verdelho

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and fruitier.

Bual

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and fruitier.

Petite Arvine

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be fresher, and fruitier.

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.

Sercial

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

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

Verdelho

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and fruitier.

Bual

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and fruitier.

Petite Arvine

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be fresher, and fruitier.

A step up

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

White Burgundy

White Burgundy scores closest to Verdicchio across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and rounder and creamier in texture.

South African Chenin Blanc

South African Chenin Blanc scores closest to Verdicchio across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and fruitier.

Santorini Assyrtiko

Santorini Assyrtiko scores closest to Verdicchio across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and fresher.

Australian Chardonnay

Australian Chardonnay scores closest to Verdicchio across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and fruitier.

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.