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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 light or thin, too savoury or funky, 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.

Roussanne

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

Substantially less light or thin.
A little less savoury or funky.
Substantially less alcoholic or warming.
A little less sharp or lemony.

Malvasia

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Substantially less light or thin.
Substantially less savoury or funky.
Substantially less alcoholic or warming.
A little less sharp or lemony.

Alsace Pinot Gris

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Substantially less light or thin.
Substantially less savoury or funky.
Substantially less alcoholic or warming.
A little less sharp or lemony.

Condrieu

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Substantially less light or thin.
Substantially less savoury or funky.
Substantially less alcoholic or warming.
A little less sharp or lemony.

Viognier

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Substantially less light or thin.
Substantially less savoury or funky.
Substantially less alcoholic or warming.
A little less sharp or lemony.

Pedro Ximénez

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Substantially less light or thin.
A little less savoury or funky.
Substantially less alcoholic or warming.
About as sharp or lemony as the wine you started from.

Malagousia

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Substantially less light or thin.
Substantially less savoury or funky.
Substantially less alcoholic or warming.
A little less sharp or lemony.

Pošip

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Substantially less light or thin.
Substantially less savoury or funky.
Substantially less alcoholic or warming.
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.

Roussanne

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

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

Malvasia

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and lighter.

Alsace Pinot Gris

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and lighter.

Condrieu

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Different grape, similar feel

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

Roussanne

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

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

Malvasia

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and lighter.

Alsace Pinot Gris

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and lighter.

Condrieu

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

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

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

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

Müller-Thurgau

Müller-Thurgau scores closest to Verdicchio across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

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

Condrieu

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Viognier

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

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.

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.

Wachau Grüner Veltliner

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Roussanne

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Malvasia

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Condrieu

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Similar but fuller

Keeps the character but adds weight, concentration and mouthfeel.

Condrieu

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Viognier

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Pedro Ximénez

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

Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and more savoury.

Alsace Pinot Gris

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and fruitier.

Similar but less tannic

For readers who find firm reds drying. Reduces tannic grip while holding flavour and weight roughly steady.

Alsace Pinot Gris

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and lighter.

Condrieu

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Viognier

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Pedro Ximénez

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and more savoury.

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 fruitier, and lighter.

Kisi

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

Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and lighter.

Mtsvane Kakhuri

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

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

Friuli white

Both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and lighter.

Similar but fresher

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

Petit Manseng

Petit Manseng scores closest to Verdicchio across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be fresher, and fruitier.

Gros Manseng

Gros Manseng scores closest to Verdicchio across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be fresher, and lighter.

Petite Arvine

Petite Arvine scores closest to Verdicchio across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be fresher, and lighter.

Greco di Tufo

Both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be fresher, and more savoury.

Similar but softer

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

Condrieu

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Viognier

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Pedro Ximénez

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and more savoury.

Alsace Pinot Gris

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and lighter.

The sparkling version

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

Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore

Both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and fresher.

Glera

Both come from the same country.

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

Sekt

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

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and fresher.

Crémant

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

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and fresher.

Similar but sweeter

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

Moscatel de Setúbal

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and sweeter.

Malvasia

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and lighter.

Alsace Pinot Gris

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and lighter.

Recioto della Valpolicella

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

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

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.

Malvasia

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and lighter.

Pedro Ximénez

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and more savoury.

Malagousia

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and fruitier.

Wachau Grüner Veltliner

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and lighter.

Similar but more oaky

Adds barrel character, toast and a creamier texture.

California Chardonnay

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and lighter.

Chilean Chardonnay

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

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and fruitier.

Friuli white

Both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and lighter.

Chardonnay

curated

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

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

Similar but more aromatic

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

Roussanne

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

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

Condrieu

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and more aromatic.

Viognier

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and more aromatic.

Alsace Pinot Gris

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and lighter.

Similar but more restrained

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

Palomino Fino

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

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

Pinot Blanc

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

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

Chasselas

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

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

Sémillon

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

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

Similar but more floral

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

Roussanne

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

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

Alsace Pinot Gris

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and lighter.

Condrieu

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and more aromatic.

Viognier

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and more aromatic.

Similar but more savoury

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

Vin Jaune

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

Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and lighter.

Sercial

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

Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and lighter.

Friuli white

Both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and lighter.

Palomino Fino

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

Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and lighter.

Similar but fruitier

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

Condrieu

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

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

Viognier

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

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

Malvasia

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and lighter.

Alsace Pinot Gris

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and lighter.

Change the place

Keep the grape, move it somewhere else.

Same grape, cooler climate

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

Trebbiano di Soave

Both come from the same country.

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

Verdicchio

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

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

Trebbiano di Soave

Both come from the same country.

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

Verdicchio

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

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, 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.

California Chardonnay

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

Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and lighter.

Chardonnay

curated

Comparable texture and structure in an unoaked frame.

Expect: Rounder and more oak-influenced.

Pinot Gris

Both come from the same country.

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

White Burgundy

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

Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and lighter.

Something more adventurous

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

Roussanne

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

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

Malvasia

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and lighter.

Alsace Pinot Gris

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and lighter.

Condrieu

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

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.

Roussanne

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

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

Malvasia

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and lighter.

Alsace Pinot Gris

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and lighter.

Condrieu

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

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 more savoury, and lighter.

California Chardonnay

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and lighter.

Australian Chardonnay

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

Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and lighter.

South African Chenin Blanc

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

Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and lighter.

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.