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Wines like Vidal

A thick-skinned hybrid that made Canadian icewine possible. Below: what to try next, grouped by the direction you want to travel.

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What do you like about Vidal?

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 tropical fruit That it is not too strong How full and weighty it is The creamy, rounded texture That it is not oaky How aromatic it is

But it’s a bit…

too alcoholic or warming too heavy too buttery or thick too plain or too simple too perfumed too sweet

Clear all

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.
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.
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.
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 touch of sweetness: Actual sugar left in the wine, which is a different thing from tasting fruity. A wine can smell of ripe peach and be completely dry.

Looking for something keeping that it is not too alcoholic and the creamy, rounded mouthfeel, while moving away from too buttery or thick and too perfumed.

You said you like the creamy, rounded mouthfeel and that it is too buttery or thick. Both are about texture, so they pull the same axis in opposite directions — the dislike is applied and the like is set aside.
You said you like the creamy, rounded mouthfeel and that it is too buttery or thick. Both are about acidity, 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.

Colombard

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

Keeps that it is not too alcoholic.
Has some of the creamy, rounded mouthfeel, though less of it.
Substantially less buttery or thick.
Substantially less perfumed.

Hondarrabi Zuri

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

Keeps that it is not too alcoholic.
Has some of the creamy, rounded mouthfeel, though less of it.
Substantially less buttery or thick.
Substantially less perfumed.

Melon de Bourgogne

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

Keeps that it is not too alcoholic.
Has some of the creamy, rounded mouthfeel, though less of it.
Substantially less buttery or thick.
Substantially less perfumed.

Jacquère

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

Keeps that it is not too alcoholic.
Has some of the creamy, rounded mouthfeel, though less of it.
Substantially less buttery or thick.
Substantially less perfumed.

Muscadet

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

Keeps that it is not too alcoholic.
Has some of the creamy, rounded mouthfeel, though less of it.
Substantially less buttery or thick.
Substantially less perfumed.

Vinho Verde

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

Keeps that it is not too alcoholic.
Has noticeably less of the creamy, rounded mouthfeel.
Substantially less buttery or thick.
Substantially less perfumed.

Hunter Valley Semillon

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

Keeps that it is not too alcoholic.
Has some of the creamy, rounded mouthfeel, though less of it.
Substantially less buttery or thick.
Substantially less perfumed.

Riesling

curated

The other icewine variety in the same region, and the point of comparison Canadian producers themselves use.

Keeps that it is not too alcoholic.
Has noticeably less of the creamy, rounded mouthfeel.
Substantially less buttery or thick.
About as perfumed 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.

Colombard

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

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and lighter.

Hondarrabi Zuri

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

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and drier.

Melon de Bourgogne

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

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

Jacquère

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

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

Different grape, similar feel

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

Colombard

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

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and lighter.

Hondarrabi Zuri

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

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and drier.

Melon de Bourgogne

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

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

Jacquère

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

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

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.

Hunter Valley Semillon

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

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

Colombard

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

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and lighter.

Hondarrabi Zuri

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

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and drier.

Melon de Bourgogne

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

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

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

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

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

Mosel Riesling

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Kabinett

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Colombard

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

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and lighter.

Similar but fuller

Keeps the character but adds weight, concentration and mouthfeel.

Pedro Ximénez

Pedro Ximénez scores closest to Vidal across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

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

Furmint

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

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

Dry Furmint

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Chardonnay

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

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.

Colombard

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

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and lighter.

Hondarrabi Zuri

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

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and drier.

Melon de Bourgogne

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

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

Jacquère

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

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

Similar but more structured

More tannic architecture, for food or for ageing.

Rkatsiteli

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

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

Brda Rebula

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

Expect: Expect it to be stronger and warmer, and drier.

Trebbiano Spoletino

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

Expect: Expect it to be stronger and warmer, and drier.

Albana

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

Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and stronger and warmer.

Similar but fresher

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

Colombard

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

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and lighter.

Hondarrabi Zuri

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

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and drier.

Jacquère

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

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

Melon de Bourgogne

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

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

Similar but softer

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

Auxerrois

Auxerrois scores closest to Vidal across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

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

Antão Vaz

Antão Vaz scores closest to Vidal across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and stronger and warmer.

Pošip

Pošip scores closest to Vidal across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and stronger and warmer.

California Chardonnay

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

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

The sparkling version

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

Crémant

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

Expect: Expect it to be stronger and warmer, and more sparkling.

Austrian Sekt

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

Expect: Expect it to be stronger and warmer, and more sparkling.

English sparkling wine

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

Expect: Expect it to be stronger and warmer, and more sparkling.

English Blanc de Blancs

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

Expect: Expect it to be stronger and warmer, and more sparkling.

Similar but drier

Reduces perceptible sugar while keeping aromatic character.

Colombard

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

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and lighter.

Hondarrabi Zuri

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

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and drier.

Jacquère

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

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

Melon de Bourgogne

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

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

Similar but sweeter

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

Coteaux du Layon

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Bual

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Auslese

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Canadian Icewine

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

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

Change the flavour

Same shape, different aromatic character.

Similar but more oaky

Adds barrel character, toast and a creamier texture.

Chenin Blanc

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

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

Furmint

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

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

Dry Furmint

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

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

Chardonnay

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Similar but more aromatic

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

Moschofilero

Moschofilero scores closest to Vidal across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and softer and rounder.

Mantinia Moschofilero

Mantinia Moschofilero scores closest to Vidal across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and leaner and more cutting.

Scheurebe

Scheurebe scores closest to Vidal across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and stronger and warmer.

Sauvignon Blanc

Sauvignon Blanc scores closest to Vidal across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and leaner and more cutting.

Similar but more restrained

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

Colombard

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

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and lighter.

Hondarrabi Zuri

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

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and drier.

Melon de Bourgogne

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

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

Jacquère

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

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

Similar but more floral

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

Vinho Verde

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

Expect: Expect it to be leaner and more cutting, and lighter.

Spätlese

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

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

Riesling

curated

The other icewine variety in the same region, and the point of comparison Canadian producers themselves use.

Expect: Riesling icewine is more precise and ages far longer.

Parellada

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

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

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 more neutral and subtle, and drier.

Hunter Valley Semillon

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

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

Hondarrabi Zuri

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

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and drier.

Melon de Bourgogne

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

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

Similar but fruitier

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

Spätlese

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

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

Petit Manseng

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be stronger and warmer, and more aromatic.

Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc

Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc scores closest to Vidal across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and leaner and more cutting.

Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains

Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains scores closest to Vidal across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and softer and rounder.

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.

Expect: Expect it to be leaner and more cutting, and lighter.

Riesling

curated

The other icewine variety in the same region, and the point of comparison Canadian producers themselves use.

Expect: Riesling icewine is more precise and ages far longer.

Chablis

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

Expect: Expect it to be stronger and warmer, and drier.

Chenin Blanc

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

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

Something more adventurous

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

Colombard

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

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and lighter.

Hondarrabi Zuri

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

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and drier.

Melon de Bourgogne

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

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

Jacquère

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

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

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.

Colombard

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

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and lighter.

Hondarrabi Zuri

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

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and drier.

Melon de Bourgogne

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

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

Jacquère

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

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

A step up

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

Chardonnay

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Chablis

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

Expect: Expect it to be stronger and warmer, and drier.

South African Chenin Blanc

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Santorini Assyrtiko

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

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.