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Wines like Auslese

"Selected harvest" — individually selected very ripe bunches, often with some botrytis. Usually, though not always, sweet. Below: what to try next, grouped by the direction you want to travel.

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What do you like about Auslese?

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 That it is not oaky How aromatic it is The touch of sweetness

But it’s a bit…

too tropical or sweet-smelling too alcoholic or warming too plain or too simple too peppery 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.
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 spice: Black pepper, clove, cinnamon. Some of it is the grape — the pepper in Syrah is a measured compound called rotundone — and some is the barrel.
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 the fruit is not covered in oak, while moving away from too peppery and too sweet.

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.

Szamorodni

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Has noticeably less of that the fruit is not covered in oak.
Substantially less peppery.
Substantially less sweet.

Eiswein

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

Keeps that the fruit is not covered in oak.
Substantially less peppery.
More sweet, not less.

Riesling

Both are made from riesling, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both come from the same country.

Keeps that the fruit is not covered in oak.
Substantially less peppery.
Substantially less sweet.

Spätlese

Both are made from riesling, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both come from the same country.

Keeps that the fruit is not covered in oak.
Substantially less peppery.
Substantially less sweet.

Beerenauslese

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

Keeps that the fruit is not covered in oak.
About as peppery as the wine you started from.
More sweet, not less.

Canadian Icewine

Both are made from riesling.

Has some of that the fruit is not covered in oak, though less of it.
Substantially less peppery.
More sweet, not less.

Mosel Riesling

Both are made from riesling, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both come from the same country.

Keeps that the fruit is not covered in oak.
Substantially less peppery.
Substantially less sweet.

Nahe Riesling

Both are made from riesling, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure, both come from the same country.

Keeps that the fruit is not covered in oak.
Substantially less peppery.
Substantially less sweet.

Closest overall

Nearest neighbours, no change of direction.

Closest matches

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

Szamorodni

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and less spicy.

Eiswein

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

Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and less spicy.

Riesling

Both are made from riesling, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both come from the same country.

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

Spätlese

Both are made from riesling, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be less spicy, and more floral.

Different grape, similar feel

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

Szamorodni

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and less spicy.

Scheurebe

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be less spicy, and more floral.

Petit Manseng

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

Expect: Expect it to be less spicy, and stronger and warmer.

Vidal

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

Expect: Expect it to be less spicy, and more neutral and subtle.

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.

Mosel Riesling

Both are made from riesling, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be less spicy, and lighter.

Kabinett

Both are made from riesling, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure, both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and less spicy.

Riesling

Both are made from riesling, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both come from the same country.

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

Spätlese

Both are made from riesling, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be less spicy, and more 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.

Eiswein

Both are made from riesling, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure, both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and less spicy.

Mosel Riesling

Both are made from riesling, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be less spicy, and lighter.

Kabinett

Both are made from riesling, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure, both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and less spicy.

Hunter Valley Semillon

Hunter Valley Semillon scores closest to Auslese across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and less spicy.

Similar but fuller

Keeps the character but adds weight, concentration and mouthfeel.

Beerenauslese

Both are made from riesling, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure, both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and spicier.

Canadian Icewine

Both are made from riesling.

Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and more oaky.

Vin Santo

Vin Santo scores closest to Auslese across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and sweeter.

Trockenbeerenauslese

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

Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and spicier.

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.

Eiswein

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

Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and less spicy.

Szamorodni

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and less spicy.

Beerenauslese

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

Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and spicier.

Canadian Icewine

Both are made from riesling.

Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and more oaky.

Similar but more structured

More tannic architecture, for food or for ageing.

Malvasia

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

Expect: Expect it to be less spicy, and softer and rounder.

Albana

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

Expect: Expect it to be less spicy, and more neutral and subtle.

Rkatsiteli

Rkatsiteli scores closest to Auslese across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and less spicy.

Recioto della Valpolicella

Recioto della Valpolicella scores closest to Auslese across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and more oaky.

Similar but fresher

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

Eiswein

Both are made from riesling, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure, both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and less spicy.

Szamorodni

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and less spicy.

Riesling

Both are made from riesling, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both come from the same country.

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

Spätlese

Both are made from riesling, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be less spicy, and more floral.

Similar but softer

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

Vin Santo

Vin Santo scores closest to Auslese across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and sweeter.

Malvasia

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

Expect: Expect it to be less spicy, and softer and rounder.

Vidal

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

Expect: Expect it to be less spicy, and more neutral and subtle.

Vin de Constance

Both sit in the same style family.

Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and more oaky.

The sparkling version

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

Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and less spicy.

Glera

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and less spicy.

Prosecco

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and less spicy.

Sekt

Both are made from riesling, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure, both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and drier.

Similar but drier

Reduces perceptible sugar while keeping aromatic character.

Alsace Riesling

Both are made from riesling, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and less spicy.

Finger Lakes Riesling

Both are made from riesling, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be less spicy, and lighter.

Gros Manseng

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and less spicy.

Kabinett

Both are made from riesling, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure, both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and less spicy.

Similar but sweeter

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

Eiswein

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

Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and less spicy.

Pedro Ximénez

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

Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and less spicy.

Canadian Icewine

Both are made from riesling.

Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and more oaky.

Beerenauslese

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

Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and spicier.

Change the flavour

Same shape, different aromatic character.

Similar but more oaky

Adds barrel character, toast and a creamier texture.

Szamorodni

Szamorodni scores closest to Auslese across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and less spicy.

Canadian Icewine

Both are made from riesling.

Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and more oaky.

Vin Santo

Vin Santo scores closest to Auslese across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and sweeter.

Vin de Constance

Both sit in the same style family.

Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and more oaky.

Similar but more aromatic

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

Eiswein

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

Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and less spicy.

Scheurebe

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be less spicy, and more floral.

Muscat of Alexandria

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

Expect: Expect it to be less spicy, and softer and rounder.

Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains

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

Expect: Expect it to be less spicy, 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.

Szamorodni

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and less spicy.

Nahe Riesling

Both are made from riesling, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure, both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and less spicy.

Albana

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

Expect: Expect it to be less spicy, and more neutral and subtle.

Trebbiano Toscano

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

Expect: Expect it to be less spicy, and more neutral and subtle.

Similar but more floral

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

Scheurebe

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be less spicy, and more floral.

Muscat of Alexandria

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

Expect: Expect it to be less spicy, and softer and rounder.

Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains

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

Expect: Expect it to be less spicy, and more floral.

Riesling

Both are made from riesling, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both come from the same country.

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

Similar but more savoury

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

Szamorodni

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and less spicy.

Mosel Riesling

Both are made from riesling, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be less spicy, and lighter.

Nahe Riesling

Both are made from riesling, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure, both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and less spicy.

Finger Lakes Riesling

Both are made from riesling, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be less spicy, and lighter.

Similar but fruitier

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

Eiswein

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

Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and less spicy.

Spätlese

Both are made from riesling, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be less spicy, and more floral.

Beerenauslese

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

Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and spicier.

Canadian Icewine

Both are made from riesling.

Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and more oaky.

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.

Canadian Icewine

Both are made from riesling.

Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and more oaky.

Finger Lakes Riesling

Both are made from riesling, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be less spicy, and lighter.

Alsace Riesling

Both are made from riesling, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and less spicy.

Same grape, cooler climate

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

Riesling

Both are made from riesling, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both come from the same country.

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

Spätlese

Both are made from riesling, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be less spicy, and more floral.

Eiswein

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

Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and less spicy.

Mosel Riesling

Both are made from riesling, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be less spicy, and lighter.

Same grape, warmer climate

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

Beerenauslese

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

Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and spicier.

Canadian Icewine

Both are made from riesling.

Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and more oaky.

Trockenbeerenauslese

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

Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and spicier.

Eiswein

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

Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and less spicy.

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.

Riesling

Both are made from riesling, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both come from the same country.

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

Mosel Riesling

Both are made from riesling, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be less spicy, and lighter.

Vinho Verde

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and less spicy.

Something more adventurous

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

Szamorodni

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and less spicy.

Eiswein

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

Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and less spicy.

Spätlese

Both are made from riesling, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be less spicy, and more floral.

Beerenauslese

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

Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and spicier.

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.

Szamorodni

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and less spicy.

Eiswein

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

Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and less spicy.

Spätlese

Both are made from riesling, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be less spicy, and more floral.

Beerenauslese

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

Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and spicier.

A step up

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

Tokaji Aszú

Tokaji Aszú scores closest to Auslese across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and spicier.

Mosel Riesling

Both are made from riesling, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be less spicy, 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.