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Wines like Australian Riesling

Bone dry, intensely limey and steely — a category of its own, with almost nothing in common with German Riesling beyond the grape. Below: what to try next, grouped by the direction you want to travel.

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What do you like about Australian Riesling?

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 citrus and orchard fruit The tropical fruit How fresh and crisp it is That it is not oaky How aromatic it is That it is properly dry

But it’s a bit…

too sharp or lemony too sharp or acidic too plain or too simple too floral or soapy too perfumed 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.
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.
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.
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 floral character: Rose, violet, elderflower, orange blossom.
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 keeping how much it smells of, before you even taste it, while moving away from too plain or too simple and too perfumed.

You said you like how much it smells of, before you even taste it and that it is too perfumed. Both are about aromatic intensity, 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.

Australian Chardonnay

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

Has some of how much it smells of, before you even taste it, though less of it.
Substantially less plain or too simple.
Substantially less perfumed.

Dry Furmint

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

Has some of how much it smells of, before you even taste it, though less of it.
Substantially less plain or too simple.
Substantially less perfumed.

Chenin Blanc

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

Has some of how much it smells of, before you even taste it, though less of it.
Substantially less plain or too simple.
Substantially less perfumed.

Chardonnay

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

Has some of how much it smells of, before you even taste it, though less of it.
Substantially less plain or too simple.
Substantially less perfumed.

South African Chenin Blanc

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

Has some of how much it smells of, before you even taste it, though less of it.
Substantially less plain or too simple.
Substantially less perfumed.

Chilean Chardonnay

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

Has some of how much it smells of, before you even taste it, though less of it.
Substantially less plain or too simple.
Substantially less perfumed.

New Zealand Chardonnay

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

Has some of how much it smells of, before you even taste it, though less of it.
Substantially less plain or too simple.
Substantially less perfumed.

Furmint

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

Has some of how much it smells of, before you even taste it, though less of it.
Substantially less plain or too simple.
Substantially less perfumed.

Closest overall

Nearest neighbours, no change of direction.

Closest matches

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

Australian Chardonnay

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

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

Dry Furmint

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

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

Chenin Blanc

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

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

Chardonnay

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

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

Different grape, similar feel

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

Australian Chardonnay

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

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

Dry Furmint

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

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

Chenin Blanc

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

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

Chardonnay

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

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

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.

Alpine white

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.

Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and less floral.

Koshu

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.

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

English still white

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.

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

Mosel Riesling

curated

The same grape at the opposite end of the sweetness and alcohol spectrum.

Expect: Off-dry, much lower in alcohol and far more delicate.

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.

Alpine white

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.

Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and less floral.

Hunter Valley Semillon

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.

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

Vinho Verde

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.

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

Txakoli

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.

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

Similar but fuller

Keeps the character but adds weight, concentration and mouthfeel.

Australian Chardonnay

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

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

Chardonnay

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

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

Chilean Chardonnay

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

Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and broader and softer.

Dry Furmint

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

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

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.

Australian Chardonnay

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

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

Dry Furmint

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

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

Chenin Blanc

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

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

Chardonnay

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

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

Similar but more structured

More tannic architecture, for food or for ageing.

Friuli white

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

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

Brda Rebula

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.

Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and less floral.

Istrian Malvazija

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.

Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and broader and softer.

Koshu

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.

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

Similar but softer

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

Australian Chardonnay

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

Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and less floral.

Chardonnay

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

Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and broader and softer.

Chilean Chardonnay

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

Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and less floral.

Friuli white

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

Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and less floral.

The sparkling version

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

Austrian Sekt

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

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

Australian traditional-method sparkling

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

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

Crémant

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

English sparkling wine

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Similar but sweeter

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

Chenin Blanc

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

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

Furmint

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

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

White Port

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

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

Madeira

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

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.

Australian Chardonnay

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

Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and less floral.

Chardonnay

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

Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and softer and rounder.

Chenin Blanc

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

Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and more restrained in fruit.

Chilean Chardonnay

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

Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and less floral.

Similar but more aromatic

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

Condrieu

Condrieu scores closest to Australian Riesling across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

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

Viognier

Viognier scores closest to Australian Riesling across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

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

Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc

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

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

Torrontés

Torrontés scores closest to Australian Riesling across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

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

Similar but more restrained

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

Australian Chardonnay

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

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

Chardonnay

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

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

Chenin Blanc

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

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

Chilean Chardonnay

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

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

Similar but more floral

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

English Bacchus

English Bacchus scores closest to Australian Riesling across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

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

Bacchus

Bacchus scores closest to Australian Riesling across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

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

Condrieu

Condrieu scores closest to Australian Riesling across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

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

Viognier

Viognier scores closest to Australian Riesling across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

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

Similar but less floral

Some drinkers read floral aromatics as soapy or perfumed. This holds the structure and removes them.

Australian Chardonnay

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

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

Chilean Chardonnay

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

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

Dry Furmint

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

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

Friuli white

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

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

Similar but more savoury

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

Friuli white

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

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

White Burgundy

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

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

Savennières

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

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

Australian Chardonnay

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

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

Similar but fruitier

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

Coteaux du Layon

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Spätlese

Both are made from riesling.

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

Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc

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

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

Petit Manseng

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

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

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.

German dry Riesling (trocken)

curated

The other great dry Riesling category.

Expect: A touch rounder and less overtly limey.

Rheingau Riesling

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

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

Rheinhessen Riesling

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

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

Pfalz Riesling

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

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

Same grape, cooler climate

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

German dry Riesling (trocken)

curated

The other great dry Riesling category.

Expect: A touch rounder and less overtly limey.

Rheingau Riesling

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

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

Mosel Riesling

curated

The same grape at the opposite end of the sweetness and alcohol spectrum.

Expect: Off-dry, much lower in alcohol and far more delicate.

Finger Lakes Riesling

Both are made from riesling.

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

Same grape, warmer climate

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

Pfalz Riesling

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

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

Austrian Riesling

Both are made from riesling.

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

Rheinhessen Riesling

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

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

German dry Riesling (trocken)

curated

The other great dry Riesling category.

Expect: A touch rounder and less overtly limey.

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.

Australian Chardonnay

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

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

Chenin Blanc

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

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

Chardonnay

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

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

South African Chenin Blanc

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

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

Something more adventurous

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

Dry Furmint

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

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

Chilean Chardonnay

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

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

New Zealand Chardonnay

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

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

Furmint

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

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

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.

Dry Furmint

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

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

Chilean Chardonnay

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

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

New Zealand Chardonnay

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

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

Furmint

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

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

A step up

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

Australian Chardonnay

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

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

South African Chenin Blanc

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

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

White Burgundy

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

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

Santorini Assyrtiko

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.

Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, 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.