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Wines like Austrian Riesling
Dry, stony, powerful Riesling from the terraced Danube — quite unlike German examples despite the shared grape. Below: what to try next, grouped by the direction you want to travel.
Refine
What do you like about Austrian 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.
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 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.
- 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.
- 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 keeping the fresh, crisp acidity, the savoury, non-fruity character and the full body and weight, while moving away from too austere and too savoury or funky.
- You said you like the savoury, non-fruity character and that it is too savoury or funky. Both are about savoury character, so they pull the same axis in opposite directions — the dislike is applied and the like is set aside.
- You said you like the savoury, non-fruity character and that it is too savoury or funky. Both are about fruit 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.
Petit Manseng
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Keeps the fresh, crisp acidity.
- Has noticeably less of the savoury, non-fruity character.
- Keeps the full body and weight.
- Substantially less austere.
- Substantially less savoury or funky.
Furmint
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Keeps the fresh, crisp acidity.
- Has some of the savoury, non-fruity character, though less of it.
- Keeps the full body and weight.
- Substantially less austere.
- A little less savoury or funky.
Alsace Riesling
Both are made from riesling, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both sit in the same style family.
- Keeps the fresh, crisp acidity.
- Has some of the savoury, non-fruity character, though less of it.
- Has some of the full body and weight, though less of it.
- Substantially less austere.
- A little less savoury or funky.
Pfalz Riesling
Both are made from riesling, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both sit in the same style family.
- Has some of the fresh, crisp acidity, though less of it.
- Has some of the savoury, non-fruity character, though less of it.
- Keeps the full body and weight.
- Substantially less austere.
- A little less savoury or funky.
Petite Arvine
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Keeps the fresh, crisp acidity.
- Has noticeably less of the savoury, non-fruity character.
- Has some of the full body and weight, though less of it.
- Substantially less austere.
- Substantially less savoury or funky.
Nahe Riesling
Both are made from riesling, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both sit in the same style family.
- Keeps the fresh, crisp acidity.
- Has some of the savoury, non-fruity character, though less of it.
- Has some of the full body and weight, though less of it.
- Substantially less austere.
- A little less savoury or funky.
Rheingau Riesling
Both are made from riesling, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both sit in the same style family.
- Keeps the fresh, crisp acidity.
- Has some of the savoury, non-fruity character, though less of it.
- Has some of the full body and weight, though less of it.
- Substantially less austere.
- A little less savoury or funky.
Spätlese
Both are made from riesling, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
- Keeps the fresh, crisp acidity.
- Has noticeably less of the savoury, non-fruity character.
- Has noticeably less of the full body and weight.
- Substantially less austere.
- Substantially less savoury or funky.
Closest overall
Nearest neighbours, no change of direction.
Closest matches
The nearest overall neighbours across structure and flavour, with no deliberate change of direction.
Petit Manseng
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more fruit-driven.
Furmint
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more restrained in fruit, and lighter in alcohol.
Alsace Riesling
Both are made from riesling, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and lighter.
Pfalz Riesling
Both are made from riesling, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and softer and rounder.
Different grape, similar feel
Deliberately excludes the variety you already know, to find a genuinely new wine that fills the same role.
Petit Manseng
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more fruit-driven.
Furmint
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more restrained in fruit, and lighter in alcohol.
Petite Arvine
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and more fruit-driven.
Coteaux du Layon
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and lighter in alcohol.
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.
Nahe Riesling
Both are made from riesling, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure, both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and drier.
Rheingau Riesling
Both are made from riesling, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure, both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and drier.
Spätlese
Both are made from riesling, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and lighter in alcohol.
Vouvray
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and more restrained in fruit.
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.
Furmint
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, and more restrained in fruit.
Spätlese
Both are made from riesling, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, and lighter.
Nahe Riesling
Both are made from riesling, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure, both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and lighter in alcohol.
Rheingau Riesling
Both are made from riesling, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure, both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and lighter in alcohol.
Similar but fuller
Keeps the character but adds weight, concentration and mouthfeel.
Pedro Ximénez
Pedro Ximénez scores closest to Austrian Riesling across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and fuller and richer.
Condrieu
Condrieu scores closest to Austrian Riesling across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and fuller and richer.
Viognier
Viognier scores closest to Austrian Riesling across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and fuller and richer.
Canadian Icewine
Both are made from riesling.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and sweeter.
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.
Petit Manseng
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more fruit-driven.
Furmint
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more restrained in fruit, and lighter in alcohol.
Pfalz Riesling
Both are made from riesling, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and softer and rounder.
Coteaux du Layon
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and lighter in alcohol.
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 broader and softer.
Albana
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more restrained in fruit, and softer and rounder.
Trebbiano Spoletino
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and more restrained in fruit.
Kisi
Kisi scores closest to Austrian Riesling across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and broader and softer.
Similar but softer
Lowers acidity and sharpness in favour of a broader, gentler feel.
Pfalz Riesling
Both are made from riesling, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure, both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and drier.
Alsace Pinot Gris
Alsace Pinot Gris scores closest to Austrian Riesling across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and broader and softer.
Vidal
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and broader and softer.
California Chardonnay
California Chardonnay scores closest to Austrian Riesling across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and broader and softer.
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, both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and lighter.
Sekt
Both are made from riesling, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and lighter.
Crémant
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and lighter.
Vouvray
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more restrained in fruit, and lighter.
Similar but sweeter
Adds perceptible sweetness, which also softens acidity and chilli heat.
Furmint
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more restrained in fruit, and lighter in alcohol.
Petit Manseng
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more fruit-driven.
Petite Arvine
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and more fruit-driven.
Spätlese
Both are made from riesling, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and lighter in alcohol.
Change the flavour
Same shape, different aromatic character.
Similar but more oaky
Adds barrel character, toast and a creamier texture.
Furmint
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more restrained in fruit, and lighter in alcohol.
Chenin Blanc
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more restrained in fruit, and lighter.
Pfalz Riesling
Both are made from riesling, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and softer and rounder.
Coteaux du Layon
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and lighter in alcohol.
Similar but more aromatic
More to smell before you taste — floral, fruity or spiced aromatics.
Scheurebe
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and more fruit-driven.
Muscat of Alexandria
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and broader and softer.
Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and lighter.
Sauvignon Blanc
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, 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.
Furmint
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more restrained in fruit, and lighter in alcohol.
Bual
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be broader and softer, and sweeter.
Verdelho
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be broader and softer, and drier.
Sémillon
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be broader and softer, and more restrained in fruit.
Similar but more floral
Pushes specifically towards rose, violet, blossom and elderflower character.
Alsace Riesling
Both are made from riesling, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and lighter.
Spätlese
Both are made from riesling, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and lighter in alcohol.
Scheurebe
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and more fruit-driven.
Finger Lakes Riesling
Both are made from riesling, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and more restrained in fruit.
Similar but more savoury
Moves away from primary fruit towards earth, herb, meat and umami character.
Santorini Assyrtiko
Santorini Assyrtiko scores closest to Austrian Riesling across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and drier.
Vin Jaune
Vin Jaune scores closest to Austrian Riesling across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and drier.
Furmint
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more restrained in fruit, and lighter in alcohol.
Savennières
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and more savoury.
Similar but fruitier
More obvious, generous fruit flavour, usually from a warmer climate.
Petit Manseng
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more fruit-driven.
Coteaux du Layon
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and lighter in alcohol.
Spätlese
Both are made from riesling, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and lighter in alcohol.
Muscat of Alexandria
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and broader and softer.
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.
Alsace Riesling
Both are made from riesling, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and lighter.
Pfalz Riesling
Both are made from riesling, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and softer and rounder.
Nahe Riesling
Both are made from riesling, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and lighter.
Rheingau Riesling
Both are made from riesling, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and lighter.
Same grape, cooler climate
Typically fresher, lighter and more herbal, with lower alcohol.
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.
Alsace Riesling
Both are made from riesling, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and lighter.
Nahe Riesling
Both are made from riesling, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and lighter.
Rheingau Riesling
Both are made from riesling, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and lighter.
Spätlese
Both are made from riesling, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
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.
Canadian Icewine
Both are made from riesling.
Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and fuller and richer.
Beerenauslese
Both are made from riesling.
Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and fuller and richer.
Trockenbeerenauslese
Both are made from riesling.
Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and fuller and richer.
Pfalz Riesling
Both are made from riesling, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, 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.
Chenin Blanc
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more restrained in fruit, and lighter.
German dry Riesling (trocken)
Both are made from riesling, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure, both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and lighter.
Riesling
Both are made from riesling, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and lighter in alcohol.
Australian Riesling
Both are made from riesling, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and lighter.
Something more adventurous
Less familiar wines that occupy similar territory — the interesting end of the shelf.
Petit Manseng
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more fruit-driven.
Furmint
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more restrained in fruit, and lighter in alcohol.
Alsace Riesling
Both are made from riesling, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and lighter.
Pfalz Riesling
Both are made from riesling, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and softer and rounder.
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.
Petit Manseng
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more fruit-driven.
Furmint
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more restrained in fruit, and lighter in alcohol.
Alsace Riesling
Both are made from riesling, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and lighter.
Pfalz Riesling
Both are made from riesling, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and softer and rounder.
A step up
The benchmark expressions of the same territory, usually with more concentration, structure and ageing potential.
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.
Santorini Assyrtiko
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and more savoury.
South African Chenin Blanc
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and more savoury.
Australian Chardonnay
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and more savoury.
White Burgundy
White Burgundy scores closest to Austrian Riesling across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and more restrained in fruit.
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.