If you like this, try…

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.

← Back to Austrian Riesling

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.

I like…

The citrus and orchard fruit How fresh and crisp it is How full and weighty it is That it is not oaky The savoury, meaty side That it is properly dry

But it’s a bit…

too sharp or lemony too sharp or acidic too heavy too plain or too simple 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 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 citrus and green-apple character, while moving away from too heavy and too savoury or funky.

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.

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 citrus and green-apple character.
Substantially less heavy.
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 citrus and green-apple character.
Substantially less heavy.
A little less savoury or funky.

Spätlese

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

Keeps the citrus and green-apple character.
Substantially less heavy.
Substantially less savoury or funky.

Australian Riesling

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

Keeps the citrus and green-apple character.
Substantially less heavy.
A little less savoury or funky.

Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc

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

Keeps the citrus and green-apple character.
Substantially less heavy.
Substantially less savoury or funky.

South African Sauvignon Blanc

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

Keeps the citrus and green-apple character.
Substantially less heavy.
A little less savoury or funky.

Chilean Sauvignon Blanc

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

Keeps the citrus and green-apple character.
Substantially less heavy.
A little less savoury or funky.

German dry Riesling (trocken)

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 citrus and green-apple character.
A little less heavy.
A little 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.

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 more restrained in fruit, and sweeter.

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 more restrained in fruit, and sweeter.

Spätlese

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

Expect: Expect it to be more fruit-driven, and lighter in alcohol.

Australian Riesling

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

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

Different grape, similar feel

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

Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc

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

Expect: Expect it to be more fruit-driven, and more aromatic.

South African Sauvignon Blanc

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

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

Chilean Sauvignon Blanc

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

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

Alvarinho (Monção e Melgaço)

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

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

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.

Albariño

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

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

Alvarinho (Monção e Melgaço)

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

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

Australian Riesling

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

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

Chilean Sauvignon Blanc

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

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

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.

Spätlese

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

Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, and more fruit-driven.

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 more restrained in fruit, and sweeter.

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 more restrained in fruit, and sweeter.

Riesling

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

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

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 fuller and richer, and broader and softer.

Condrieu

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

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

Viognier

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

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

Coteaux du Layon

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

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.

Alvarinho (Monção e Melgaço)

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

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

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 more restrained in fruit, and sweeter.

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 more restrained in fruit, and sweeter.

Spätlese

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

Expect: Expect it to be more fruit-driven, and lighter in alcohol.

Similar but more structured

More tannic architecture, for food or for ageing.

Mtsvane Kakhuri

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be broader and softer, and more fruit-driven.

Trebbiano Spoletino

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

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

Ribolla Gialla

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

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

Brda Rebula

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

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

Similar but softer

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

White Bordeaux

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

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

Verdicchio

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

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

Altesse

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

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

Xarel·lo

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

Expect: Expect it to be more restrained in fruit, 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 the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both come from the same country.

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

Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore

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

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

Sekt

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

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

Prosecco

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be more fruit-driven, and lighter.

Similar but sweeter

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

Finger Lakes Riesling

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

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

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 more restrained in fruit, and leaner and more cutting.

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 more restrained in fruit, and more oaky.

Riesling

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

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and more fruit-driven.

Change the flavour

Same shape, different aromatic character.

Similar but more oaky

Adds barrel character, toast and a creamier texture.

Alvarinho (Monção e Melgaço)

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

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

White Bordeaux

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

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

Dry Furmint

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

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

Chenin Blanc

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

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

Similar but more aromatic

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

Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc

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

Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and more fruit-driven.

Sauvignon Blanc

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

Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and more fruit-driven.

Mantinia Moschofilero

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

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

Moschofilero

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, 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.

Weinviertel Grüner Veltliner

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

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

Arinto

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

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

Trebbiano Spoletino

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

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

English still white

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Similar but more floral

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

Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc

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

Expect: Expect it to be more fruit-driven, and more aromatic.

Spätlese

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

Expect: Expect it to be more fruit-driven, and lighter in alcohol.

Australian Riesling

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

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

Mantinia Moschofilero

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

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and more fruit-driven.

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 more restrained in fruit.

Pouilly-Fumé

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

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

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 more restrained in fruit, and sweeter.

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 more restrained in fruit, and sweeter.

Similar but fruitier

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

Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc

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

Expect: Expect it to be more fruit-driven, and more aromatic.

Spätlese

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

Expect: Expect it to be more fruit-driven, and lighter in alcohol.

Coteaux du Layon

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

Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and sweeter.

Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and more fruit-driven.

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.

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 more restrained in fruit, and sweeter.

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 more restrained in fruit, and sweeter.

Spätlese

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

Expect: Expect it to be more fruit-driven, and lighter in alcohol.

Australian Riesling

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

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

Same grape, cooler climate

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

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 more restrained in fruit, and sweeter.

Spätlese

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

Expect: Expect it to be more fruit-driven, and lighter in alcohol.

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 more restrained in fruit, and sweeter.

Australian Riesling

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

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

Same grape, warmer climate

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

Spätlese

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

Expect: Expect it to be more fruit-driven, and lighter in alcohol.

Rheinhessen 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 more restrained in fruit, and broader and softer.

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 more restrained in fruit, and fresher and more acidic.

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 more restrained in fruit, and fresher and more acidic.

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 Riesling

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

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

Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc

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

Expect: Expect it to be more fruit-driven, and more aromatic.

German dry Riesling (trocken)

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 more restrained in fruit, and stronger and warmer.

Riesling

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

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and more fruit-driven.

Something more adventurous

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

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 more restrained in fruit, and sweeter.

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 more restrained in fruit, and sweeter.

Spätlese

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

Expect: Expect it to be more fruit-driven, and lighter in alcohol.

South African Sauvignon Blanc

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

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

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.

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 more restrained in fruit, and sweeter.

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 more restrained in fruit, and sweeter.

Spätlese

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

Expect: Expect it to be more fruit-driven, and lighter in alcohol.

South African Sauvignon Blanc

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

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

A step up

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

Australian Riesling

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

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

Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc

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

Expect: Expect it to be more fruit-driven, and more aromatic.

German dry Riesling (trocken)

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 more restrained in fruit, and stronger and warmer.

Riesling

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

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and more fruit-driven.

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.