If you like this, try…
Wines like Grüner Veltliner
Austria’s signature white: dry, high in acid, with a white-pepper and lentil savouriness found in almost no other variety. Below: what to try next, grouped by the direction you want to travel.
Refine
What do you like about Grüner Veltliner?
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
- How light it is
- A wine you can drink without it feeling like a commitment. Usually lower in alcohol as well as lighter in the mouth.
- 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.
- 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 herbal, green side
- Grass, blackcurrant leaf, green pepper, mint. It divides people more sharply than almost any other character.
- 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 savoury, non-fruity character, while moving away from too green or grassy.
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.
Chablis
curatedA comparably dry, mineral, unoaked white.
- Keeps the savoury, non-fruity character.
- Substantially less green or grassy.
White Burgundy
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Keeps the savoury, non-fruity character.
- Substantially less green or grassy.
Etna Bianco
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Keeps the savoury, non-fruity character.
- Substantially less green or grassy.
Jura Savagnin and Chardonnay
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Keeps the savoury, non-fruity character.
- Substantially less green or grassy.
Savagnin
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Keeps the savoury, non-fruity character.
- Substantially less green or grassy.
Friulano
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Keeps the savoury, non-fruity character.
- Substantially less green or grassy.
Carricante
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Keeps the savoury, non-fruity character.
- Substantially less green or grassy.
Rkatsiteli
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Keeps the savoury, non-fruity character.
- Substantially less green or grassy.
Closest overall
Nearest neighbours, no change of direction.
Closest matches
The nearest overall neighbours across structure and flavour, with no deliberate change of direction.
Chablis
curatedA comparably dry, mineral, unoaked white.
Expect: Rounder and more citrus-driven, without the pepper.
White Burgundy
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and more oaky.
Etna Bianco
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and less spicy.
Jura Savagnin and Chardonnay
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and less spicy.
Different grape, similar feel
Deliberately excludes the variety you already know, to find a genuinely new wine that fills the same role.
Chablis
curatedA comparably dry, mineral, unoaked white.
Expect: Rounder and more citrus-driven, without the pepper.
White Burgundy
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and more oaky.
Etna Bianco
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and less spicy.
Jura Savagnin and Chardonnay
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and less spicy.
Change the structure
Same idea, different weight, grip or freshness.
Similar but lighter
Keeps the character but reduces weight, alcohol and density in the mouth.
Hunter Valley Semillon
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and less spicy.
Muscadet
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and more restrained in fruit.
Hondarrabi Zuri
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and more fruit-driven.
Alpine white
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and more fruit-driven.
Similar but lower in alcohol
Holds the character and the weight where it can, and moves specifically on strength. Note that below about 11% the choices narrow sharply, and below 5% they are mostly a different category rather than a lighter version of the same one.
Hunter Valley Semillon
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and less spicy.
Muscadet
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and more restrained in fruit.
Alpine white
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and more fruit-driven.
Hondarrabi Zuri
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and more fruit-driven.
Similar but fuller
Keeps the character but adds weight, concentration and mouthfeel.
Assyrtiko
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and less spicy.
Australian Chardonnay
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and fruitier.
Austrian Riesling
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and fruitier.
Friuli white
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and less spicy.
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.
White Burgundy
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and more oaky.
Jura Savagnin and Chardonnay
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and less spicy.
Savagnin
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and fuller and richer.
Friulano
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and less spicy.
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 riper and less green, and less spicy.
Kisi
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and fruitier.
Rkatsiteli
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and less spicy.
Istrian Malvazija
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and more fruit-driven.
Similar but fresher
Raises acidity and overall lift, usually by moving to a cooler-climate expression.
Assyrtiko
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and less spicy.
Austrian Riesling
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and fruitier.
Carricante
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and less spicy.
Chablis
curatedA comparably dry, mineral, unoaked white.
Expect: Rounder and more citrus-driven, without the pepper.
Similar but softer
Lowers acidity and sharpness in favour of a broader, gentler feel.
Marsanne
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and more fruit-driven.
Grenache Blanc
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and more fruit-driven.
Palomino Fino
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and more restrained in fruit.
California Chardonnay
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and more fruit-driven.
The sparkling version
Moves to a sparkling expression while holding the flavour and weight as close as possible.
California traditional-method sparkling
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and fruitier.
Cava
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and more sparkling.
Champagne
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and more sparkling.
Corpinnat
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and more sparkling.
Similar but sweeter
Adds perceptible sweetness, which also softens acidity and chilli heat.
Sercial
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and less spicy.
English sparkling wine
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and more sparkling.
Marsala
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and fruitier.
Szamorodni
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and fruitier.
Change the flavour
Same shape, different aromatic character.
Similar but less oaky
One of the commonest requests in wine. Strips oak influence while holding grape character and weight.
Friulano
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and less spicy.
Carricante
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and less spicy.
Rkatsiteli
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and less spicy.
Juhfark
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and less spicy.
Similar but more oaky
Adds barrel character, toast and a creamier texture.
Friuli white
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and less oaky.
White Burgundy
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and less oaky.
Australian Chardonnay
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and fruitier.
New Zealand Chardonnay
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and fruitier.
Similar but more aromatic
More to smell before you taste — floral, fruity or spiced aromatics.
Austrian Riesling
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and fruitier.
Alsace Riesling
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and more fruit-driven.
Albariño
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and more fruit-driven.
Rías Baixas Albariño
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and more fruit-driven.
Similar but more restrained
For readers who find intensely aromatic wines tiring over a whole glass. Keeps the structure, turns the volume down.
Palomino Fino
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and more restrained in fruit.
Muscadet
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and more restrained in fruit.
Trebbiano d’Abruzzo
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and more fruit-driven.
Vernaccia di San Gimignano
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and more fruit-driven.
Similar but more floral
Pushes specifically towards rose, violet, blossom and elderflower character.
Albariño
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and more fruit-driven.
Rías Baixas Albariño
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and more fruit-driven.
Alsace Riesling
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and more fruit-driven.
Australian Riesling
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and more fruit-driven.
Similar but more savoury
Moves away from primary fruit towards earth, herb, meat and umami character.
Vin Jaune
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and riper and less green.
Santorini Assyrtiko
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and riper and less green.
Fino and Manzanilla sherry
Fino and Manzanilla sherry scores closest to Grüner Veltliner across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and riper and less green.
Palo Cortado
Palo Cortado scores closest to Grüner Veltliner across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and riper and less green.
Similar but fruitier
More obvious, generous fruit flavour, usually from a warmer climate.
Austrian Riesling
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and riper and less green.
Rheinhessen Riesling
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and riper and less green.
German dry Riesling (trocken)
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and riper and less green.
Rheingau Riesling
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and riper and less green.
Change the place
Keep the grape, move it somewhere else.
Same grape, cooler climate
Typically fresher, lighter and more herbal, with lower alcohol.
Austrian Sekt
Both are made from grüner veltliner, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure, both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and more fruit-driven.
Grüner Veltliner
Both are made from grüner veltliner, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be more herbal and green, and softer and rounder.
Weinviertel Grüner Veltliner
Both are made from grüner veltliner, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure, both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be more fruit-driven, and more herbal and green.
Same grape, warmer climate
Typically riper, fuller and more generous in fruit, with higher alcohol.
Wachau Grüner Veltliner
Both are made from grüner veltliner, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be more fruit-driven, and fruitier.
Grüner Veltliner
Both are made from grüner veltliner, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be more herbal and green, and lighter.
Weinviertel Grüner Veltliner
Both are made from grüner veltliner, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure, both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be more fruit-driven, and more herbal and green.
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.
Chablis
curatedA comparably dry, mineral, unoaked white.
Expect: Rounder and more citrus-driven, without the pepper.
White Burgundy
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and more oaky.
Australian Chardonnay
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and fruitier.
South African Chenin Blanc
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and fruitier.
Something more adventurous
Less familiar wines that occupy similar territory — the interesting end of the shelf.
Etna Bianco
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and less spicy.
Jura Savagnin and Chardonnay
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and less spicy.
Savagnin
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and fuller and richer.
Friulano
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and less spicy.
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.
Etna Bianco
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and less spicy.
Jura Savagnin and Chardonnay
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and less spicy.
Savagnin
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and fuller and richer.
Friulano
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and less spicy.
A step up
The benchmark expressions of the same territory, usually with more concentration, structure and ageing potential.
Santorini Assyrtiko
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and riper and less green.
White Burgundy
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and fuller and richer.
Australian Chardonnay
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and fruitier.
South African Chenin Blanc
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and fruitier.
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.