If you like this, try…
Wines like Pedro Ximénez sherry
Almost-black sherry from sun-dried grapes — closer to raisin syrup than to wine, and one of the few things that works with chocolate. Below: what to try next, grouped by the direction you want to travel.
Refine
What do you like about Pedro Ximénez sherry?
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 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 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.
- The creamy, rounded texture
- A soft, almost dairy-like roundness. In white wine it usually comes from malolactic fermentation or from time on the lees, not from the grape.
- The vanilla and oak
- Vanilla, toast, coconut, sweet spice, sometimes smoke. It comes from the barrel rather than the grape, which is why the same grape can taste completely different with and without it.
- The spice
- Black pepper, clove, cinnamon. Some of it is the grape — the pepper in Syrah is a measured compound called rotundone — and some is the barrel.
- The touch of sweetness
- Actual sugar left in the wine, which is a different thing from tasting fruity. A wine can smell of ripe peach and be completely dry.
Looking for something moving away from too buttery or thick.
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.
Marsala
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.
- Substantially less buttery or thick.
White Port
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.
- Substantially less buttery or thick.
Amontillado sherry
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.
- Substantially less buttery or thick.
Palo Cortado
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.
- Substantially less buttery or thick.
Madeira
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.
- Substantially less buttery or thick.
Fino and Manzanilla sherry
Both come from the same country.
- Substantially less buttery or thick.
Moscatel de Setúbal
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.
- About as buttery or thick as the wine you started from.
Oloroso sherry
Both come from the same country.
- A little less buttery or thick.
Closest overall
Nearest neighbours, no change of direction.
Closest matches
The nearest overall neighbours across structure and flavour, with no deliberate change of direction.
Marsala
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and lighter.
White Port
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and lighter.
Amontillado sherry
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and drier.
Palo Cortado
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and drier.
Different grape, similar feel
Deliberately excludes the variety you already know, to find a genuinely new wine that fills the same role.
Marsala
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and lighter.
White Port
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and lighter.
Amontillado sherry
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and drier.
Palo Cortado
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and drier.
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.
White Port
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and stronger and warmer.
Marsala
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and stronger and warmer.
Amontillado sherry
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and drier.
Palo Cortado
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and drier.
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.
Chardonnay
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and drier.
Rheinhessen Riesling
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be leaner and more cutting, and fresher and more acidic.
Silvaner
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be leaner and more cutting, and drier.
Garganega
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be leaner and more cutting, and fresher and more acidic.
Similar but more structured
More tannic architecture, for food or for ageing.
Marsala
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and lighter.
Madeira
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and drier.
Moscatel de Setúbal
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be rounder and creamier in texture, and more aromatic.
Oloroso sherry
Both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be rounder and creamier in texture, and fresher and more acidic.
Similar but fresher
Raises acidity and overall lift, usually by moving to a cooler-climate expression.
Fino and Manzanilla sherry
Both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and leaner and more cutting.
Marsala
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and broader and softer.
White Port
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and broader and softer.
Amontillado sherry
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and drier.
Similar but softer
Lowers acidity and sharpness in favour of a broader, gentler feel.
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.
Marsala
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and lighter.
White Port
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and lighter.
Amontillado sherry
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and drier.
Palo Cortado
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and drier.
The sparkling version
Moves to a sparkling expression while holding the flavour and weight as close as possible.
Cava
Both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be leaner and more cutting, and fresher and more acidic.
Franciacorta
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and more sparkling.
Méthode Cap Classique
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and more sparkling.
California traditional-method sparkling
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and more sparkling.
Similar but drier
Reduces perceptible sugar while keeping aromatic character.
Marsala
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and lighter.
White Port
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and lighter.
Malvasia
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and less oaky.
Sémillon
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and drier.
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.
Fino and Manzanilla sherry
Both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be leaner and more cutting, and fresher and more acidic.
Malvasia
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and less spicy.
Treixadura
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be leaner and more cutting, and drier.
Antão Vaz
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and less spicy.
Similar but more oaky
Adds barrel character, toast and a creamier texture.
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.
Marsala
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 drier.
White Port
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 drier.
Amontillado sherry
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and less oaky.
Palo Cortado
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and less oaky.
Similar but more aromatic
More to smell before you taste — floral, fruity or spiced aromatics.
Amontillado sherry
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and drier.
Palo Cortado
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and drier.
Moscatel de Setúbal
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be rounder and creamier in texture, and more aromatic.
Fino and Manzanilla sherry
Both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be leaner and more cutting, and fresher and more acidic.
Similar but more restrained
For readers who find intensely aromatic wines tiring over a whole glass. Keeps the structure, turns the volume down.
Sémillon
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and lighter.
Chasselas
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be leaner and more cutting, and drier.
Silvaner
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be leaner and more cutting, and drier.
Trebbiano d’Abruzzo
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be leaner and more cutting, and fresher and more acidic.
Similar but more floral
Pushes specifically towards rose, violet, blossom and elderflower character.
Moscatel de Setúbal
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be rounder and creamier in texture, and more floral.
Roussanne
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and more restrained in fruit.
Malagousia
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and less oaky.
Solaris
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be leaner and more cutting, and drier.
Similar but more savoury
Moves away from primary fruit towards earth, herb, meat and umami character.
Marsala
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and lighter.
Amontillado sherry
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and drier.
Palo Cortado
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and drier.
Madeira
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and drier.
Similar but fruitier
More obvious, generous fruit flavour, usually from a warmer climate.
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 Port
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and more restrained in fruit.
Moscatel de Setúbal
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be rounder and creamier in texture, and more aromatic.
Marsala
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and more restrained in fruit.
Madeira
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and more savoury.
Change the mood
Safer, stranger, cheaper or more serious.
Something more adventurous
Less familiar wines that occupy similar territory — the interesting end of the shelf.
Marsala
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and lighter.
White Port
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and lighter.
Amontillado sherry
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and drier.
Palo Cortado
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and drier.
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.
Marsala
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and lighter.
White Port
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and lighter.
Amontillado sherry
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and drier.
Palo Cortado
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and drier.
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.