If you like this, try…
Wines like Retsina
Greek white flavoured with Aleppo pine resin during fermentation — a genuine traditional style, and a much better wine than its reputation. Below: what to try next, grouped by the direction you want to travel.
Refine
What do you like about Retsina?
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.
- That it is not oaky
- No barrel character — just the fruit and the acidity. Chablis and Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc are the reference points.
- The herbal, green side
- Grass, blackcurrant leaf, green pepper, mint. It divides people more sharply than almost any other character.
- 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 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 moving away from too savoury or funky and too perfumed.
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.
Vidiano
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
- Substantially less savoury or funky.
- Substantially less perfumed.
Godello
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Substantially less savoury or funky.
- Substantially less perfumed.
Verdelho
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Substantially less savoury or funky.
- Substantially less perfumed.
Fiano
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Substantially less savoury or funky.
- Substantially less perfumed.
Fiano di Avellino
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Substantially less savoury or funky.
- Substantially less perfumed.
Chilean Chardonnay
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Substantially less savoury or funky.
- Substantially less perfumed.
Savatiano
Both are made from savatiano, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both come from the same country.
- A little less savoury or funky.
- Substantially less perfumed.
Dry Furmint
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Substantially less savoury or funky.
- 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.
Vidiano
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and rounder and creamier in texture.
Godello
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and rounder and creamier in texture.
Verdelho
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and sweeter.
Fiano
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and rounder and creamier in texture.
Different grape, similar feel
Deliberately excludes the variety you already know, to find a genuinely new wine that fills the same role.
Vidiano
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and rounder and creamier in texture.
Godello
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and rounder and creamier in texture.
Verdelho
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and sweeter.
Fiano
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and rounder and creamier in texture.
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.
Txakoli
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 riper and less green.
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 more restrained in fruit, and riper and less green.
Hondarrabi Zuri
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more restrained in fruit, and riper and less green.
Vinho Verde
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be more fruit-driven, 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.
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 more restrained in fruit, and riper and less green.
Txakoli
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 riper and less green.
Vinho Verde
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be more fruit-driven, and more restrained in fruit.
Hondarrabi Zuri
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more restrained in fruit, and riper and less green.
Similar but fuller
Keeps the character but adds weight, concentration and mouthfeel.
Godello
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and more oaky.
Vidiano
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and more oaky.
Fiano
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and more floral.
Fiano di Avellino
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and more floral.
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.
Vidiano
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and rounder and creamier in texture.
Godello
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and rounder and creamier in texture.
Verdelho
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and sweeter.
Fiano
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and rounder and creamier in texture.
Similar but more structured
More tannic architecture, for food or for ageing.
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 more restrained in fruit, and riper and less green.
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 more restrained in fruit, and riper and less green.
Ribolla Gialla
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more restrained in fruit, and riper and less green.
Tsolikouri
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more restrained in fruit, and riper and less green.
Similar but fresher
Raises acidity and overall lift, usually by moving to a cooler-climate expression.
Dry Furmint
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and more oaky.
Montlouis-sur-Loire
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 riper and less green.
Furmint
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and sweeter.
Picpoul de Pinet
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 riper and less green.
Similar but softer
Lowers acidity and sharpness in favour of a broader, gentler feel.
Savatiano
Both are made from savatiano, 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 riper and less green.
Antão Vaz
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more fruit-driven, and riper and less green.
California Chardonnay
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and riper and less green.
Pošip
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more fruit-driven, and riper and less green.
The sparkling version
Moves to a sparkling expression while holding the flavour and weight as close as possible.
Austrian Sekt
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more sparkling, and riper and less green.
Crémant
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more restrained in fruit, and more sparkling.
Glera
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more fruit-driven, and more restrained in fruit.
Franciacorta
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and more sparkling.
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 sweeter, and riper and less green.
White Port
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and riper and less green.
Verdelho
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and fresher and more acidic.
Montlouis-sur-Loire
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 riper and less green.
Change the flavour
Same shape, different aromatic character.
Similar but more oaky
Adds barrel character, toast and a creamier texture.
Chilean Chardonnay
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and fuller and richer.
Dry Furmint
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and fuller and richer.
Furmint
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and sweeter.
California Chardonnay
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and more oaky.
Similar but more aromatic
More to smell before you taste — floral, fruity or spiced aromatics.
Sauvignon Blanc
Sauvignon Blanc scores closest to Retsina across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and more fruit-driven.
Mantinia Moschofilero
Both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and more fruit-driven.
Moschofilero
Both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and more fruit-driven.
Torrontés
Torrontés scores closest to Retsina across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, 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.
Vidiano
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and rounder and creamier in texture.
Godello
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and rounder and creamier in texture.
Verdelho
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and sweeter.
Avesso
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more fruit-driven, and riper and less green.
Similar but more floral
Pushes specifically towards rose, violet, blossom and elderflower character.
Fiano
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and rounder and creamier in texture.
Fiano di Avellino
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and rounder and creamier in texture.
Montlouis-sur-Loire
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 riper and less green.
Soave
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 riper and less green.
Similar but more savoury
Moves away from primary fruit towards earth, herb, meat and umami character.
Santorini Assyrtiko
Both are made from assyrtiko, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and more restrained in fruit.
Silvaner
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more neutral and subtle, and more restrained in fruit.
Savatiano
Both are made from savatiano, 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 riper and less green.
Vermentino
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 riper and less green.
Similar but fruitier
More obvious, generous fruit flavour, usually from a warmer climate.
Vidiano
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and rounder and creamier in texture.
Godello
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and rounder and creamier in texture.
Verdelho
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and sweeter.
Fiano
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and rounder and creamier in texture.
Change the place
Keep the grape, move it somewhere else.
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.
Roditis
Both are made from roditis, 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 restrained in fruit.
Assyrtiko
Both are made from assyrtiko, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure, both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and more restrained in fruit.
Savatiano
Both are made from savatiano, 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 softer and rounder.
Santorini Assyrtiko
Both are made from assyrtiko, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and more restrained in fruit.
Same grape, warmer climate
Typically riper, fuller and more generous in fruit, with higher 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.
Savatiano
Both are made from savatiano, 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 riper and less green.
Assyrtiko
Both are made from assyrtiko, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure, both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and more restrained in fruit.
Roditis
Both are made from roditis, 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 restrained in fruit.
Santorini Assyrtiko
Both are made from assyrtiko, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure, both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and more restrained in fruit.
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.
California Chardonnay
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and riper and less green.
Pinot Grigio
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be more neutral and subtle, and more fruit-driven.
Chardonnay
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more restrained in fruit, and riper and less green.
Chenin Blanc
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more restrained in fruit, and riper and less green.
Something more adventurous
Less familiar wines that occupy similar territory — the interesting end of the shelf.
Vidiano
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and rounder and creamier in texture.
Godello
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and rounder and creamier in texture.
Verdelho
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and sweeter.
Fiano
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, 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.
Vidiano
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and rounder and creamier in texture.
Godello
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and rounder and creamier in texture.
Verdelho
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and sweeter.
Fiano
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, 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.
Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and riper and less green.
South African Chenin Blanc
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and riper and less green.
Santorini Assyrtiko
Both are made from assyrtiko, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and more restrained in fruit.
White Burgundy
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, 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.