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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.

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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.

I like…

That it is not oaky The herbal, green side How aromatic it is The savoury, meaty side That it is properly dry

But it’s a bit…

too tropical or sweet-smelling too plain or too simple too green or grassy too perfumed too savoury or funky too austere

Clear all

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 keeping that the fruit is not covered in oak, while moving away from too savoury or funky, too austere 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.

Albana

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

Keeps that the fruit is not covered in oak.
Substantially less savoury or funky.
Substantially less austere.
Substantially less perfumed.

Welschriesling

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

Keeps that the fruit is not covered in oak.
Substantially less savoury or funky.
Substantially less austere.
Substantially less perfumed.

Verdelho

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

Keeps that the fruit is not covered in oak.
Substantially less savoury or funky.
Substantially less austere.
Substantially less perfumed.

Finger Lakes Riesling

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

Keeps that the fruit is not covered in oak.
Substantially less savoury or funky.
Substantially less austere.
About as perfumed as the wine you started from.

Mosel Riesling

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

Keeps that the fruit is not covered in oak.
Substantially less savoury or funky.
Substantially less austere.
About as perfumed as the wine you started from.

Riesling

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

Keeps that the fruit is not covered in oak.
Substantially less savoury or funky.
Substantially less austere.
About as perfumed as the wine you started from.

Petite Arvine

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

Keeps that the fruit is not covered in oak.
Substantially less savoury or funky.
Substantially less austere.
About as perfumed as the wine you started from.

Vidal

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

Keeps that the fruit is not covered in oak.
Substantially less savoury or funky.
Substantially less austere.
About as perfumed as the wine you started from.

Closest overall

Nearest neighbours, no change of direction.

Closest matches

The nearest overall neighbours across structure and flavour, with no deliberate change of direction.

Albana

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

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

Welschriesling

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

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

Verdelho

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

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and riper and less green.

Finger Lakes Riesling

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

Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and riper and less green.

Different grape, similar feel

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

Albana

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

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

Welschriesling

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

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

Verdelho

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

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and riper and less green.

Finger Lakes Riesling

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

Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and riper and less green.

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.

Mosel Riesling

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

Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and riper and less green.

Riesling

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

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

Trebbiano Toscano

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Vinho Verde

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

Expect: Expect it to be drier, 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.

Mosel Riesling

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

Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and riper and less green.

Riesling

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

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

Vinho Verde

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

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

Spätlese

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

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

Similar but fuller

Keeps the character but adds weight, concentration and mouthfeel.

Vidal

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

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

Malvasia

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

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

Pedro Ximénez

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and fruitier.

Petit Manseng

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

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

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.

Welschriesling

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

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

Verdelho

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

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and riper and less green.

Petite Arvine

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

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

Vidal

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

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

Similar but more structured

More tannic architecture, for food or for ageing.

Albana

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

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

Malvasia

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

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

Kisi

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and more savoury.

Ribolla Gialla

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Similar but fresher

Raises acidity and overall lift, usually by moving to a cooler-climate expression.

Finger Lakes Riesling

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

Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and riper and less green.

Mosel Riesling

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

Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and riper and less green.

Riesling

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

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

Petite Arvine

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

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

Similar but softer

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

Muscadelle

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

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

Ortega

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

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

Malvasia

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

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

Aidani

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.

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

The sparkling version

Moves to a sparkling expression while holding the flavour and weight as close as possible.

Glera

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Austrian Sekt

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and more oaky.

Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Crémant

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and more oaky.

Similar but sweeter

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

Albana

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

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

Finger Lakes Riesling

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

Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and riper and less green.

Mosel Riesling

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

Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and riper and less green.

Petite Arvine

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

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

Change the flavour

Same shape, different aromatic character.

Similar but more oaky

Adds barrel character, toast and a creamier texture.

Vouvray

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Furmint

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and riper and less green.

Montlouis-sur-Loire

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

Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and drier.

English still white

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

Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and drier.

Similar but more aromatic

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

Scheurebe

Scheurebe scores closest to Retsina across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

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

Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains

Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains scores closest to Retsina across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

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

Muscat of Alexandria

Muscat of Alexandria scores closest to Retsina across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

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

Gewürztraminer

Gewürztraminer 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.

Albana

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

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

Verdelho

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

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and riper and less green.

Grechetto

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

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

Trebbiano Toscano

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Similar but more floral

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

Finger Lakes Riesling

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

Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and riper and less green.

Riesling

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

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

Mosel Riesling

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

Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and riper and less green.

Welschriesling

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

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

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 drier.

Grechetto

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

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

Silvaner

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and more oaky.

Vouvray

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

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

Similar but fruitier

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

Verdelho

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

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and riper and less green.

Finger Lakes Riesling

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

Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and riper and less green.

Mosel Riesling

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

Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and riper and less green.

Riesling

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

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

Change the place

Keep the grape, move it somewhere else.

Same grape, cooler climate

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

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 drier, and more fruit-driven.

Assyrtiko

Both are made from assyrtiko, and both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and more oaky.

Savatiano

Both are made from savatiano, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure, both come from the same country.

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

Santorini Assyrtiko

Both are made from assyrtiko, and both sit in the same style family.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and more savoury.

Same grape, warmer climate

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

Savatiano

Both are made from savatiano, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure, both come from the same country.

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

Assyrtiko

Both are made from assyrtiko, and both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and more oaky.

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 drier, and more fruit-driven.

Santorini Assyrtiko

Both are made from assyrtiko, and both sit in the same style family.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and more savoury.

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.

Mosel Riesling

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

Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and riper and less green.

Riesling

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

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

Vinho Verde

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

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

Glera

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Something more adventurous

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

Albana

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

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

Welschriesling

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

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

Verdelho

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

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and riper and less green.

Finger Lakes Riesling

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

Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and riper and less 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.

Albana

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

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

Welschriesling

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

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

Verdelho

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

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and riper and less green.

Finger Lakes Riesling

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

Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and riper and less green.

A step up

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

Santorini Assyrtiko

Both are made from assyrtiko, and both sit in the same style family.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and more savoury.

Australian Chardonnay

Australian Chardonnay scores closest to Retsina across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and more oaky.

South African Chenin Blanc

South African Chenin Blanc scores closest to Retsina across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and more oaky.

White Burgundy

White Burgundy scores closest to Retsina across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and more oaky.

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.