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 keeping the savoury, non-fruity character, while moving away from too savoury or funky, too green or grassy and too tropical or sweet-smelling.
- You said you like the savoury, non-fruity character and that it is too savoury or funky. Both are about savoury character, so they pull the same axis in opposite directions — the dislike is applied and the like is set aside.
- You said you like the savoury, non-fruity character and that it is too savoury or funky. Both are about fruit intensity, so they pull the same axis in opposite directions — the dislike is applied and the like is set aside.
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.
Vermentino
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.
- Has some of the savoury, non-fruity character, though less of it.
- A little less savoury or funky.
- Substantially less green or grassy.
- A little less tropical or sweet-smelling.
Weinviertel Grüner Veltliner
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.
- Has noticeably less of the savoury, non-fruity character.
- Substantially less savoury or funky.
- Substantially less green or grassy.
- A little less tropical or sweet-smelling.
Pecorino
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Has some of the savoury, non-fruity character, though less of it.
- A little less savoury or funky.
- Substantially less green or grassy.
- About as tropical or sweet-smelling as the wine you started from.
White Bordeaux
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Has some of the savoury, non-fruity character, though less of it.
- A little less savoury or funky.
- Substantially less green or grassy.
- About as tropical or sweet-smelling as the wine you started from.
Koshu
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
- Has some of the savoury, non-fruity character, though less of it.
- A little less savoury or funky.
- Substantially less green or grassy.
- Substantially less tropical or sweet-smelling.
Verdicchio
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.
- Has some of the savoury, non-fruity character, though less of it.
- A little less savoury or funky.
- Substantially less green or grassy.
- A little less tropical or sweet-smelling.
Soave
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.
- Has some of the savoury, non-fruity character, though less of it.
- A little less savoury or funky.
- Substantially less green or grassy.
- A little less tropical or sweet-smelling.
Istrian Malvazija
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.
- Has some of the savoury, non-fruity character, though less of it.
- A little less savoury or funky.
- Substantially less green or grassy.
- A little less tropical or sweet-smelling.
Closest overall
Nearest neighbours, no change of direction.
Closest matches
The nearest overall neighbours across structure and flavour, with no deliberate change of direction.
Vermentino
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and riper and less green.
Weinviertel Grüner Veltliner
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and more fruit-driven.
Pecorino
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and more aromatic.
White Bordeaux
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and more aromatic.
Different grape, similar feel
Deliberately excludes the variety you already know, to find a genuinely new wine that fills the same role.
Vermentino
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and riper and less green.
Weinviertel Grüner Veltliner
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and more fruit-driven.
Pecorino
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and more aromatic.
White Bordeaux
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and more aromatic.
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.
Koshu
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and more neutral and subtle.
Txakoli
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.
Melon de Bourgogne
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and fresher and more acidic.
Trebbiano Romagnolo
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.
Melon de Bourgogne
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and fresher and more acidic.
Hunter Valley Semillon
Both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and fruitier.
Alpine white
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.
Txakoli
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.
Similar but fuller
Keeps the character but adds weight, concentration and mouthfeel.
Chardonnay
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and fruitier.
Douro white
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and fruitier.
Encruzado
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and fruitier.
Assyrtiko
Both are made from assyrtiko, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and fruitier.
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.
Vermentino
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and riper and less green.
Weinviertel Grüner Veltliner
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and more fruit-driven.
Pecorino
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and more aromatic.
White Bordeaux
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and more aromatic.
Similar but more structured
More tannic architecture, for food or for ageing.
Istrian Malvazija
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.
Koshu
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.
Tsolikouri
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and fruitier.
Brda Rebula
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.
Similar but fresher
Raises acidity and overall lift, usually by moving to a cooler-climate expression.
Melon de Bourgogne
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and fresher and more acidic.
Sancerre
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and fruitier.
Picpoul de Pinet
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 fresher and more acidic.
Pouilly-Fumé
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and fruitier.
Similar but softer
Lowers acidity and sharpness in favour of a broader, gentler feel.
Silvaner
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and fruitier.
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 riper and less green, and softer and rounder.
Franken Silvaner
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and fruitier.
Chasselas
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and softer and rounder.
The sparkling version
Moves to a sparkling expression while holding the flavour and weight as close as possible.
Crémant
Crémant scores closest to Retsina across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and fruitier.
Glera
Glera scores closest to Retsina across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and fruitier.
Cava
Cava scores closest to Retsina across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and fruitier.
English sparkling wine
English sparkling wine scores closest to Retsina across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and fruitier.
Similar but sweeter
Adds perceptible sweetness, which also softens acidity and chilli heat.
Trebbiano Toscano
Trebbiano Toscano scores closest to Retsina across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and more fruit-driven.
Sémillon
Sémillon scores closest to Retsina across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and fruitier.
Chenin Blanc
Chenin Blanc scores closest to Retsina across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and fruitier.
Silvaner
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, 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.
Vermentino
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and riper and less green.
White Bordeaux
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and more aromatic.
Chardonnay
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and fruitier.
Sémillon
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.
Sauvignon Blanc
Sauvignon Blanc scores closest to Retsina across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and fruitier.
Mantinia Moschofilero
Both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and riper and less green.
Moschofilero
Both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and riper and less green.
Torrontés
Torrontés scores closest to Retsina across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and riper and less green.
Similar but more restrained
For readers who find intensely aromatic wines tiring over a whole glass. Keeps the structure, turns the volume down.
Vermentino
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and riper and less green.
Weinviertel Grüner Veltliner
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and more fruit-driven.
Verdicchio
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.
Istrian Malvazija
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.
Similar but more floral
Pushes specifically towards rose, violet, blossom and elderflower character.
Sancerre
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and fruitier.
Welsh white wine
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and fruitier.
Soave
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.
Pouilly-Fumé
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and fruitier.
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 riper and less green.
Vin Jaune
Vin Jaune scores closest to Retsina across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and riper and less green.
Franken Silvaner
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and fruitier.
Koshu
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and more neutral and subtle.
Similar but fruitier
More obvious, generous fruit flavour, usually from a warmer climate.
Rueda Verdejo
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and more aromatic.
Verdejo
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and more aromatic.
Vidiano
Both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and riper and less green.
Chilean Sauvignon Blanc
Chilean Sauvignon Blanc scores closest to Retsina across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and fresher and more acidic.
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 riper and less green, and fruitier.
Assyrtiko
Both are made from assyrtiko, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and fresher and more acidic.
Santorini Assyrtiko
Both are made from assyrtiko, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and more savoury.
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 riper and less green, and softer and rounder.
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 they occupy similar territory for weight and structure, both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and fruitier.
Assyrtiko
Both are made from assyrtiko, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and fruitier.
Santorini Assyrtiko
Both are made from assyrtiko, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and more savoury.
Roditis
Both are made from roditis, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and fruitier.
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.
Grüner Veltliner
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and more savoury.
Sancerre
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and fresher and more acidic.
Pouilly-Fumé
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and fresher and more acidic.
Chardonnay
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.
Vermentino
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and riper and less green.
Weinviertel Grüner Veltliner
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and more fruit-driven.
Pecorino
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and more aromatic.
White Bordeaux
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and more aromatic.
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.
Vermentino
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and riper and less green.
Weinviertel Grüner Veltliner
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and more fruit-driven.
Pecorino
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and more aromatic.
White Bordeaux
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and more aromatic.
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 riper and less green, and more savoury.
White Burgundy
White Burgundy scores closest to Retsina across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and more savoury.
Australian Chardonnay
Australian Chardonnay scores closest to Retsina across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and fruitier.
South African Chenin Blanc
South African Chenin Blanc scores closest to Retsina across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
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.