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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 the savoury, non-fruity character, while moving away from too savoury or funky and too green or grassy.

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.

Rueda Verdejo

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

Has some of the savoury, non-fruity character, though less of it.
Substantially less savoury or funky.
Substantially less green or grassy.

Verdejo

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

Has some of the savoury, non-fruity character, though less of it.
Substantially less savoury or funky.
Substantially less green or grassy.

Chilean Sauvignon Blanc

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

Has some of the savoury, non-fruity character, though less of it.
Substantially less savoury or funky.
Substantially less green or grassy.

South African Sauvignon Blanc

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

Has some of the savoury, non-fruity character, though less of it.
Substantially less savoury or funky.
Substantially less green or grassy.

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.

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.

Sancerre

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.

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.

Closest overall

Nearest neighbours, no change of direction.

Closest matches

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

Rueda Verdejo

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

Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and rounder and creamier in texture.

Verdejo

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

Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and rounder and creamier in texture.

Chilean Sauvignon Blanc

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

Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and more oaky.

South African Sauvignon Blanc

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

Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and more oaky.

Different grape, similar feel

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

Rueda Verdejo

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

Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and rounder and creamier in texture.

Verdejo

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

Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and rounder and creamier in texture.

Chilean Sauvignon Blanc

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

Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and more oaky.

South African Sauvignon Blanc

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

Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and more oaky.

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

Mosel Riesling scores closest to Retsina across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

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

Txakoli

Both sit in the same style family.

Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and more restrained in fruit.

Alpine white

Both sit in the same style family.

Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and more restrained in fruit.

Hondarrabi Zuri

Hondarrabi Zuri scores closest to Retsina across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

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

Mosel Riesling

Mosel Riesling scores closest to Retsina across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

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

Alpine white

Both sit in the same style family.

Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and more restrained in fruit.

Kabinett

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

Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and more fruit-driven.

Txakoli

Both sit in the same style family.

Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and more restrained in fruit.

Similar but fuller

Keeps the character but adds weight, concentration and mouthfeel.

Wachau Grüner Veltliner

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 riper and less green.

Vidiano

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.

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

Godello

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Pfalz Riesling

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

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.

Rueda Verdejo

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

Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and rounder and creamier in texture.

Verdejo

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

Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and rounder and creamier in texture.

South African Sauvignon Blanc

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

Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and more oaky.

Vermentino

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.

Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and more restrained in fruit.

Similar but more structured

More tannic architecture, for food or for ageing.

Istrian Malvazija

Both sit in the same style family.

Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and more restrained in fruit.

Mtsvane Kakhuri

Mtsvane Kakhuri scores closest to Retsina across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and more fruit-driven.

Brda Rebula

Both sit in the same style family.

Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and more restrained in fruit.

Ribolla Gialla

Ribolla Gialla scores closest to Retsina across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and more restrained in fruit.

Similar but fresher

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

Chilean Sauvignon Blanc

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

Expect: Expect it to be more oaky.

South African Sauvignon Blanc

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

Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and rounder and creamier in texture.

Sancerre

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

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

Sauvignon Blanc

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

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

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 riper and less green, and more restrained in fruit.

Savatiano

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

Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and more restrained in fruit.

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 more restrained in fruit.

California Chardonnay

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

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

The sparkling version

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

Sekt

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

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

Austrian Sekt

Austrian Sekt scores closest to Retsina across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

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

Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore

Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore scores closest to Retsina across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and more fruit-driven.

Crémant

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

Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and more restrained in fruit.

Similar but sweeter

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

English Bacchus

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

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

Bacchus

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

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

Silvaner

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and more restrained in fruit.

Finger Lakes Riesling

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Change the flavour

Same shape, different aromatic character.

Similar but more oaky

Adds barrel character, toast and a creamier texture.

White Bordeaux

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

Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and more restrained in fruit.

Rueda Verdejo

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

Expect: Expect it to be less oaky.

Verdejo

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

Expect: Expect it to be less oaky.

South African Sauvignon Blanc

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

Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and fresher and more acidic.

Similar but more aromatic

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

Sauvignon Blanc

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

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

Mantinia Moschofilero

Both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and more fruit-driven.

Torrontés

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

Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and more fruit-driven.

Moschofilero

Both come from the same country.

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.

Vermentino

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.

Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and more restrained in fruit.

Silvaner

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and more restrained in fruit.

Weinviertel Grüner Veltliner

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 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 more restrained in fruit.

Similar but more floral

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

Sauvignon Blanc

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

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

Sancerre

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

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

English Bacchus

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

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

Bacchus

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

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

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.

Pouilly-Fumé

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

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

Silvaner

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

Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and more restrained in fruit.

Similar but fruitier

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

Rueda Verdejo

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

Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and rounder and creamier in texture.

Verdejo

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

Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and rounder and creamier in texture.

Chilean Sauvignon Blanc

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

Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and more oaky.

South African Sauvignon Blanc

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

Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and more oaky.

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 both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and more fruit-driven.

Assyrtiko

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

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

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 both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and more restrained in fruit.

Same grape, warmer climate

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

Savatiano

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

Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and more restrained in fruit.

Assyrtiko

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

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

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 more fruit-driven.

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.

Sancerre

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

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

Sauvignon Blanc

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

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

Pouilly-Fumé

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

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

English Bacchus

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

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

Something more adventurous

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

Rueda Verdejo

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

Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and rounder and creamier in texture.

Verdejo

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

Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and rounder and creamier in texture.

Chilean Sauvignon Blanc

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

Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and more oaky.

South African Sauvignon Blanc

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

Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and more oaky.

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.

Rueda Verdejo

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

Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and rounder and creamier in texture.

Verdejo

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

Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and rounder and creamier in texture.

Chilean Sauvignon Blanc

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

Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and more oaky.

South African Sauvignon Blanc

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

Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and more oaky.

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.

Australian Chardonnay

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

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

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 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.

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.