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 how much it smells of, before you even taste it, the savoury, non-fruity character and that the fruit is not covered in oak, while moving away from too tropical or sweet-smelling.
- You said you like how much it smells of, before you even taste it and that it is too tropical or sweet-smelling. Both are about aromatic 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.
Muscadet
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.
- Has noticeably less of how much it smells of, before you even taste it.
- Keeps the savoury, non-fruity character.
- Keeps that the fruit is not covered in oak.
- Substantially less tropical or sweet-smelling.
Hunter Valley Semillon
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.
- Has some of how much it smells of, before you even taste it, though less of it.
- Keeps the savoury, non-fruity character.
- Keeps that the fruit is not covered in oak.
- A little less tropical or sweet-smelling.
Friulano
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Has some of how much it smells of, before you even taste it, though less of it.
- Keeps the savoury, non-fruity character.
- Keeps that the fruit is not covered in oak.
- A little less tropical or sweet-smelling.
Carricante
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Has some of how much it smells of, before you even taste it, though less of it.
- Keeps the savoury, non-fruity character.
- Keeps that the fruit is not covered in oak.
- A little less tropical or sweet-smelling.
Rkatsiteli
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Has some of how much it smells of, before you even taste it, though less of it.
- Keeps the savoury, non-fruity character.
- Keeps that the fruit is not covered in oak.
- A little less tropical or sweet-smelling.
Juhfark
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Has some of how much it smells of, before you even taste it, though less of it.
- Keeps the savoury, non-fruity character.
- Keeps that the fruit is not covered in oak.
- A little less tropical or sweet-smelling.
Greco
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Has some of how much it smells of, before you even taste it, though less of it.
- Keeps the savoury, non-fruity character.
- Keeps that the fruit is not covered in oak.
- A little less tropical or sweet-smelling.
Sercial
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Has some of how much it smells of, before you even taste it, though less of it.
- Keeps the savoury, non-fruity character.
- Keeps that the fruit is not covered in oak.
- 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.
Muscadet
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be more neutral and subtle, and fresher and more acidic.
Hunter Valley Semillon
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 fresher and more acidic.
Friulano
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and riper and less green.
Carricante
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and fresher and more acidic.
Different grape, similar feel
Deliberately excludes the variety you already know, to find a genuinely new wine that fills the same role.
Muscadet
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be more neutral and subtle, and fresher and more acidic.
Hunter Valley Semillon
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 fresher and more acidic.
Friulano
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and riper and less green.
Carricante
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and fresher and more acidic.
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.
Muscadet
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be more neutral and subtle, and fresher and more acidic.
Hunter Valley Semillon
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 fresher and more acidic.
Txakoli
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and fresher and more acidic.
Koshu
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more neutral and subtle, 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.
Hunter Valley Semillon
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 fresher and more acidic.
Muscadet
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be more neutral and subtle, and fresher and more acidic.
Melon de Bourgogne
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more neutral and subtle, and fresher and more acidic.
Txakoli
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and fresher and more acidic.
Similar but fuller
Keeps the character but adds weight, concentration and mouthfeel.
Greco
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and fresher and more acidic.
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 oaky, and fruitier.
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 oaky, and fruitier.
Greco di Tufo
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, 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.
Muscadet
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be more neutral and subtle, and fresher and more acidic.
Hunter Valley Semillon
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 fresher and more acidic.
Friulano
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and riper and less green.
Carricante
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and fresher and more acidic.
Similar but more structured
More tannic architecture, for food or for ageing.
Rkatsiteli
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and fresher and more acidic.
Kisi
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and riper and less green.
Tsolikouri
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and more fruit-driven.
Ribolla Gialla
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and fresher and more acidic.
Similar but fresher
Raises acidity and overall lift, usually by moving to a cooler-climate expression.
Muscadet
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and more neutral and subtle.
Hunter Valley Semillon
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and fruitier.
Carricante
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and fruitier.
Juhfark
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
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.
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 softer and rounder, and fruitier.
Palomino Fino
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and more neutral and subtle.
Chasselas
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and more neutral and subtle.
Franken Silvaner
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and softer and rounder.
The sparkling version
Moves to a sparkling expression while holding the flavour and weight as close as possible.
Cava
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and fruitier.
English sparkling wine
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and fruitier.
English Blanc de Blancs
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and fruitier.
Corpinnat
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and fruitier.
Similar but sweeter
Adds perceptible sweetness, which also softens acidity and chilli heat.
Sercial
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and fresher and more acidic.
Grechetto
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and more fruit-driven.
Trebbiano Romagnolo
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more fruit-driven, and riper and less green.
Trebbiano Toscano
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more fruit-driven, and more neutral and subtle.
Change the flavour
Same shape, different aromatic character.
Similar but more oaky
Adds barrel character, toast and a creamier texture.
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 oaky, and fruitier.
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 oaky, and fruitier.
Chablis
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and fruitier.
Etna Bianco
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and fruitier.
Similar but more aromatic
More to smell before you taste — floral, fruity or spiced aromatics.
Vin Jaune
Vin Jaune scores closest to Retsina across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and more oaky.
Mantinia Moschofilero
Both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and fruitier.
Moschofilero
Both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and fruitier.
Torrontés
Torrontés scores closest to Retsina across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and fruitier.
Similar but more restrained
For readers who find intensely aromatic wines tiring over a whole glass. Keeps the structure, turns the volume down.
Muscadet
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be more neutral and subtle, and fresher and more acidic.
Hunter Valley Semillon
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 fresher and more acidic.
Friulano
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and riper and less green.
Carricante
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and fresher and more acidic.
Similar but more floral
Pushes specifically towards rose, violet, blossom and elderflower character.
Australian Riesling
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and more aromatic.
Sancerre
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and more oaky.
Soave
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and fruitier.
Aidani
Both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be more fruit-driven, and more aromatic.
Similar but more savoury
Moves away from primary fruit towards earth, herb, meat and umami character.
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 fruitier.
Vin Jaune
Vin Jaune scores closest to Retsina across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and more aromatic.
Fino and Manzanilla sherry
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and more oaky.
Muscadet
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be more neutral and subtle, and fresher and more acidic.
Similar but fruitier
More obvious, generous fruit flavour, usually from a warmer climate.
Australian Riesling
Both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and more aromatic.
Grillo
Grillo scores closest to Retsina across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and more aromatic.
Verdelho
Verdelho scores closest to Retsina across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and more fruit-driven.
Nahe Riesling
Nahe Riesling scores closest to Retsina across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and more aromatic.
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 fruitier.
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 fresher and more acidic, and more oaky.
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 fresher and more acidic, 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 softer and rounder, and fruitier.
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 fruitier, and softer and rounder.
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 fruitier, and more oaky.
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 fruitier, 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 more fruit-driven, 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.
Chablis
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and fruitier.
Grüner Veltliner
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and fruitier.
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 oaky, and fruitier.
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 fruitier.
Something more adventurous
Less familiar wines that occupy similar territory — the interesting end of the shelf.
Muscadet
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be more neutral and subtle, and fresher and more acidic.
Hunter Valley Semillon
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 fresher and more acidic.
Friulano
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and riper and less green.
Carricante
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and fresher and more acidic.
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.
Muscadet
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be more neutral and subtle, and fresher and more acidic.
Hunter Valley Semillon
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 fresher and more acidic.
Friulano
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and riper and less green.
Carricante
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and fresher and more acidic.
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 they occupy similar territory for weight and structure, both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and more savoury.
White Burgundy
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and fruitier.
Australian Chardonnay
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and fruitier.
South African Chenin Blanc
South African Chenin Blanc scores closest to Retsina across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, 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.