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.

← Back to Retsina

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.

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 herbal, green edge and that the fruit is not covered in oak, while moving away from too plain or too simple and too tropical or sweet-smelling.

You said you like that the fruit is not covered in oak and that it is too plain or too simple. Both are about oak influence, 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

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

Has noticeably less of the herbal, green edge.
Has some of that the fruit is not covered in oak, though less of it.
Substantially less plain or too simple.
A little less tropical or sweet-smelling.

White Bordeaux

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Has noticeably less of the herbal, green edge.
Has noticeably less of that the fruit is not covered in oak.
Substantially less plain or too simple.
About as tropical or sweet-smelling as the wine you started from.

Grüner Veltliner

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Has noticeably less of the herbal, green edge.
Has some of that the fruit is not covered in oak, though less of it.
Substantially less plain or too simple.
A little less tropical or sweet-smelling.

Sancerre

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Has some of the herbal, green edge, though less of it.
Has some of that the fruit is not covered in oak, though less of it.
Substantially less plain or too simple.
About as tropical or sweet-smelling as the wine you started from.

Pouilly-Fumé

Pouilly-Fumé scores closest to Retsina across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Has some of the herbal, green edge, though less of it.
Has some of that the fruit is not covered in oak, though less of it.
Substantially less plain or too simple.
About as tropical or sweet-smelling as the wine you started from.

Franken Silvaner

Both sit in the same style family.

Has noticeably less of the herbal, green edge.
Has some of that the fruit is not covered in oak, though less of it.
Substantially less plain or too simple.
A little less tropical or sweet-smelling.

Welsh white wine

Both sit in the same style family.

Has noticeably less of the herbal, green edge.
Has some of that the fruit is not covered in oak, though less of it.
Substantially less plain or too simple.
About as tropical or sweet-smelling as the wine you started from.

Rueda Verdejo

Rueda Verdejo scores closest to Retsina across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Has some of the herbal, green edge, though less of it.
Has some of that the fruit is not covered in oak, though less of it.
Substantially less plain or too simple.
More tropical or sweet-smelling, not less.

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

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 less oaky.

White Bordeaux

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Grüner Veltliner

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Sancerre

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and fruitier.

Different grape, similar feel

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

Vermentino

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 less oaky.

White Bordeaux

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Grüner Veltliner

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Sancerre

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and fruitier.

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

Both sit in the same style family.

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

Alpine white

Both sit in the same style family.

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

Welsh white wine

Both sit in the same style family.

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

Trebbiano Romagnolo

Trebbiano Romagnolo scores closest to Retsina across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

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

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.

Koshu

Both sit in the same style family.

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

Alpine white

Both sit in the same style family.

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

Hunter Valley Semillon

Both sit in the same style family.

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

Muscadet

Both sit in the same style family.

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

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.

Friuli white

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

White Burgundy

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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 less oaky.

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

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 less oaky.

White Bordeaux

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Grüner Veltliner

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Pouilly-Fumé

Pouilly-Fumé scores closest to Retsina across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and fruitier.

Similar but more structured

More tannic architecture, for food or for ageing.

Koshu

Both sit in the same style family.

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

Friuli white

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Istrian Malvazija

Both sit in the same style family.

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

Brda Rebula

Both sit in the same style family.

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

Similar but fresher

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

Sancerre

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Pouilly-Fumé

Pouilly-Fumé scores closest to Retsina across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

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

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.

South African Sauvignon Blanc

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

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

Similar but softer

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

Franken Silvaner

Both sit in the same style family.

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

Silvaner

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

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

Roero Arneis

Both sit in the same style family.

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

Pinot Gris

Pinot Gris scores closest to Retsina across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

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

The sparkling version

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

Cava

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

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

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 less oaky.

Crémant

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

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

English Blanc de Blancs

English Blanc de Blancs scores closest to Retsina across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

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

Similar but sweeter

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

Welsh white wine

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 less oaky.

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

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

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

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 fruitier.

Chardonnay

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

White Burgundy

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Friuli white

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.

Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc

Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc scores closest to Retsina across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

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

Vin Jaune

Vin Jaune scores closest to Retsina across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

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

Sancerre

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

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

Similar but more restrained

For readers who find intensely aromatic wines tiring over a whole glass. Keeps the structure, turns the volume down.

Vermentino

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 less oaky.

Grüner Veltliner

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Franken Silvaner

Both sit in the same style family.

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

Koshu

Both sit in the same style family.

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

Similar but more floral

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

Sancerre

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

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

Welsh white wine

Both sit in the same style family.

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

Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc

Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc scores closest to Retsina across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

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

English Bacchus

English Bacchus scores closest to Retsina across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and less oaky.

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 riper and less green, and fruitier.

Vin Jaune

Vin Jaune scores closest to Retsina across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

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

Franken Silvaner

Both sit in the same style family.

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

Grüner Veltliner

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Similar but fruitier

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

Rueda Verdejo

Rueda Verdejo scores closest to Retsina across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and less oaky.

Verdejo

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

Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and less oaky.

English Bacchus

English Bacchus scores closest to Retsina across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and less oaky.

Bacchus

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

Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and less 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 less oaky.

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 fresher and more acidic.

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.

Same grape, warmer climate

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

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 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.

Savatiano

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

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

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 riper and less green, and less oaky.

Sancerre

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and fruitier.

Pouilly-Fumé

Pouilly-Fumé scores closest to Retsina across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and fruitier.

English Bacchus

English Bacchus scores closest to Retsina across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and less oaky.

Something more adventurous

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

Vermentino

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 less oaky.

White Bordeaux

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Franken Silvaner

Both sit in the same style family.

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

Welsh white wine

Both sit in the same style family.

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

Vermentino

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 less oaky.

White Bordeaux

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Franken Silvaner

Both sit in the same style family.

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

Welsh white wine

Both sit in the same style family.

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

White Burgundy

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

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.

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.