If you like this, try…
Wines like Soave
Garganega from volcanic hills near Verona: subtle, almond-scented and far better than its bulk-wine reputation. Below: what to try next, grouped by the direction you want to travel.
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What do you like about Soave?
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 citrus and orchard fruit
- Lemon, lime, green apple, pear. The signature of a cool-climate white — quieter and less perfumed than tropical fruit, and a different thing from the acidity it usually travels with.
- How light it is
- A wine you can drink without it feeling like a commitment. Usually lower in alcohol as well as lighter in the mouth.
- That it is not too strong
- Alcohol you notice as warmth at the back of the throat. Some people find it a pleasant part of a big red and some find it tiring.
- The floral character
- Rose, violet, elderflower, orange blossom.
- 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 moving away from too savoury or funky.
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.
Montlouis-sur-Loire
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.
- Substantially less savoury or funky.
Falanghina
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
- Substantially less savoury or funky.
Avesso
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Substantially less savoury or funky.
Kerner
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Substantially less savoury or funky.
Torrontés
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Substantially less savoury or funky.
Mtsvane Kakhuri
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Substantially less savoury or funky.
Pinot Grigio
curatedBoth are light, dry, unobtrusive northern Italian whites.
- A little less savoury or funky.
Phoenix
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Substantially less savoury or funky.
Closest overall
Nearest neighbours, no change of direction.
Closest matches
The nearest overall neighbours across structure and flavour, with no deliberate change of direction.
Montlouis-sur-Loire
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and fresher and more acidic.
Falanghina
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and more aromatic.
Avesso
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and less oaky.
Kerner
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and less oaky.
Different grape, similar feel
Deliberately excludes the variety you already know, to find a genuinely new wine that fills the same role.
Montlouis-sur-Loire
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and fresher and more acidic.
Falanghina
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and more aromatic.
Avesso
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and less oaky.
Kerner
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and less 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.
Moschofilero
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and more floral.
Loureiro
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more floral, and fresher and more acidic.
Kabinett
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and sweeter.
Mantinia Moschofilero
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and more floral.
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.
Kabinett
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and lighter in alcohol.
Moschofilero
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and more floral.
Loureiro
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more floral, and fresher and more acidic.
Mantinia Moschofilero
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and more floral.
Similar but fuller
Keeps the character but adds weight, concentration and mouthfeel.
Pošip
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and broader and softer.
Wachau 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 spicier, and more herbal and green.
Malagousia
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and more aromatic.
Antão Vaz
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and softer and rounder.
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.
Pošip
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and fuller and richer.
Wachau 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 spicier, and more herbal and green.
Malagousia
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and fuller and richer.
Antão Vaz
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and softer and rounder.
Similar but more structured
More tannic architecture, for food or for ageing.
Mtsvane Kakhuri
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and more aromatic.
Malvasia
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and less floral.
Malvazija Istarska
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more restrained in fruit, and less floral.
Albana
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be more restrained in fruit, and sweeter.
Similar but fresher
Raises acidity and overall lift, usually by moving to a cooler-climate expression.
Montlouis-sur-Loire
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be sweeter.
Sauvignon Blanc
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more herbal and green, and more aromatic.
Loureiro
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more floral, and less oaky.
Gros Manseng
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and less floral.
Similar but softer
Lowers acidity and sharpness in favour of a broader, gentler feel.
Antão Vaz
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and less oaky.
Malagousia
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and fuller and richer.
Pošip
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and fuller and richer.
Malvasia
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and less floral.
The sparkling version
Moves to a sparkling expression while holding the flavour and weight as close as possible.
Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and less oaky.
Prosecco
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be more fruit-driven, and sweeter.
Asti
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and sweeter.
Glera
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be more restrained in fruit, and sweeter.
Similar but sweeter
Adds perceptible sweetness, which also softens acidity and chilli heat.
Hárslevelű
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and less oaky.
Montlouis-sur-Loire
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 fresher.
Scheurebe
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and more aromatic.
Ortega
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and less oaky.
Change the flavour
Same shape, different aromatic character.
Similar but less oaky
One of the commonest requests in wine. Strips oak influence while holding grape character and weight.
Falanghina
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and more floral.
Avesso
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and broader and softer.
Kerner
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and more aromatic.
Torrontés
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and more floral.
Similar but more oaky
Adds barrel character, toast and a creamier texture.
California Chardonnay
Both are made from chardonnay, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and broader and softer.
Chilean Chardonnay
Both are made from chardonnay, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and less oaky.
Dry Furmint
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and less oaky.
Furmint
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and sweeter.
Similar but more aromatic
More to smell before you taste — floral, fruity or spiced aromatics.
Falanghina
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be less oaky.
Mantinia Moschofilero
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and less oaky.
Moschofilero
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and less oaky.
Scheurebe
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and more aromatic.
Similar but more restrained
For readers who find intensely aromatic wines tiring over a whole glass. Keeps the structure, turns the volume down.
Pinot Grigio
curatedBoth are light, dry, unobtrusive northern Italian whites.
Expect: Blander and less almond-scented.
Pinot Blanc
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more restrained in fruit, and less floral.
Cortese
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be more restrained in fruit, and fresher and more acidic.
Seyval Blanc
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more restrained in fruit, and sweeter.
Similar but more floral
Pushes specifically towards rose, violet, blossom and elderflower character.
Loureiro
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and less oaky.
Mantinia Moschofilero
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and less oaky.
Moschofilero
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and less oaky.
Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and sweeter.
Similar but less floral
Some drinkers read floral aromatics as soapy or perfumed. This holds the structure and removes them.
Antão Vaz
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and softer and rounder.
Avesso
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and less oaky.
Gros Manseng
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and sweeter.
Pošip
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and fuller and richer.
Similar but more savoury
Moves away from primary fruit towards earth, herb, meat and umami character.
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.
Pinot Grigio
curatedBoth are light, dry, unobtrusive northern Italian whites.
Expect: Blander and less almond-scented.
Montlouis-sur-Loire
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and fresher and more acidic.
Falanghina
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and more aromatic.
Roero Arneis
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be more restrained in fruit, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.
Similar but fruitier
More obvious, generous fruit flavour, usually from a warmer climate.
Falanghina
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and more aromatic.
Montlouis-sur-Loire
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and fresher and more acidic.
Avesso
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and less oaky.
Kerner
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and less oaky.
Change the place
Keep the grape, move it somewhere else.
Same grape, somewhere else
Holds the variety constant and changes the place, which is often a bigger change than swapping the grape.
Chilean Chardonnay
Both are made from chardonnay, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and less floral.
California Chardonnay
Both are made from chardonnay, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and more oaky.
Chardonnay
Both are made from chardonnay, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and more restrained in fruit.
English still white
Both are made from chardonnay, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure, both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and more restrained in fruit.
Same grape, cooler climate
Typically fresher, lighter and more herbal, with lower alcohol.
English still white
Both are made from chardonnay, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure, both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and more restrained in fruit.
Chablis
Both are made from chardonnay, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and more restrained in fruit.
Jura Savagnin and Chardonnay
Both are made from chardonnay.
Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and more restrained in fruit.
Trebbiano di Soave
Both are made from trebbiano di soave, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be more restrained in fruit, and softer and rounder.
Same grape, warmer climate
Typically riper, fuller and more generous in fruit, with higher alcohol.
California Chardonnay
Both are made from chardonnay, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and more oaky.
Chilean Chardonnay
Both are made from chardonnay, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and fresher and more acidic.
Soave Classico
curatedThe hillside heart of the same appellation.
Expect: More concentration, texture and mineral depth.
Chardonnay
Both are made from chardonnay, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more restrained in fruit, 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.
Pinot Grigio
curatedBoth are light, dry, unobtrusive northern Italian whites.
Expect: Blander and less almond-scented.
Sauvignon Blanc
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more herbal and green, and more aromatic.
English Bacchus
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more herbal and green, and sweeter.
Riesling
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and fresher and more acidic.
Something more adventurous
Less familiar wines that occupy similar territory — the interesting end of the shelf.
Montlouis-sur-Loire
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and fresher and more acidic.
Falanghina
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and more aromatic.
Avesso
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and less oaky.
Kerner
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, 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.
Montlouis-sur-Loire
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and fresher and more acidic.
Falanghina
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and more aromatic.
Avesso
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and less oaky.
Kerner
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and less oaky.
A step up
The benchmark expressions of the same territory, usually with more concentration, structure and ageing potential.
California Chardonnay
Both are made from chardonnay, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and more oaky.
Chardonnay
Both are made from chardonnay, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and more restrained in fruit.
Australian Chardonnay
Both are made from chardonnay.
Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and less floral.
South African Chenin Blanc
South African Chenin Blanc scores closest to Soave across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and less floral.
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.