If you like this, try…
Wines like Vinsanto (Santorini)
Sun-dried Assyrtiko from Santorini, aged oxidatively for years — intensely sweet with the island’s trademark acidity. Below: what to try next, grouped by the direction you want to travel.
Refine
What do you like about Vinsanto (Santorini)?
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.
- How full and weighty it is
- Body is how much the wine seems to fill your mouth — the difference between skimmed and whole milk. It comes mostly from alcohol and ripeness.
- The creamy, rounded texture
- A soft, almost dairy-like roundness. In white wine it usually comes from malolactic fermentation or from time on the lees, not from the grape.
- The vanilla and oak
- Vanilla, toast, coconut, sweet spice, sometimes smoke. It comes from the barrel rather than the grape, which is why the same grape can taste completely different with and without it.
- 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 spice
- Black pepper, clove, cinnamon. Some of it is the grape — the pepper in Syrah is a measured compound called rotundone — and some is the barrel.
- 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.
- The touch of sweetness
- Actual sugar left in the wine, which is a different thing from tasting fruity. A wine can smell of ripe peach and be completely dry.
Looking for something keeping the touch of sweetness, while moving away from too perfumed.
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.
Recioto della Valpolicella
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.
- Keeps the touch of sweetness.
- Substantially less perfumed.
Vin Santo
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.
- Has some of the touch of sweetness, though less of it.
- Substantially less perfumed.
Sauternes
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Keeps the touch of sweetness.
- About as perfumed as the wine you started from.
Tokaji Aszú
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Keeps the touch of sweetness.
- About as perfumed as the wine you started from.
Austrian botrytis sweet wine
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Keeps the touch of sweetness.
- About as perfumed as the wine you started from.
Vin de Constance
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Keeps the touch of sweetness.
- About as perfumed as the wine you started from.
Beerenauslese
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Keeps the touch of sweetness.
- About as perfumed as the wine you started from.
Canadian Icewine
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Keeps the touch of sweetness.
- About as perfumed as the wine you started from.
Closest overall
Nearest neighbours, no change of direction.
Closest matches
The nearest overall neighbours across structure and flavour, with no deliberate change of direction.
Recioto della Valpolicella
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 more fruit-driven.
Vin Santo
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and softer and rounder.
Sauternes
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and more fruit-driven.
Tokaji Aszú
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and fresher.
Different grape, similar feel
Deliberately excludes the variety you already know, to find a genuinely new wine that fills the same role.
Recioto della Valpolicella
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 more fruit-driven.
Vin Santo
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and softer and rounder.
Sauternes
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and more fruit-driven.
Tokaji Aszú
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and fresher.
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.
Eiswein
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and lighter in alcohol.
Szamorodni
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and less spicy.
Auslese
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and drier.
Coteaux du Layon
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher, and less spicy.
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.
Tokaji Aszú
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and fresher.
Austrian botrytis sweet wine
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and more fruit-driven.
Beerenauslese
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and less oaky.
Canadian Icewine
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and lighter in alcohol.
Similar but more structured
More tannic architecture, for food or for ageing.
Recioto della Valpolicella
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 more fruit-driven.
Moscatel de Setúbal
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and softer and rounder.
Vin Santo
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and softer and rounder.
Sauternes
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and more fruit-driven.
Similar but fresher
Raises acidity and overall lift, usually by moving to a cooler-climate expression.
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.
Sauternes
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and more fruit-driven.
Tokaji Aszú
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and lighter in alcohol.
Austrian botrytis sweet wine
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and more fruit-driven.
Beerenauslese
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and less oaky.
Similar but softer
Lowers acidity and sharpness in favour of a broader, gentler feel.
Recioto della Valpolicella
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 more fruit-driven.
Vin Santo
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and more restrained in fruit.
Vin de Constance
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and more floral.
Pedro Ximénez sherry
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more neutral and subtle, and softer and rounder.
The sparkling version
Moves to a sparkling expression while holding the flavour and weight as close as possible.
Asti
Asti scores closest to Vinsanto (Santorini) across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and more aromatic.
Vouvray
Vouvray scores closest to Vinsanto (Santorini) across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and more neutral and subtle.
Franciacorta
Franciacorta scores closest to Vinsanto (Santorini) across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and more neutral and subtle.
Méthode Cap Classique
Méthode Cap Classique scores closest to Vinsanto (Santorini) across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and more neutral and subtle.
Similar but drier
Reduces perceptible sugar while keeping aromatic character.
Vin Santo
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and softer and rounder.
Bual
Bual scores closest to Vinsanto (Santorini) across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and more neutral and subtle.
Furmint
Furmint scores closest to Vinsanto (Santorini) across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and more neutral and subtle.
Madeira
Madeira scores closest to Vinsanto (Santorini) across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and more neutral and subtle.
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.
Recioto della Valpolicella
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 more oaky.
Beerenauslese
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and more fruit-driven.
Trockenbeerenauslese
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and lighter in alcohol.
Eiswein
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and lighter in alcohol.
Similar but more oaky
Adds barrel character, toast and a creamier texture.
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.
Vin Santo
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and less oaky.
Recioto della Valpolicella
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be more neutral and subtle, and less oaky.
Sauternes
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and less oaky.
Tokaji Aszú
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and less oaky.
Similar but more aromatic
More to smell before you taste — floral, fruity or spiced aromatics.
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.
Vin de Constance
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and more fruit-driven.
Vin Santo
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and softer and rounder.
Recioto della Valpolicella
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be more neutral and subtle, and more fruit-driven.
Sauternes
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, 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.
Recioto della Valpolicella
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be more neutral and subtle, and more fruit-driven.
Vin Santo
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and softer and rounder.
Szamorodni
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and less spicy.
Coteaux du Layon
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher, and less spicy.
Similar but more floral
Pushes specifically towards rose, violet, blossom and elderflower character.
Vin de Constance
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and more fruit-driven.
Moscatel de Setúbal
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and softer and rounder.
Recioto della Valpolicella
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be more neutral and subtle, and less floral.
Vin Santo
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and less floral.
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.
Vin Santo
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and more fruit-driven.
Recioto della Valpolicella
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be more neutral and subtle, and more fruit-driven.
Tokaji Aszú
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and more fruit-driven.
Szamorodni
Szamorodni scores closest to Vinsanto (Santorini) across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and more fruit-driven.
Similar but fruitier
More obvious, generous fruit flavour, usually from a warmer climate.
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.
Recioto della Valpolicella
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 softer and rounder.
Sauternes
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and more fruit-driven.
Austrian botrytis sweet wine
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and lighter in alcohol.
Vin de Constance
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and more floral.
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.
Something more adventurous
Less familiar wines that occupy similar territory — the interesting end of the shelf.
Recioto della Valpolicella
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 more fruit-driven.
Vin Santo
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and softer and rounder.
Austrian botrytis sweet wine
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and more fruit-driven.
Vin de Constance
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and more floral.
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.
Recioto della Valpolicella
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 more fruit-driven.
Vin Santo
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and softer and rounder.
Austrian botrytis sweet wine
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and more fruit-driven.
Vin de Constance
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and more floral.
A step up
The benchmark expressions of the same territory, usually with more concentration, structure and ageing potential.
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.
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.