If You Like Matcha, You’ll Like…

While matcha has risen in popularity in recent years due to the third wave coffee movement, the drink itself is centuries old. Originating in China during the Tang Dynasty, powdered tea was brought to Japan in the 12th century by Buddhist monks, where it became central to Zen practice and developed into the foundation of the Japanese tea ceremony.

Like wine, matcha is deeply tied to the place it is grown. Ceremonial-grade matcha must come from specific regions in Japan, like Kyoto, Aichi, Shizuoka, and Kagoshima, where growing conditions, cultivar selection, and processing methods are regulated, similar to how European wines are governed by systems like AOC, DOC, or IGP to protect origin and quality.

For those drawn to its structure and nuance, certain wines offer a similar experience. Whether through savory complexity, texture, or layered aromatics, certain grape varieties reflect the same same drinking experience that matcha provides.

If You Like Matcha, Try These Grape Varieties

Identifying the specific characteristics that make a beverage appetizing for your individual palate, can help guide more informed and satisfying choices across others. If you like matcha, you may want to give these grape varieties a try.

Grüner Veltliner

Grüner Veltliner is Austria’s most planted grape, known for its crisp acidity and distinctively green aromatics. Flavors often include lime zest, green apple, and white pepper, with subtle herbal undertones. The wines typically finish dry, but carry a generosity of texture that makes them especially versatile at the table.

Similarly to matcha, Grüner Veltliner shows its best when freshness is matched with depth. Its vegetal notes echo the tea’s grassy sharpness, while its slightly phenolic edge adds a similar texture on the palate. It also has a fair amount of minerality similar to matcha. The aromatic quality and savory tones in Thunder Thunder Tea’s matchas, particularly Kakitsubata, share that same balance of precision and texture, making Grüner a fitting counterpart in the glass.

Savagnin

Native to France’s Jura region, Savagnin is responsible for one of the country’s most distinctive wine styles. Often vinified oxidatively (a method where the wine is intentionally exposed to oxygen during aging, developing nutty and savory characteristics), especially in the production of Vin Jaune (a traditional Jura wine aged under a veil of yeast, similar to sherry, for at least six years without topping up the barrel), it develops complex flavors of toasted nuts, preserved citrus, and curry leaf. Even in non-oxidative expressions, the grape retains a saline, almost briny quality and a savory core.

Savagnin appeals to the same palate that seeks out matcha for its umami and layered complexity. Its ability to express both nuttiness and acidity offers a unique sensory drinking experience.

Assyrtiko

Grown predominantly on the island of Santorini, Assyrtiko is a white grape that produces wines with plentiful acidity and minerality. Volcanic soils contribute to its salty, flinty character, while flavors typically include lemon peel, wet stone, and green herbs

Despite its high acidity, Assyrtiko maintains weight and persistence, making it a highly food-friendly option. The profile of Assyrtiko aligns with the clarity and intensity of matcha. The grape’s salinity echoes the oceanic aspect of some teas, particularly those grown near coastal climates or exposed to mineral-rich soils. Its clean finish also offers a similar sensory experience that a clean tea provides.

Sauvignon Blanc

Sauvignon Blanc is known for its sharp aromatics, high acidity, and ability to clearly reflect its growing environment. Originating in France’s Loire Valley, where it is still closely associated with appellations like Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé, the grape has also found success in New Zealand, Chile, and parts of California. Flavor profiles vary by region but often include notes of citrus, green herbs, flint, and sometimes tropical fruit or gooseberry. In cooler climates, the grape tends to show a linear, mineral-driven structure with a precise, cleansing finish.

That clarity and focus are what align Sauvignon Blanc with the matcha experience. The bright acidity and green herbal tones mirror the grassy sharpness found in ceremonial matchas. 

Nebbiolo

Though a red grape variety may not immediately come to mind when thinking about matcha, Nebbiolo shares parallels with the tea that makes it a pleasant drinking experience for those who like matcha and red wine.

One of Italy’s most age-worthy red grapes, Nebbiolo is known for its delicate color but deep structure. Found primarily in Piedmont, in regions such as Barolo and Barbaresco, Nebbiolo expresses classic notes of rose, tar, cherry, and dried herbs.

For those who enjoy matcha’s dryer mouthfeel and its evolving intensity, Nebbiolo offers a similar drinking experience. The variety's tannins mirror matcha’s drying structure, and its aromatic complexity resonates with tea drinkers who appreciate subtle shifts over time throughout the drinking experience.