 Two other Chroogomphus species with a morphology and coloration similar to C. vinicolor include C. rutilus and C. ochraceous. C. vinicolor is most reliably distinguished from these on the basis of having thick-walled cystidia (up to 5 – 7.5 μm at the widest part). The other two species have been separated on the basis of color, with C. ochraceous having brighter colors (yellowish-orange to ochraceous) than C. rutilus. Molecular analyses of European and North American collections suggest that C. rutilus is restricted to Europe, C. ochraceous only occurs in North America, and that cap coloration cannot be reliably used for species determination.
