Comparison
Blaufränkisch vs Nerello Mascalese
How Blaufränkisch and Nerello Mascalese differ, dimension by dimension.
The short answer
The main differences: Blaufränkisch has more spice; Nerello Mascalese has more floral character; Blaufränkisch has more fruit intensity.
Choose
Nerello Mascalese
Choose Nerello Mascalese if you want something more floral, more savoury, earthier.
Where they genuinely differ
Only differences large enough to notice in the glass are listed here. A gap of half a point on a five-point scale is noise, and WineHQ does not dress it up as a finding.
Spice
Clear differencePepper, clove, cinnamon and related spice notes, whether from the grape (as with rotundone in Syrah) or from oak.
Blaufränkisch is spicier: medium-plus against low.
Floral character
Clear differenceBlossom, rose, violet, elderflower, acacia and related aromatic notes.
Nerello Mascalese is more floral: medium against low.
Fruit intensity
Clear differenceHow loudly the fruit flavours speak, independent of whether they are ripe or tart.
Blaufränkisch is fruitier: medium-plus against medium.
Oak influence
Clear differencePerceptible impact of barrel or alternative oak contact — vanilla, toast, coconut, smoke, cedar and added texture.
Blaufränkisch is more oaky: medium against low-medium.
Savoury character
Clear differenceNon-fruit, umami-adjacent character: meat, leather, olive, soy, broth, cured notes. Often increases with age.
Nerello Mascalese is more savoury: medium-plus against medium.
Earthy character
Clear differenceForest floor, mushroom, wet stone, clay and undergrowth notes. Frequently, though not exclusively, associated with cooler and more traditional styles.
Nerello Mascalese is earthier: medium-plus against medium.
Where they are much the same
Just as useful: knowing which parts of the choice do not matter.
- Sweetness: Similar — both low.
- Acidity: Similar — both high.
- Tannin: Similar — both medium-plus.
- Alcohol: Similar — both medium-plus.
- Body: Similar — both medium.
Full side by side
| Dimension | Blaufränkisch | Nerello Mascalese |
|---|---|---|
| Spice | typically medium-plus, ranging from medium to medium-plus (4/5) | low (1/5) |
| Floral character | low (1/5) | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium-plus (3/5) |
| Fruit intensity | typically medium-plus, ranging from medium to medium-plus (4/5) | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium-plus (3/5) |
| Oak influence | typically medium, ranging from low to medium-plus (3/5) | typically low-medium, ranging from low to medium (2/5) |
| Savoury character | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium-plus (3/5) | typically medium-plus, ranging from medium to high (4/5) |
| Earthy character | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium (3/5) | typically medium-plus, ranging from medium to high (4/5) |
| Perceived freshness | typically medium-plus, ranging from medium to high (4/5) | typically high, ranging from medium-plus to high (5/5) |
| Sweetness | low (1/5) | low (1/5) |
| Acidity | typically high, ranging from medium-plus to high (5/5) | typically high, ranging from medium-plus to high (5/5) |
| Tannin | typically medium-plus, ranging from medium to medium-plus (4/5) | typically medium-plus, ranging from medium to medium-plus (4/5) |
| Alcohol | typically medium-plus, ranging from medium to medium-plus (4/5) | typically medium-plus, ranging from medium to medium-plus (4/5) |
| Body | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium-plus (3/5) | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium-plus (3/5) |
| Aromatic intensity | medium (3/5) | medium (3/5) |
| Herbal / green character | low (1/5) | low (1/5) |
| Carbonation | low (1/5) | low (1/5) |
| Texture | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium (3/5) | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium (3/5) |
| Serve at | 14–16°C | 14–16°C |
| Typical flavours | sour cherry, blackberry, black pepper, graphite, violet | red cherry, dried orange peel, ash, wild herbs, smoke |
Values are typical points within each wine’s range. Both wines vary — see the individual pages for how much.
Read more
Grape
Blaufränkisch
Central Europe’s finest red variety: peppery, high-acid and structured, with genuine ageing potential.
Grape
Nerello Mascalese
Mount Etna’s principal red variety: pale, high-acid, ashy and increasingly compared to Nebbiolo and Pinot Noir.
Comparison
Blaufränkisch vs Syrah
Peppery, savoury, dark-fruited reds with firm acidity — the comparison most often used to explain Austrian red wine to someone who drinks northern Rhône.
Comparison
Nerello Mascalese vs Pinot Noir
Etna Rosso is compared to Burgundy so often that the comparison needs testing rather than repeating.