If you like this, try…
Wines like Carignan
A high-yielding Mediterranean variety, dismissed for decades and now prized where old bush vines survive. Below: what to try next, grouped by the direction you want to travel.
Refine
What do you like about Carignan?
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 firm, grippy structure
- High tannin — the drying grip on your gums, like over-brewed tea. It gives a red something to hold on to with rich food, and it is what lets a wine age.
- 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.
- That it is not oaky
- No barrel character — just the fruit and the acidity. Chablis and Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc are the reference points.
- 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 earthy, mineral side
- Forest floor, wet stone, mushroom, damp earth. Widely described and much less well explained than wine writing implies — the sensation is real, the causal story usually is not.
- 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 plain or too simple, too drying or too tannic, too savoury or funky, too heavy and too earthy or musty.
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.
Egri Bikavér
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Substantially less plain or too simple.
- Substantially less drying or too tannic.
- Substantially less savoury or funky.
- A little less heavy.
- Substantially less earthy or musty.
Barbera
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Substantially less plain or too simple.
- Substantially less drying or too tannic.
- Substantially less savoury or funky.
- A little less heavy.
- Substantially less earthy or musty.
California Cabernet Sauvignon
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
- Substantially less plain or too simple.
- Substantially less drying or too tannic.
- Substantially less savoury or funky.
- About as heavy as the wine you started from.
- Substantially less earthy or musty.
Gamay
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.
- About as plain or too simple as the wine you started from.
- Substantially less drying or too tannic.
- Substantially less savoury or funky.
- Substantially less heavy.
- Substantially less earthy or musty.
Merlot
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.
- Substantially less plain or too simple.
- Substantially less drying or too tannic.
- Substantially less savoury or funky.
- About as heavy as the wine you started from.
- Substantially less earthy or musty.
Corvina
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Substantially less plain or too simple.
- Substantially less drying or too tannic.
- Substantially less savoury or funky.
- About as heavy as the wine you started from.
- Substantially less earthy or musty.
Rioja Crianza
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
- Substantially less plain or too simple.
- Substantially less drying or too tannic.
- Substantially less savoury or funky.
- About as heavy as the wine you started from.
- Substantially less earthy or musty.
Cerasuolo di Vittoria
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
- About as plain or too simple as the wine you started from.
- Substantially less drying or too tannic.
- Substantially less savoury or funky.
- Substantially less heavy.
- Substantially less earthy or musty.
Closest overall
Nearest neighbours, no change of direction.
Closest matches
The nearest overall neighbours across structure and flavour, with no deliberate change of direction.
Egri Bikavér
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.
Barbera
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and less tannic and softer.
California Cabernet Sauvignon
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.
Gamay
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and more fruit-driven.
Different grape, similar feel
Deliberately excludes the variety you already know, to find a genuinely new wine that fills the same role.
Egri Bikavér
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.
Barbera
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and less tannic and softer.
California Cabernet Sauvignon
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.
Gamay
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and more fruit-driven.
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.
Gamay
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 fruit-driven.
Cerasuolo di Vittoria
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and more fruit-driven.
Muscat Bailey A
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and less tannic and softer.
Valpolicella
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and less oaky.
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.
Gamay
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and more fruit-driven.
Cerasuolo di Vittoria
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and more fruit-driven.
Valpolicella
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and lighter.
Beaujolais
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and less tannic and softer.
Similar but fuller
Keeps the character but adds weight, concentration and mouthfeel.
Argentine Malbec
Argentine Malbec scores closest to Carignan across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and less oaky.
Super Tuscan
Super Tuscan scores closest to Carignan across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and more tannic and structured.
Bolgheri
Bolgheri scores closest to Carignan across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and more tannic and structured.
Primitivo
Primitivo scores closest to Carignan across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and stronger and warmer.
Similar but less tannic
For readers who find firm reds drying. Reduces tannic grip while holding flavour and weight roughly steady.
California Cabernet Sauvignon
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.
Merlot
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and less oaky.
Barbera
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be less tannic and softer, and less oaky.
Barbera d’Alba
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be less tannic and softer, and fuller and richer.
Similar but more structured
More tannic architecture, for food or for ageing.
Petit Verdot
Both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be more tannic and structured, and fuller and richer.
Touriga Nacional
Touriga Nacional scores closest to Carignan across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be more tannic and structured, and fuller and richer.
Toro
Toro scores closest to Carignan across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be more tannic and structured, and fuller and richer.
Petite Sirah
Petite Sirah scores closest to Carignan across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be more tannic and structured, and fuller and richer.
Similar but fresher
Raises acidity and overall lift, usually by moving to a cooler-climate expression.
Barbera
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and less tannic and softer.
Barbera d’Asti
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and less oaky.
Valpolicella
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and lighter.
Loire Cabernet Franc
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 earthier.
Similar but softer
Lowers acidity and sharpness in favour of a broader, gentler feel.
California Cabernet Sauvignon
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.
Merlot
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and less oaky.
Grenache
curatedConstant blending partners across the western Mediterranean.
Expect: Softer tannin, riper red fruit and higher alcohol.
Agiorgitiko
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and less oaky.
The sparkling version
Moves to a sparkling expression while holding the flavour and weight as close as possible.
Sparkling Shiraz
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and more fruit-driven.
Lambrusco
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and more fruit-driven.
Lambrusco Grasparossa
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and more fruit-driven.
English sparkling rosé
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and less tannic and softer.
Similar but sweeter
Adds perceptible sweetness, which also softens acidity and chilli heat.
California Cabernet Sauvignon
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.
Sparkling Shiraz
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and more fruit-driven.
Corvina
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and less oaky.
Tawny Port
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and stronger and warmer.
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.
Trousseau
Both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.
Pinot Meunier
Both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and less tannic and softer.
Dornfelder
Dornfelder scores closest to Carignan across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and more fruit-driven.
Rondo
Rondo scores closest to Carignan across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and more fruit-driven.
Similar but more oaky
Adds barrel character, toast and a creamier texture.
California Cabernet Sauvignon
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.
Pinotage
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and more tannic and structured.
Merlot
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and fuller and richer.
Super Tuscan
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and more tannic and structured.
Similar but more aromatic
More to smell before you taste — floral, fruity or spiced aromatics.
Gamay
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and more fruit-driven.
Cabernet Franc
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 earthier.
Malbec
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and more tannic and structured.
Pinot Noir
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be earthier, and less oaky.
Similar but more restrained
For readers who find intensely aromatic wines tiring over a whole glass. Keeps the structure, turns the volume down.
Sémillon
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be less tannic and softer, and less oaky.
Egri Bikavér
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.
Barbera
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and less tannic and softer.
California Cabernet Sauvignon
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.
Similar but more floral
Pushes specifically towards rose, violet, blossom and elderflower character.
Gamay
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and more fruit-driven.
Cabernet Franc
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 earthier.
Malbec
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and more tannic and structured.
Pinot Noir
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be earthier, and less oaky.
Similar but more savoury
Moves away from primary fruit towards earth, herb, meat and umami character.
Rioja Gran Reserva
Rioja Gran Reserva scores closest to Carignan across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and earthier.
Chianti Classico Riserva
Chianti Classico Riserva scores closest to Carignan across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and earthier.
Naoussa Xinomavro
Naoussa Xinomavro scores closest to Carignan across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and more tannic and structured.
Xinomavro
Xinomavro scores closest to Carignan across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and more tannic and structured.
Similar but fruitier
More obvious, generous fruit flavour, usually from a warmer climate.
Egri Bikavér
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.
Barbera
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and less tannic and softer.
California Cabernet Sauvignon
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and fruitier.
Merlot
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, 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.
Zinfandel
Both are made from carignan, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and stronger and warmer.
Rioja
Both are made from carignan, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and more savoury.
Montsant
Both are made from carignan, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and fuller and richer.
Bekaa Valley Red
Both are made from carignan.
Expect: Expect it to be earthier, and fuller and richer.
Same grape, cooler climate
Typically fresher, lighter and more herbal, with lower alcohol.
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.
Montsant
Both are made from carignan, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and fuller and richer.
Rioja
Both are made from carignan, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and more savoury.
Zinfandel
Both are made from carignan, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and stronger and warmer.
Bekaa Valley Red
Both are made from carignan.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and earthier.
Same grape, warmer climate
Typically riper, fuller and more generous in fruit, with higher alcohol.
Priorat
Both are made from carignan.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and more tannic and structured.
Zinfandel
Both are made from carignan, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and stronger and warmer.
Southern Rhône blend
Both are made from carignan, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure, both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and less oaky.
Montsant
Both are made from carignan, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and less oaky.
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.
Barbera
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and less tannic and softer.
California Cabernet Sauvignon
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.
Gamay
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and more fruit-driven.
Merlot
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and less oaky.
Something more adventurous
Less familiar wines that occupy similar territory — the interesting end of the shelf.
Egri Bikavér
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.
Corvina
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and less oaky.
Cerasuolo di Vittoria
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and more fruit-driven.
Nero d’Avola
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, 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.
Egri Bikavér
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.
Corvina
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and less oaky.
Cerasuolo di Vittoria
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and more fruit-driven.
Nero d’Avola
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and less oaky.
A step up
The benchmark expressions of the same territory, usually with more concentration, structure and ageing potential.
Ribera del Duero
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and more savoury.
Amarone della Valpolicella
Amarone della Valpolicella scores closest to Carignan across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and stronger and warmer.
Priorat
Both are made from carignan.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and more tannic and structured.
Argentine Malbec
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and less oaky.
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.