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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.

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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.

I like…

The firm, grippy structure The savoury, meaty side

But it’s a bit…

too drying or too tannic too heavy too plain or too simple too earthy or musty too savoury or funky too austere

Clear all

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 keeping the savoury, non-fruity character, while moving away from too plain or too simple.

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.

Rioja

Both are made from carignan, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Keeps the savoury, non-fruity character.
Substantially less plain or too simple.

Rioja Reserva

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Keeps the savoury, non-fruity character.
Substantially less plain or too simple.

Tempranillo

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Keeps the savoury, non-fruity character.
Substantially less plain or too simple.

Mourvèdre

curated

A comparably structured, savoury Mediterranean variety.

Keeps the savoury, non-fruity character.
Substantially less plain or too simple.

Ribera del Duero

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Keeps the savoury, non-fruity character.
Substantially less plain or too simple.

Rioja Gran Reserva

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Keeps the savoury, non-fruity character.
Substantially less plain or too simple.

Red Bordeaux

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.

Keeps the savoury, non-fruity character.
Substantially less plain or too simple.

Vino Nobile di Montepulciano

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Keeps the savoury, non-fruity character.
Substantially less plain or too simple.

Closest overall

Nearest neighbours, no change of direction.

Closest matches

The nearest overall neighbours across structure and flavour, with no deliberate change of direction.

Rioja

Both are made from carignan, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be spicier, and broader and softer.

Rioja Reserva

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be spicier, and broader and softer.

Tempranillo

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be spicier, and broader and softer.

Mourvèdre

curated

A comparably structured, savoury Mediterranean variety.

Expect: Gamier and denser.

Different grape, similar feel

Deliberately excludes the variety you already know, to find a genuinely new wine that fills the same role.

Rioja Reserva

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be spicier, and broader and softer.

Tempranillo

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be spicier, and broader and softer.

Ribera del Duero

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and spicier.

Rioja Gran Reserva

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and spicier.

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.

Pinot Noir

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 spicier.

Red Burgundy

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 spicier.

Spätburgunder (German Pinot Noir)

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and fruitier.

Hemel-en-Aarde Pinot Noir

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and fruitier.

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.

Red Burgundy

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 spicier.

Pinot Noir

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 spicier.

Spätburgunder (German Pinot Noir)

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and fruitier.

English still Pinot Noir

English still Pinot Noir scores closest to Carignan across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and more fruit-driven.

Similar but fuller

Keeps the character but adds weight, concentration and mouthfeel.

Ribera del Duero

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and spicier.

Priorat

Both are made from carignan, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and fruitier.

Super Tuscan

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be more fruit-driven, and fruitier.

Uruguayan Tannat

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and fruitier.

Similar but less tannic

For readers who find firm reds drying. Reduces tannic grip while holding flavour and weight roughly steady.

Rioja Gran Reserva

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and spicier.

Chilean Carmenère

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and fruitier.

Carmenère

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and fruitier.

Pinot Noir

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 spicier.

Similar but more structured

More tannic architecture, for food or for ageing.

Baga

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and fresher.

Bairrada Baga

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and fresher.

Aglianico

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and spicier.

Barbaresco

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and more aromatic.

Similar but fresher

Raises acidity and overall lift, usually by moving to a cooler-climate expression.

Baga

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and more tannic and structured.

Bairrada Baga

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and more tannic and structured.

Chianti Classico

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and more herbal and green.

Red Burgundy

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 spicier.

Similar but softer

Lowers acidity and sharpness in favour of a broader, gentler feel.

Mourvèdre

curated

A comparably structured, savoury Mediterranean variety.

Expect: Gamier and denser.

Tempranillo

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be spicier, and broader and softer.

Syrah

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 fruitier.

Jumilla Monastrell

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and fruitier.

The sparkling version

Moves to a sparkling expression while holding the flavour and weight as close as possible.

Sparkling Shiraz

Sparkling Shiraz scores closest to Carignan across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be more fruit-driven, and fruitier.

Rioja

Both are made from carignan, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be stiller, and spicier.

Rioja Reserva

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be stiller, and spicier.

Tempranillo

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be stiller, and spicier.

Similar but sweeter

Adds perceptible sweetness, which also softens acidity and chilli heat.

Tawny Port

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and fruitier.

Sagrantino

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and fruitier.

Pinotage

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be more fruit-driven, and fruitier.

Montefalco Sagrantino

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and fruitier.

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.

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.

Rioja

Both are made from carignan, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be spicier, and broader and softer.

Rioja Reserva

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be spicier, and broader and softer.

Tempranillo

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be spicier, and broader and softer.

Ribera del Duero

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and spicier.

Similar but more oaky

Adds barrel character, toast and a creamier texture.

Pinotage

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be more fruit-driven, and fruitier.

Ribera del Duero

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and spicier.

Rioja

Both are made from carignan, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be spicier, and broader and softer.

Rioja Gran Reserva

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and spicier.

Similar but more aromatic

More to smell before you taste — floral, fruity or spiced aromatics.

Barbaresco

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and more aromatic.

Nebbiolo

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and more aromatic.

Pinot Noir

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 spicier.

Barolo

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and more savoury.

Similar but more restrained

For readers who find intensely aromatic wines tiring over a whole glass. Keeps the structure, turns the volume down.

Rioja

Both are made from carignan, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and spicier.

Rioja Reserva

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and spicier.

Tempranillo

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and spicier.

Ribera del Duero

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and more aromatic.

Similar but more floral

Pushes specifically towards rose, violet, blossom and elderflower character.

Barbaresco

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and more floral.

Nebbiolo

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and more floral.

Pinot Noir

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 spicier.

Barolo

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and more savoury.

Similar but more savoury

Moves away from primary fruit towards earth, herb, meat and umami character.

Rioja Gran Reserva

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and spicier.

Chianti Classico Riserva

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and less oaky.

Taurasi

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and less oaky.

Naoussa Xinomavro

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and less oaky.

Similar but fruitier

More obvious, generous fruit flavour, usually from a warmer climate.

Ribera del Duero

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and spicier.

Pinotage

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and more fruit-driven.

Super Tuscan

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and more fruit-driven.

Bekaa Valley Red

Both are made from carignan, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, 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.

Rioja

Both are made from carignan, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be spicier, and broader and softer.

Bekaa Valley Red

Both are made from carignan, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and fruitier.

Priorat

Both are made from carignan, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and fruitier.

Swartland Syrah and Rhône blends

Both are made from carignan.

Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and fruitier.

Same grape, cooler climate

Typically fresher, lighter and more herbal, with lower alcohol.

Rioja

Both are made from carignan, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and fuller and richer.

Bekaa Valley Red

Both are made from carignan, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and fruitier.

Priorat

Both are made from carignan, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and fruitier.

Swartland Syrah and Rhône blends

Both are made from carignan.

Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and fruitier.

Same grape, warmer climate

Typically riper, fuller and more generous in fruit, with higher alcohol.

Priorat

Both are made from carignan, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and fruitier.

Rioja

Both are made from carignan, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and spicier.

Bekaa Valley Red

Both are made from carignan, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and fruitier.

Languedoc red

Both are made from carignan, and both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and fruitier.

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.

Rioja

Both are made from carignan, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be spicier, and broader and softer.

Rioja Reserva

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be spicier, and broader and softer.

Tempranillo

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be spicier, and broader and softer.

Ribera del Duero

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and spicier.

Something more adventurous

Less familiar wines that occupy similar territory — the interesting end of the shelf.

Mourvèdre

curated

A comparably structured, savoury Mediterranean variety.

Expect: Gamier and denser.

Vino Nobile di Montepulciano

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and fresher and more acidic.

Baga

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and fresher.

Bairrada Baga

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and fresher.

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.

Mourvèdre

curated

A comparably structured, savoury Mediterranean variety.

Expect: Gamier and denser.

Vino Nobile di Montepulciano

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and fresher and more acidic.

Baga

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and fresher.

Bairrada Baga

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and fresher.

A step up

The benchmark expressions of the same territory, usually with more concentration, structure and ageing potential.

Ribera del Duero

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and fuller and richer.

Priorat

Both are made from carignan, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and fruitier.

Amarone della Valpolicella

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and less oaky.

Châteauneuf-du-Pape

Both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and fruitier.

How these are chosen

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.