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 keeping the firm tannic structure.
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.
Mourvèdre
curatedA comparably structured, savoury Mediterranean variety.
- Keeps the firm tannic structure.
Rioja
Both are made from carignan, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Keeps the firm tannic structure.
Cahors
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
- Keeps the firm tannic structure.
Languedoc red
Both are made from carignan, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both come from the same country.
- Keeps the firm tannic structure.
Bekaa Valley Red
Both are made from carignan, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Keeps the firm tannic structure.
Montsant
Both are made from carignan, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Keeps the firm tannic structure.
Red Bordeaux
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
- Keeps the firm tannic structure.
Vino Nobile di Montepulciano
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Keeps the firm tannic structure.
Closest overall
Nearest neighbours, no change of direction.
Closest matches
The nearest overall neighbours across structure and flavour, with no deliberate change of direction.
Mourvèdre
curatedA comparably structured, savoury Mediterranean variety.
Expect: Gamier and denser.
Rioja
Both are made from carignan, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and spicier.
Cahors
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be more floral, and earthier.
Languedoc red
Both are made from carignan, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be more herbal and green, and spicier.
Different grape, similar feel
Deliberately excludes the variety you already know, to find a genuinely new wine that fills the same role.
Cahors
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be more floral, and earthier.
Mourvèdre
curatedA comparably structured, savoury Mediterranean variety.
Expect: Gamier and denser.
Red Bordeaux
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be more herbal and green, and spicier.
Vino Nobile di Montepulciano
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and more oaky.
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.
Colorino
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more fruit-driven, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.
Dão
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more floral, and stronger and warmer.
Dolcetto
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be cleaner and more fruit-focused, and softer and rounder.
Fer Servadou
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be more herbal and green, and more fruit-driven.
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.
Mondeuse Noire
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be spicier, and more fruit-driven.
Fer Servadou
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be more herbal and green, and more fruit-driven.
Cru Beaujolais
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 more floral.
Loire Cabernet Franc
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 more herbal and green.
Similar but fuller
Keeps the character but adds weight, concentration and mouthfeel.
Alicante Bouschet
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more fruit-driven, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.
Amarone della Valpolicella
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be spicier, and fruitier.
Barossa Shiraz
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and fruitier.
Bolgheri
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and fruitier.
Similar but less tannic
For readers who find firm reds drying. Reduces tannic grip while holding flavour and weight roughly steady.
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 less tannic and softer, and more herbal and green.
Zinfandel
Both are made from carignan, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be less tannic and softer, and spicier.
Merlot
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 cleaner and more fruit-focused.
Montepulciano d’Abruzzo
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be less tannic and softer, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.
Similar but more structured
More tannic architecture, for food or for ageing.
Priorat
Both are made from carignan.
Expect: Expect it to be more tannic and structured, and rounder and creamier in texture.
Tannat
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be more tannic and structured, and fuller and richer.
Madiran
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be more tannic and structured, and fuller and richer.
Baga
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more tannic and structured, and fresher.
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 more tannic and structured, and more oaky.
Bairrada Baga
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more tannic and structured, and more oaky.
Chianti Classico
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more herbal and green, and more oaky.
Etna Rosso
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more floral, and lighter.
Similar but softer
Lowers acidity and sharpness in favour of a broader, gentler feel.
Alicante Bouschet
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more fruit-driven, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.
Barossa Shiraz
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and fruitier.
Châteauneuf-du-Pape
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be more herbal and green, and spicier.
Dalmatian Plavac Mali
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be spicier, and fruitier.
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 less tannic and softer, and sweeter.
Lambrusco
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be less tannic and softer, and stiller.
Lambrusco Grasparossa
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be less tannic and softer, and stiller.
Rioja
Both are made from carignan, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be stiller, and more oaky.
Similar but sweeter
Adds perceptible sweetness, which also softens acidity and chilli heat.
Amarone della Valpolicella
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be spicier, and fruitier.
Pinotage
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and spicier.
Port
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and fruitier.
Sagrantino
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more tannic and structured, and sweeter.
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.
Bobal
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be cleaner and more fruit-focused, and fruitier.
Broad-leaved Melnik
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be spicier, and broader and softer.
Colorino
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more fruit-driven, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.
Cornalin
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be spicier, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.
Similar but more oaky
Adds barrel character, toast and a creamier texture.
Alicante Bouschet
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and more fruit-driven.
Amarone della Valpolicella
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be spicier, and less oaky.
Argentine Cabernet Franc
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and more floral.
Barossa Shiraz
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and broader and softer.
Similar but more aromatic
More to smell before you taste — floral, fruity or spiced aromatics.
Barbaresco
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more tannic and structured, and more aromatic.
Barolo
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more tannic and structured, and more aromatic.
Malbec
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be spicier, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.
Nebbiolo
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more tannic and structured, and more aromatic.
Similar but more restrained
For readers who find intensely aromatic wines tiring over a whole glass. Keeps the structure, turns the volume down.
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 more aromatic, and more oaky.
Mourvèdre
curatedA comparably structured, savoury Mediterranean variety.
Expect: Gamier and denser.
Languedoc red
Both are made from carignan, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and more herbal and green.
Bekaa Valley Red
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.
Similar but more floral
Pushes specifically towards rose, violet, blossom and elderflower character.
Argentine Cabernet Franc
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more floral, and more herbal and green.
Barbaresco
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more tannic and structured, and more floral.
Barolo
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more tannic and structured, and more floral.
Cahors
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be more neutral and subtle, and earthier.
Similar but more savoury
Moves away from primary fruit towards earth, herb, meat and umami character.
Chianti Classico Riserva
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more herbal and green, and fresher and more acidic.
Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and rounder and creamier in texture.
Northern Rhône Syrah
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be spicier, and fruitier.
Taurasi
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more tannic and structured, and spicier.
Similar but fruitier
More obvious, generous fruit flavour, usually from a warmer climate.
Alicante Bouschet
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be cleaner and more fruit-focused, and fuller and richer.
Argentine Cabernet Franc
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more floral, and more herbal and green.
Barossa Shiraz
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, 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 spicier, and more savoury.
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 more oaky, and spicier.
Bekaa Valley Red
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.
Montsant
Both are made from carignan, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more herbal and green, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.
Swartland Syrah and Rhône blends
Both are made from carignan, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more herbal and green, and spicier.
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.
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 more oaky.
Bekaa Valley Red
Both are made from carignan, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be spicier, and softer and rounder.
Montsant
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.
Swartland Syrah and Rhône blends
Both are made from carignan, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more herbal and green, and spicier.
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 more tannic and structured, and rounder and creamier in texture.
Languedoc red
Both are made from carignan, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and more herbal and green.
Bekaa Valley Red
Both are made from carignan, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be spicier, and lighter.
Montsant
Both are made from carignan, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and more herbal and green.
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 more oaky, and spicier.
Red Bordeaux
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be more herbal and green, and spicier.
Sangiovese
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more herbal and green, and spicier.
Chianti Classico
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more herbal and green, and fresher.
Something more adventurous
Less familiar wines that occupy similar territory — the interesting end of the shelf.
Cahors
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be more floral, and earthier.
Mourvèdre
curatedA comparably structured, savoury Mediterranean variety.
Expect: Gamier and denser.
Languedoc red
Both are made from carignan, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be more herbal and green, and spicier.
Bekaa Valley Red
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.
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.
Cahors
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be more floral, and earthier.
Mourvèdre
curatedA comparably structured, savoury Mediterranean variety.
Expect: Gamier and denser.
Languedoc red
Both are made from carignan, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be more herbal and green, and spicier.
Bekaa Valley Red
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.
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 more oaky, and fuller and richer.
Châteauneuf-du-Pape
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be more herbal and green, and spicier.
Amarone della Valpolicella
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be spicier, and fruitier.
Priorat
Both are made from carignan, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more tannic and structured, and rounder and creamier in texture.
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.