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Wines like Carmenère

A Bordeaux variety that nearly vanished in France and was rediscovered in Chile, where it had been mistaken for Merlot for a century. Below: what to try next, grouped by the direction you want to travel.

← Back to Carmenère

Refine

What do you like about Carmenère?

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 herbal, green side The savoury, meaty side

But it’s a bit…

too soft or too easy too oaky or woody too green or grassy too peppery too savoury or funky too austere

Clear all

What these words mean

How smooth and soft it is: Low tannin. Tannin is the drying, gum-gripping sensation in red wine — like strong tea. A smooth red has little of it.
The vanilla and oak: Vanilla, toast, coconut, sweet spice, sometimes smoke. It comes from the barrel rather than the grape, which is why the same grape can taste completely different with and without it.
The herbal, green side: Grass, blackcurrant leaf, green pepper, mint. It divides people more sharply than almost any other character.
The spice: Black pepper, clove, cinnamon. Some of it is the grape — the pepper in Syrah is a measured compound called rotundone — and some is the barrel.
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.
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 austere, too oaky or woody, too green or grassy and too soft or too easy.

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.

Sagrantino

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Substantially less austere.
A little less oaky or woody.
Substantially less green or grassy.
Substantially less soft or too easy.

Tinto Cão

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Substantially less austere.
Substantially less oaky or woody.
Substantially less green or grassy.
Substantially less soft or too easy.

Touriga Nacional

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Substantially less austere.
About as oaky or woody as the wine you started from.
Substantially less green or grassy.
Substantially less soft or too easy.

Montefalco Sagrantino

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Substantially less austere.
A little less oaky or woody.
Substantially less green or grassy.
Substantially less soft or too easy.

Touriga Franca

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Substantially less austere.
A little less oaky or woody.
Substantially less green or grassy.
A little less soft or too easy.

Lambrusco Grasparossa

Lambrusco Grasparossa scores closest to Carmenère across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Substantially less austere.
Substantially less oaky or woody.
Substantially less green or grassy.
A little less soft or too easy.

Saperavi

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Substantially less austere.
A little less oaky or woody.
Substantially less green or grassy.
A little less soft or too easy.

Rosso di Montalcino

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

About as austere as the wine you started from.
Substantially less oaky or woody.
Substantially less green or grassy.
Substantially less soft or too easy.

Closest overall

Nearest neighbours, no change of direction.

Closest matches

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

Sagrantino

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Tinto Cão

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and less tannic and softer.

Touriga Nacional

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Montefalco Sagrantino

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and drier.

Different grape, similar feel

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

Sagrantino

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Tinto Cão

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and less tannic and softer.

Touriga Nacional

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Montefalco Sagrantino

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and drier.

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.

Lambrusco Grasparossa

Lambrusco Grasparossa scores closest to Carmenère across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be less tannic and softer, and riper and less green.

Tinto Cão

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and less tannic and softer.

Rondo

Rondo scores closest to Carmenère across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be less tannic and softer, and drier.

Dolcetto

Dolcetto scores closest to Carmenère across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and riper and less green.

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.

Lambrusco Grasparossa

Lambrusco Grasparossa scores closest to Carmenère across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be less tannic and softer, and riper and less green.

Rondo

Rondo scores closest to Carmenère across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be less tannic and softer, and drier.

Dornfelder

Dornfelder scores closest to Carmenère across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be less tannic and softer, and riper and less green.

Grolleau

Grolleau scores closest to Carmenère across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be less tannic and softer, and riper and less green.

Similar but fuller

Keeps the character but adds weight, concentration and mouthfeel.

Touriga Nacional

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Toro

Toro scores closest to Carmenère across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and rounder and creamier in texture.

Amarone della Valpolicella

Amarone della Valpolicella scores closest to Carmenère across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be rounder and creamier in texture, and riper and less green.

Priorat

Priorat scores closest to Carmenère across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and rounder and creamier in texture.

Similar but less tannic

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

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.

Tinta Barroca

Tinta Barroca scores closest to Carmenère across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be less tannic and softer, and riper and less green.

Touriga Nacional

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

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

Sagrantino

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

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

Tinta Negra

Tinta Negra scores closest to Carmenère across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be less tannic and softer, and riper and less green.

Similar but more structured

More tannic architecture, for food or for ageing.

Sagrantino

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

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

Touriga Nacional

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

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

Montefalco Sagrantino

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and drier.

Tinto Cão

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be less tannic and softer, and riper and less green.

Similar but fresher

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

Tinto Cão

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and less tannic and softer.

Saperavi

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and drier.

Sagrantino

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

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

Lambrusco Grasparossa

Lambrusco Grasparossa scores closest to Carmenère across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be less tannic and softer, and riper and less green.

Similar but softer

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

Tinta Barroca

Tinta Barroca scores closest to Carmenère across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be less tannic and softer, and riper and less green.

Toro

Toro scores closest to Carmenère across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and rounder and creamier in texture.

Primitivo di Manduria

Primitivo di Manduria scores closest to Carmenère across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be rounder and creamier in texture, and riper and less green.

Touriga Nacional

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

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 Carmenère across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be less tannic and softer, and riper and less green.

Lambrusco Grasparossa

Lambrusco Grasparossa scores closest to Carmenère across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be less tannic and softer, and riper and less green.

Lambrusco

Lambrusco scores closest to Carmenère across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be less tannic and softer, and riper and less green.

Sagrantino

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and stiller.

Similar but sweeter

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

Sagrantino

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

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

Tinto Cão

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and less tannic and softer.

Touriga Nacional

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

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

Lambrusco Grasparossa

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be less tannic and softer, and riper and less green.

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.

Tinto Cão

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and riper and less green.

Lambrusco Grasparossa

Lambrusco Grasparossa scores closest to Carmenère across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and less tannic and softer.

Tinta Barroca

Tinta Barroca scores closest to Carmenère across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and less tannic and softer.

Rondo

Rondo scores closest to Carmenère across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and less tannic and softer.

Similar but more oaky

Adds barrel character, toast and a creamier texture.

Pinotage

Pinotage scores closest to Carmenère across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

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

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon scores closest to Carmenère across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and drier.

California Cabernet Sauvignon

California Cabernet Sauvignon scores closest to Carmenère across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

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

Barossa Shiraz

Barossa Shiraz scores closest to Carmenère across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and drier.

Similar but more aromatic

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

Barbaresco

Barbaresco scores closest to Carmenère across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and riper and less green.

Nebbiolo

Nebbiolo scores closest to Carmenère across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and riper and less green.

Barolo

Barolo scores closest to Carmenère across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and riper and less green.

Cabernet Franc

curated

A shared parent and a shared herbaceous, graphite-tinged character.

Expect: Lighter, higher in acid and more floral.

Similar but more restrained

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

Sagrantino

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Tinto Cão

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and less tannic and softer.

Montefalco Sagrantino

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and drier.

Lambrusco Grasparossa

Lambrusco Grasparossa scores closest to Carmenère across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be less tannic and softer, and riper and less green.

Similar but more floral

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

Touriga Nacional

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Barbaresco

Barbaresco scores closest to Carmenère across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and riper and less green.

Touriga Franca

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and less tannic and softer.

Nebbiolo

Nebbiolo scores closest to Carmenère across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and riper and less green.

Similar but more savoury

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

Naoussa Xinomavro

Naoussa Xinomavro scores closest to Carmenère across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and riper and less green.

Xinomavro

Xinomavro scores closest to Carmenère across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and riper and less green.

Taurasi

Taurasi scores closest to Carmenère across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and riper and less green.

Chianti Classico Riserva

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and less tannic and softer.

Similar but fruitier

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

Touriga Nacional

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Toro

Toro scores closest to Carmenère across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and riper and less green.

Primitivo

Primitivo scores closest to Carmenère across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be less tannic and softer, and riper and less green.

Petite Sirah

Petite Sirah scores closest to Carmenère across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and riper and less green.

Change the place

Keep the grape, move it somewhere else.

Same grape, cooler climate

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

Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon

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

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and less tannic and softer.

Chilean Carmenère

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

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and less tannic and softer.

Same grape, warmer climate

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

Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon

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

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and less tannic and softer.

Chilean Carmenère

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

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and less tannic and softer.

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.

Barbaresco

Barbaresco scores closest to Carmenère across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and riper and less green.

Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon

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

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and less tannic and softer.

Nebbiolo

Nebbiolo scores closest to Carmenère across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and riper and less green.

Barolo

Barolo scores closest to Carmenère across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and riper and less green.

Something more adventurous

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

Sagrantino

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Tinto Cão

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and less tannic and softer.

Touriga Nacional

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Montefalco Sagrantino

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and drier.

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.

Sagrantino

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Tinto Cão

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and less tannic and softer.

Touriga Nacional

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Montefalco Sagrantino

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and drier.

A step up

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

Amarone della Valpolicella

Amarone della Valpolicella scores closest to Carmenère across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and drier.

Priorat

Priorat scores closest to Carmenère across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and riper and less green.

Châteauneuf-du-Pape

Châteauneuf-du-Pape scores closest to Carmenère across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and rounder and creamier in texture.

Ribera del Duero

Ribera del Duero scores closest to Carmenère across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and more oaky.

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.