If you like this, try…
Wines like Lagrein
An Alpine Italian variety producing dark, firm, savoury reds in Alto Adige. Below: what to try next, grouped by the direction you want to travel.
Refine
What do you like about Lagrein?
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.
- 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 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, while moving away from 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.
Rosso di Montalcino
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
- Keeps the firm tannic structure.
- Substantially less earthy or musty.
Refosco
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
- Keeps the firm tannic structure.
- Substantially less earthy or musty.
Valais Cornalin
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Keeps the firm tannic structure.
- Substantially less earthy or musty.
Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Keeps the firm tannic structure.
- Substantially less earthy or musty.
Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Keeps the firm tannic structure.
- Substantially less earthy or musty.
Bobal
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Keeps the firm tannic structure.
- Substantially less earthy or musty.
Hawke’s Bay Bordeaux blend
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Keeps the firm tannic structure.
- Substantially less earthy or musty.
Cabernet Sauvignon
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Keeps the firm tannic structure.
- 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.
Rosso di Montalcino
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be cleaner and more fruit-focused, and more herbal and green.
Refosco
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be cleaner and more fruit-focused, and less oaky.
Valais Cornalin
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be cleaner and more fruit-focused, and spicier.
Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be cleaner and more fruit-focused, and more herbal and green.
Different grape, similar feel
Deliberately excludes the variety you already know, to find a genuinely new wine that fills the same role.
Rosso di Montalcino
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be cleaner and more fruit-focused, and more herbal and green.
Refosco
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be cleaner and more fruit-focused, and less oaky.
Valais Cornalin
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be cleaner and more fruit-focused, and spicier.
Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be cleaner and more fruit-focused, and more herbal and green.
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, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be cleaner and more fruit-focused, and less oaky.
Dolcetto
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
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.
Expect: Expect it to be cleaner and more fruit-focused, and less oaky.
Mondeuse Noire
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be cleaner and more fruit-focused, 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.
Mondeuse Noire
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be cleaner and more fruit-focused, and less oaky.
Fer Servadou
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be cleaner and more fruit-focused, and less oaky.
Cerasuolo di Vittoria
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.
Lambrusco Grasparossa
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.
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 cleaner and more fruit-focused, and more fruit-driven.
Amarone della Valpolicella
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be cleaner and more fruit-focused, and spicier.
Barossa Shiraz
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be cleaner and more fruit-focused, and broader and softer.
Bolgheri
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be cleaner and more fruit-focused, and more herbal and green.
Similar but less tannic
For readers who find firm reds drying. Reduces tannic grip while holding flavour and weight roughly steady.
Nero d’Avola
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, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be less tannic and softer, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.
Montepulciano
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.
Valpolicella Ripasso
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.
Similar but more structured
More tannic architecture, for food or for ageing.
Petit Verdot
Petit Verdot scores closest to Lagrein across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be more tannic and structured, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.
Toro
Toro scores closest to Lagrein across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be more tannic and structured, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.
Petite Sirah
Petite Sirah scores closest to Lagrein across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be more tannic and structured, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.
Touriga Nacional
Touriga Nacional scores closest to Lagrein across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be more tannic and structured, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.
Similar but fresher
Raises acidity and overall lift, usually by moving to a cooler-climate expression.
Graciano
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be cleaner and more fruit-focused, and less oaky.
Mondeuse Noire
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be cleaner and more fruit-focused, and less oaky.
Rosso di Montalcino
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be cleaner and more fruit-focused, and more herbal and green.
Refosco
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be cleaner and more fruit-focused, and less oaky.
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 cleaner and more fruit-focused, and more fruit-driven.
Barossa Shiraz
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be cleaner and more fruit-focused, and broader and softer.
Dalmatian Plavac Mali
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be cleaner and more fruit-focused, and spicier.
Malbec
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be cleaner and more fruit-focused, and spicier.
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 cleaner and more fruit-focused.
Lambrusco
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.
Lambrusco Grasparossa
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.
Rosso di Montalcino
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be stiller, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.
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, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be cleaner and more fruit-focused, and spicier.
Port
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be cleaner and more fruit-focused, and sweeter.
Tinto Cão
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be cleaner and more fruit-focused, and sweeter.
Touriga Franca
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be cleaner and more fruit-focused, 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 more fruit-driven.
Colorino
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be cleaner and more fruit-focused, and more fruit-driven.
Cornalin
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be cleaner and more fruit-focused, and spicier.
Fer Servadou
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be cleaner and more fruit-focused, and more herbal and green.
Similar but more oaky
Adds barrel character, toast and a creamier texture.
Bolgheri
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be cleaner and more fruit-focused, and less oaky.
Super Tuscan
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be cleaner and more fruit-focused, and less oaky.
Sonoma Cabernet Sauvignon
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be cleaner and more fruit-focused, and less oaky.
Shiraz
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be cleaner and more fruit-focused, and less oaky.
Similar but more aromatic
More to smell before you taste — floral, fruity or spiced aromatics.
Malbec
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be cleaner and more fruit-focused, and spicier.
Cabernet Sauvignon
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more herbal and green, and spicier.
Syrah
curatedComparable dark fruit and savoury structure at a lighter weight.
Expect: Fuller and more peppery.
Cabernet Franc
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be less tannic and softer, and earthier.
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.
Rosso di Montalcino
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be cleaner and more fruit-focused, and more aromatic.
Refosco
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be cleaner and more fruit-focused, and more aromatic.
Valais Cornalin
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be cleaner and more fruit-focused, and more aromatic.
Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be cleaner and more fruit-focused, and more aromatic.
Similar but more floral
Pushes specifically towards rose, violet, blossom and elderflower character.
Malbec
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be cleaner and more fruit-focused, and spicier.
Argentine Cabernet Franc
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be cleaner and more fruit-focused, and more floral.
Hawke’s Bay Syrah
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be cleaner and more fruit-focused, and spicier.
Touriga Franca
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be cleaner and more fruit-focused, and sweeter.
Similar but more savoury
Moves away from primary fruit towards earth, herb, meat and umami character.
Chianti Classico Riserva
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be earthier, and more herbal and green.
Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be earthier, and fresher and more acidic.
Taurasi
Both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be earthier, and more tannic and structured.
Northern Rhône Syrah
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be earthier, and spicier.
Similar but fruitier
More obvious, generous fruit flavour, usually from a warmer climate.
Barossa Shiraz
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be cleaner and more fruit-focused, and broader and softer.
Bolgheri
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be cleaner and more fruit-focused, and more herbal and green.
McLaren Vale Shiraz
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be cleaner and more fruit-focused, and rounder and creamier in texture.
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be cleaner and more fruit-focused, and rounder and creamier in texture.
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.
Cabernet Sauvignon
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more herbal and green, and spicier.
Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be cleaner and more fruit-focused, and more herbal and green.
Super Tuscan
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be cleaner and more fruit-focused, and more herbal and green.
Amarone della Valpolicella
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be cleaner and more fruit-focused, and spicier.
Something more adventurous
Less familiar wines that occupy similar territory — the interesting end of the shelf.
Rosso di Montalcino
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be cleaner and more fruit-focused, and more herbal and green.
Refosco
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be cleaner and more fruit-focused, and less oaky.
Valais Cornalin
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be cleaner and more fruit-focused, and spicier.
Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be cleaner and more fruit-focused, and more herbal and green.
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.
Rosso di Montalcino
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be cleaner and more fruit-focused, and more herbal and green.
Refosco
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be cleaner and more fruit-focused, and less oaky.
Valais Cornalin
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be cleaner and more fruit-focused, and spicier.
Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be cleaner and more fruit-focused, and more herbal and green.
A step up
The benchmark expressions of the same territory, usually with more concentration, structure and ageing potential.
Amarone della Valpolicella
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be cleaner and more fruit-focused, and spicier.
Ribera del Duero
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be earthier, and fuller and richer.
Châteauneuf-du-Pape
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be earthier, and more herbal and green.
Priorat
Priorat scores closest to Lagrein across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be earthier, and more tannic and structured.
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.