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.
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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 heavy, too oaky or woody and too savoury or funky.
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.
Dolcetto
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
- Keeps the firm tannic structure.
- Substantially less heavy.
- A little less oaky or woody.
- A little less savoury or funky.
Fer Servadou
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Keeps the firm tannic structure.
- Substantially less heavy.
- Substantially less oaky or woody.
- Substantially less savoury or funky.
Cru Beaujolais
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Has some of the firm tannic structure, though less of it.
- Substantially less heavy.
- A little less oaky or woody.
- A little less savoury or funky.
Colorino
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
- Keeps the firm tannic structure.
- Substantially less heavy.
- Substantially less oaky or woody.
- A little less savoury or funky.
Loire Cabernet Franc
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Has some of the firm tannic structure, though less of it.
- Substantially less heavy.
- A little less oaky or woody.
- A little less savoury or funky.
Cerasuolo di Vittoria
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
- Has some of the firm tannic structure, though less of it.
- Substantially less heavy.
- A little less oaky or woody.
- Substantially less savoury or funky.
Lambrusco Grasparossa
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.
- Has some of the firm tannic structure, though less of it.
- Substantially less heavy.
- Substantially less oaky or woody.
- Substantially less savoury or funky.
Cabernet Franc
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Has some of the firm tannic structure, though less of it.
- Substantially less heavy.
- A little less oaky or woody.
- A little less savoury or funky.
Closest overall
Nearest neighbours, no change of direction.
Closest matches
The nearest overall neighbours across structure and flavour, with no deliberate change of direction.
Dolcetto
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be more restrained in fruit, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.
Fer Servadou
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and more fruit-driven.
Cru Beaujolais
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less tannic and softer, and more restrained in fruit.
Colorino
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be more restrained in fruit, and less oaky.
Different grape, similar feel
Deliberately excludes the variety you already know, to find a genuinely new wine that fills the same role.
Dolcetto
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be more restrained in fruit, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.
Fer Servadou
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and more fruit-driven.
Cru Beaujolais
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less tannic and softer, and more restrained in fruit.
Colorino
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be more restrained in fruit, and less 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.
Dolcetto
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be more restrained in fruit, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.
Fer Servadou
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, 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 more restrained in fruit, and less oaky.
Cru Beaujolais
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less tannic and softer, and more restrained in fruit.
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.
Cru Beaujolais
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less tannic and softer, and more restrained in fruit.
Loire Cabernet Franc
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less tannic and softer, and more restrained in fruit.
Cerasuolo di Vittoria
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be less tannic and softer, and more fruit-driven.
Lambrusco Grasparossa
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.
Similar but fuller
Keeps the character but adds weight, concentration and mouthfeel.
Alicante Bouschet
Alicante Bouschet scores closest to Lagrein across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and more oaky.
Washington Cabernet Sauvignon
Washington Cabernet Sauvignon scores closest to Lagrein across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and more oaky.
Toro
Toro scores closest to Lagrein across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and stronger and warmer.
McLaren Vale Shiraz
McLaren Vale Shiraz scores closest to Lagrein 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.
Cru Beaujolais
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less tannic and softer, and more restrained in fruit.
Loire Cabernet Franc
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less tannic and softer, and more restrained in fruit.
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 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 more fruit-driven.
Similar but more structured
More tannic architecture, for food or for ageing.
Barbaresco
Both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be more tannic and structured, and fuller and richer.
Naoussa Xinomavro
Naoussa Xinomavro scores closest to Lagrein across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be more tannic and structured, and more savoury.
Xinomavro
Xinomavro scores closest to Lagrein across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be more tannic and structured, and more savoury.
Toro
Toro scores closest to Lagrein across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and more tannic and structured.
Similar but fresher
Raises acidity and overall lift, usually by moving to a cooler-climate expression.
Loire Cabernet Franc
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less tannic and softer, and more restrained in fruit.
Langhe Nebbiolo
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and more restrained in fruit.
Mondeuse Noire
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be spicier, and less oaky.
Etna Rosso
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be more restrained in fruit, and more savoury.
Similar but softer
Lowers acidity and sharpness in favour of a broader, gentler feel.
Dolcetto
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be more restrained in fruit, 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 fuller and richer, and less tannic and softer.
Montepulciano
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 tannic and softer.
Canaiolo
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be more restrained in fruit, and less tannic and softer.
The sparkling version
Moves to a sparkling expression while holding the flavour and weight as close as possible.
Lambrusco
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.
Lambrusco Grasparossa
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.
Sparkling Shiraz
Sparkling Shiraz scores closest to Lagrein across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and more oaky.
English sparkling rosé
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be less tannic and softer, and more restrained in fruit.
Similar but sweeter
Adds perceptible sweetness, which also softens acidity and chilli heat.
Lambrusco Grasparossa
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.
Tinto Cão
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more restrained in fruit, and less oaky.
Lambrusco
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.
Dornfelder
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be less tannic and softer, and less oaky.
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.
Fer Servadou
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and more fruit-driven.
Dolcetto
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be more restrained in fruit, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.
Colorino
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and more restrained in fruit.
Lambrusco Grasparossa
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.
Similar but more oaky
Adds barrel character, toast and a creamier texture.
California Cabernet Sauvignon
California Cabernet Sauvignon scores closest to Lagrein across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and fuller and richer.
Pinotage
Pinotage scores closest to Lagrein across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and fuller and richer.
Sonoma Cabernet Sauvignon
Sonoma Cabernet Sauvignon scores closest to Lagrein across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and fuller and richer.
Bolgheri
Both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and fuller and richer.
Similar but more aromatic
More to smell before you taste — floral, fruity or spiced aromatics.
Cabernet Franc
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more restrained in fruit, and less tannic and softer.
Gamay
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be less tannic and softer, and more fruit-driven.
Muscat Bailey A
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be less tannic and softer, and more fruit-driven.
Malbec
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and more oaky.
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.
Dolcetto
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be more restrained in fruit, and more aromatic.
Fer Servadou
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and more fruit-driven.
Colorino
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be more restrained in fruit, and less oaky.
Lambrusco Grasparossa
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.
Similar but more floral
Pushes specifically towards rose, violet, blossom and elderflower character.
Cabernet Franc
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more restrained in fruit, and less tannic and softer.
Cru Beaujolais
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less tannic and softer, and more restrained in fruit.
Gamay
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be less tannic and softer, and more fruit-driven.
Loire Cabernet Franc
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less tannic and softer, and more restrained in fruit.
Similar but more savoury
Moves away from primary fruit towards earth, herb, meat and umami character.
Naoussa Xinomavro
Naoussa Xinomavro scores closest to Lagrein across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and more restrained in fruit.
Xinomavro
Xinomavro scores closest to Lagrein across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and more restrained in fruit.
Chianti Classico Riserva
Both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and fuller and richer.
Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
Both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and fuller and richer.
Similar but fruitier
More obvious, generous fruit flavour, usually from a warmer climate.
California Pinot Noir
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and more oaky.
Barbera d’Alba
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 fuller and richer.
Washington Cabernet Sauvignon
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and more oaky.
California Cabernet Sauvignon
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and fuller and richer.
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.
Cru Beaujolais
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less tannic and softer, and more restrained in fruit.
Cabernet Franc
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more restrained in fruit, and less tannic and softer.
Gamay
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be less tannic and softer, and more fruit-driven.
Beaujolais
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be less tannic and softer, and lighter.
Something more adventurous
Less familiar wines that occupy similar territory — the interesting end of the shelf.
Dolcetto
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be more restrained in fruit, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.
Fer Servadou
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, 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 more restrained in fruit, and less oaky.
Loire Cabernet Franc
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less tannic and softer, and more restrained in fruit.
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.
Dolcetto
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be more restrained in fruit, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.
Fer Servadou
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, 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 more restrained in fruit, and less oaky.
Loire Cabernet Franc
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less tannic and softer, and more restrained in fruit.
A step up
The benchmark expressions of the same territory, usually with more concentration, structure and ageing potential.
Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Châteauneuf-du-Pape scores closest to Lagrein across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and spicier.
Amarone della Valpolicella
Both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and spicier.
Ribera del Duero
Ribera del Duero scores closest to Lagrein across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and more oaky.
Priorat
Priorat scores closest to Lagrein across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and stronger and warmer.
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.