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Wines like Mavrud

Bulgaria’s most distinctive indigenous red — dark, tannic and slow to ripen, grown almost entirely around Plovdiv. Below: what to try next, grouped by the direction you want to travel.

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What do you like about Mavrud?

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 spice The earthy, mineral side The savoury, meaty side

But it’s a bit…

too drying or too tannic too oaky or woody too peppery 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.
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 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 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.
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 keeping the peppery, spicy character, while moving away from too austere, too oaky or woody, too peppery and too drying or too tannic.

You said you like the peppery, spicy character and that it is too oaky or woody. Both are about spice, so they pull the same axis in opposite directions — the dislike is applied and the like is set aside.
You said you like the peppery, spicy character and that it is too peppery. Both are about spice, so they pull the same axis in opposite directions — the dislike is applied and the like is set aside.

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.

Saperavi

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

Has some of the peppery, spicy character, though less of it.
Substantially less austere.
Substantially less oaky or woody.
Substantially less peppery.
Substantially less drying or too tannic.

Valpolicella Ripasso

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

Has some of the peppery, spicy character, though less of it.
Substantially less austere.
Substantially less oaky or woody.
Substantially less peppery.
Substantially less drying or too tannic.

Tinto Cão

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Has noticeably less of the peppery, spicy character.
Substantially less austere.
Substantially less oaky or woody.
Substantially less peppery.
Substantially less drying or too tannic.

Touriga Franca

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Has noticeably less of the peppery, spicy character.
Substantially less austere.
A little less oaky or woody.
Substantially less peppery.
Substantially less drying or too tannic.

Tinta Barroca

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Has noticeably less of the peppery, spicy character.
Substantially less austere.
Substantially less oaky or woody.
Substantially less peppery.
Substantially less drying or too tannic.

Corvina

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Has some of the peppery, spicy character, though less of it.
Substantially less austere.
About as oaky or woody as the wine you started from.
Substantially less peppery.
Substantially less drying or too tannic.

Lambrusco Grasparossa

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Has noticeably less of the peppery, spicy character.
Substantially less austere.
Substantially less oaky or woody.
Substantially less peppery.
Substantially less drying or too tannic.

Touriga Nacional

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

Has some of the peppery, spicy character, though less of it.
Substantially less austere.
About as oaky or woody as the wine you started from.
Substantially less peppery.
About as drying or too tannic as the wine you started from.

Closest overall

Nearest neighbours, no change of direction.

Closest matches

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

Saperavi

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

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and fresher and more acidic.

Valpolicella Ripasso

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

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

Tinto Cão

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Touriga Franca

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Different grape, similar feel

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

Saperavi

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

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and fresher and more acidic.

Valpolicella Ripasso

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

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

Tinto Cão

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Touriga Franca

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be less spicy, 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.

Lambrusco Grasparossa

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Tinto Cão

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Rondinella

Rondinella scores closest to Mavrud across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be less spicy, and drier.

Dornfelder

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

Expect: Expect it to be less spicy, and drier.

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

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Dornfelder

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

Expect: Expect it to be less spicy, and drier.

Rondo

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

Expect: Expect it to be less spicy, and drier.

Trousseau

Trousseau scores closest to Mavrud across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

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

Similar but fuller

Keeps the character but adds weight, concentration and mouthfeel.

Amarone della Valpolicella

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Primitivo di Manduria

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Châteauneuf-du-Pape

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and spicier.

McLaren Vale Shiraz

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Similar but less tannic

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

Saperavi

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

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and fresher and more acidic.

Valpolicella Ripasso

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Amarone della Valpolicella

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

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

Primitivo di Manduria

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

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

Similar but fresher

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

Saperavi

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

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.

Areni

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Sangiovese

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Etna Rosso

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and less spicy.

Similar but softer

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

Primitivo di Manduria

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Châteauneuf-du-Pape

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and spicier.

McLaren Vale Shiraz

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Tinta Barroca

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

The sparkling version

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

Sparkling Shiraz

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

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

Lambrusco Grasparossa

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Lambrusco

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

Expect: Expect it to be less spicy, and drier.

Saperavi

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

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and stiller.

Similar but sweeter

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

Sparkling Shiraz

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

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

Tinto Cão

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

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

Tinta Barroca

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Lambrusco Grasparossa

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be less spicy, 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.

Saperavi

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

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and fresher and more acidic.

Valpolicella Ripasso

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

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

Tinto Cão

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Tinta Barroca

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Similar but more oaky

Adds barrel character, toast and a creamier texture.

Pinotage

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

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

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

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

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

Barossa Shiraz

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

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

Rioja

Rioja scores closest to Mavrud 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.

Malbec

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Nebbiolo

curated

Both are high-tannin, high-acid varieties that need time and reward it.

Expect: Mavrud is much darker and more overtly fruited; Nebbiolo is pale and more floral.

Pinot Noir

Pinot Noir scores closest to Mavrud across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

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

Cabernet Franc

Cabernet Franc scores closest to Mavrud across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and less spicy.

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.

Saperavi

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

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

Valpolicella Ripasso

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

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

Tinto Cão

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Tinta Barroca

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Similar but more floral

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

Malbec

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Touriga Franca

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Touriga Nacional

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Pinot Noir

Pinot Noir scores closest to Mavrud across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

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

Similar but more savoury

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

Chianti Classico Riserva

Chianti Classico Riserva scores closest to Mavrud across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and less spicy.

Taurasi

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

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and more tannic and structured.

Barolo

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

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and more tannic and structured.

Chianti Classico Gran Selezione

Chianti Classico Gran Selezione scores closest to Mavrud across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and less spicy.

Similar but fruitier

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

Touriga Nacional

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

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

Primitivo

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Primitivo di Manduria

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Zinfandel

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Change the place

Keep the grape, move it somewhere else.

Same grape, cooler climate

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

Mavrud

Both are made from mavrud, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure, both come from the same country.

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

Same grape, warmer climate

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

Mavrud

Both are made from mavrud, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure, both come from the same country.

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

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.

Primitivo

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Amarone della Valpolicella

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Grenache

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Zinfandel

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Something more adventurous

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

Saperavi

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

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and fresher and more acidic.

Valpolicella Ripasso

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

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

Tinto Cão

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Touriga Franca

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

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.

Saperavi

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

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and fresher and more acidic.

Valpolicella Ripasso

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

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

Tinto Cão

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Touriga Franca

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

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.

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

Châteauneuf-du-Pape

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and spicier.

Ribera del Duero

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

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

Priorat

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

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and more tannic and structured.

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.