If you like this, try…
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.
Refine
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.
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 and the earthy, savoury-mineral character, while moving away from too drying or too tannic.
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.
Bekaa Valley Red
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Keeps the peppery, spicy character.
- Keeps the earthy, savoury-mineral character.
- Substantially less drying or too tannic.
Washington Syrah
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Keeps the peppery, spicy character.
- Keeps the earthy, savoury-mineral character.
- Substantially less drying or too tannic.
Swartland Syrah and Rhône blends
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Keeps the peppery, spicy character.
- Keeps the earthy, savoury-mineral character.
- Substantially less drying or too tannic.
Rioja Gran Reserva
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Keeps the peppery, spicy character.
- Keeps the earthy, savoury-mineral character.
- Substantially less drying or too tannic.
Mavrud
Both are made from mavrud, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both come from the same country.
- Keeps the peppery, spicy character.
- Has some of the earthy, savoury-mineral character, though less of it.
- Substantially less drying or too tannic.
Châteauneuf-du-Pape
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Keeps the peppery, spicy character.
- Keeps the earthy, savoury-mineral character.
- Substantially less drying or too tannic.
Northern Rhône Syrah
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Keeps the peppery, spicy character.
- Keeps the earthy, savoury-mineral character.
- Substantially less drying or too tannic.
Melnik
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
- Has some of the peppery, spicy character, though less of it.
- Keeps the earthy, savoury-mineral character.
- Substantially less drying or too tannic.
Closest overall
Nearest neighbours, no change of direction.
Closest matches
The nearest overall neighbours across structure and flavour, with no deliberate change of direction.
Bekaa Valley Red
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Washington Syrah
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more floral, and fresher.
Swartland Syrah and Rhône blends
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more herbal and green, and fresher.
Rioja Gran Reserva
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less tannic and softer, and more restrained in fruit.
Different grape, similar feel
Deliberately excludes the variety you already know, to find a genuinely new wine that fills the same role.
Bekaa Valley Red
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Washington Syrah
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more floral, and fresher.
Swartland Syrah and Rhône blends
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more herbal and green, and fresher.
Rioja Gran Reserva
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less tannic and softer, and more restrained in fruit.
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.
Pinot Noir
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be less tannic and softer, and less spicy.
Red Burgundy
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be less tannic and softer, and less spicy.
Blaufränkisch
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be cleaner and more fruit-focused, and fresher and more acidic.
Australian Pinot Noir
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be less tannic and softer, and less spicy.
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.
Pinot Noir
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be less tannic and softer, and less spicy.
Red Burgundy
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be less tannic and softer, and less spicy.
Mondeuse Noire
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be cleaner and more fruit-focused, and less oaky.
Spätburgunder (German Pinot Noir)
Spätburgunder (German Pinot Noir) scores closest to Mavrud across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be less spicy, and less tannic and softer.
Similar but fuller
Keeps the character but adds weight, concentration and mouthfeel.
Châteauneuf-du-Pape
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more herbal and green, and softer and rounder.
Douro red
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less spicy, and more floral.
Priorat
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more tannic and structured, and less spicy.
Ribera del Duero
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less spicy, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.
Similar but less tannic
For readers who find firm reds drying. Reduces tannic grip while holding flavour and weight roughly steady.
Châteauneuf-du-Pape
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more herbal and green, and softer and rounder.
Bekaa Valley Red
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Chosen because you asked for something less tannic.
Washington Syrah
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more floral, and fresher.
Swartland Syrah and Rhône blends
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more herbal and green, and fresher.
Similar but fresher
Raises acidity and overall lift, usually by moving to a cooler-climate expression.
Blaufränkisch
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be cleaner and more fruit-focused, and lighter.
Red Burgundy
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be less tannic and softer, and less spicy.
Saperavi
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less spicy, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.
Sangiovese
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less spicy, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.
Similar but softer
Lowers acidity and sharpness in favour of a broader, gentler feel.
Châteauneuf-du-Pape
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more herbal and green, and fuller and richer.
Mourvèdre
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less spicy, and leaner and more cutting.
Jumilla Monastrell
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less spicy, and leaner and more cutting.
Syrah
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be cleaner and more fruit-focused, and leaner and more cutting.
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 Mavrud across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be cleaner and more fruit-focused, and less tannic and softer.
Lambrusco
Lambrusco scores closest to Mavrud across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be less spicy, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.
Lambrusco Grasparossa
Lambrusco Grasparossa scores closest to Mavrud across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be less spicy, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.
Bekaa Valley Red
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be stiller.
Similar but sweeter
Adds perceptible sweetness, which also softens acidity and chilli heat.
Pinotage
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less spicy, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.
Saperavi
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less spicy, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.
Amarone della Valpolicella
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be cleaner and more fruit-focused, and fuller and richer.
Primitivo di Manduria
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be cleaner and more fruit-focused, and more fruit-driven.
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.
Broad-leaved Melnik
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be less spicy, and leaner and more cutting.
Swartland Syrah and Rhône blends
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and more herbal and green.
Châteauneuf-du-Pape
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and more herbal and green.
Languedoc red
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be cleaner and more fruit-focused, and more oaky.
Similar but more oaky
Adds barrel character, toast and a creamier texture.
Rioja Gran Reserva
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less tannic and softer, and less oaky.
Rioja
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less spicy, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.
Ribera del Duero
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less spicy, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.
Pinotage
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less spicy, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.
Similar but more aromatic
More to smell before you taste — floral, fruity or spiced aromatics.
Syrah
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be cleaner and more fruit-focused, and softer and rounder.
Pinot Noir
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be less tannic and softer, and less spicy.
Nebbiolo
curatedBoth 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.
Barolo
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more tannic and structured, 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.
Bekaa Valley Red
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic.
Swartland Syrah and Rhône blends
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and more herbal and green.
Rioja Gran Reserva
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less tannic and softer, and more aromatic.
Mavrud
Both are made from mavrud, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both come from the same country.
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.
Washington Syrah
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more neutral and subtle, and fresher.
Northern Rhône Syrah
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be spicier, and more neutral and subtle.
Syrah
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be cleaner and more fruit-focused, and less floral.
Pinot Noir
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be less tannic and softer, and less spicy.
Similar but more savoury
Moves away from primary fruit towards earth, herb, meat and umami character.
Rioja Gran Reserva
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less tannic and softer, and more oaky.
Northern Rhône Syrah
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be spicier, and more floral.
Taurasi
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more tannic and structured, and less spicy.
Barolo
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more tannic and structured, and less spicy.
Similar but fruitier
More obvious, generous fruit flavour, usually from a warmer climate.
Châteauneuf-du-Pape
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more herbal and green, and softer and rounder.
California Pinot Noir
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be less tannic and softer, and less spicy.
New Zealand Pinot Noir
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be less tannic and softer, and less spicy.
Primitivo di Manduria
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be cleaner and more fruit-focused, and sweeter.
Change the place
Keep the grape, move it somewhere else.
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.
Same grape, warmer climate
Typically riper, fuller and more generous in fruit, with higher 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.
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 Gran Reserva
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less tannic and softer, and more restrained in fruit.
Châteauneuf-du-Pape
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more herbal and green, and softer and rounder.
Northern Rhône Syrah
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be spicier, and more floral.
Syrah
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be cleaner and more fruit-focused, and more aromatic.
Something more adventurous
Less familiar wines that occupy similar territory — the interesting end of the shelf.
Bekaa Valley Red
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Washington Syrah
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more floral, and fresher.
Swartland Syrah and Rhône blends
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more herbal and green, and fresher.
Mavrud
Both are made from mavrud, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be cleaner and more fruit-focused.
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.
Bekaa Valley Red
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Washington Syrah
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more floral, and fresher.
Swartland Syrah and Rhône blends
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more herbal and green, and fresher.
Mavrud
Both are made from mavrud, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be cleaner and more fruit-focused.
A step up
The benchmark expressions of the same territory, usually with more concentration, structure and ageing potential.
Châteauneuf-du-Pape
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more herbal and green, and softer and rounder.
Ribera del Duero
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less spicy, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.
Priorat
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more tannic and structured, and less spicy.
Amarone della Valpolicella
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be cleaner and more fruit-focused, and sweeter.
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.