If you like this, try…
Wines like Molinara
A pale, high-acid Valpolicella variety, now optional in the blend and much reduced in plantings. Below: what to try next, grouped by the direction you want to travel.
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What do you like about Molinara?
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 bright red fruit
- Raspberry, redcurrant, sour cherry — lighter and sharper than dark fruit, usually from a cooler place or an earlier picking.
- How light it is
- A wine you can drink without it feeling like a commitment. Usually lower in alcohol as well as lighter in the mouth.
- How fresh and crisp it is
- Acidity is what makes your mouth water and makes a wine feel refreshing rather than heavy. It is the single most useful thing to know about your own taste.
- 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.
- That it is not too strong
- Alcohol you notice as warmth at the back of the throat. Some people find it a pleasant part of a big red and some find it tiring.
- That it is not oaky
- No barrel character — just the fruit and the acidity. Chablis and Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc are the reference points.
Looking for something keeping that the fruit is not covered in oak, how light and easy it feels and the fresh, crisp acidity, while moving away from too tart or sour-fruited.
- You said you like the fresh, crisp acidity and that it is too tart or sour-fruited. Both are about perceived freshness, so they pull the same axis in opposite directions — the dislike is applied and the like is set aside.
- You said you like how light and easy it feels and that it is too tart or sour-fruited. Both are about body, 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.
Colorino
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
- Keeps that the fruit is not covered in oak.
- Has some of how light and easy it feels, though less of it.
- Has noticeably less of the fresh, crisp acidity.
- Substantially less tart or sour-fruited.
Rondinella
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
- Keeps that the fruit is not covered in oak.
- Has some of how light and easy it feels, though less of it.
- Has noticeably less of the fresh, crisp acidity.
- Substantially less tart or sour-fruited.
Tinto Cão
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Keeps that the fruit is not covered in oak.
- Has some of how light and easy it feels, though less of it.
- Has some of the fresh, crisp acidity, though less of it.
- A little less tart or sour-fruited.
Rondo
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Keeps that the fruit is not covered in oak.
- Has some of how light and easy it feels, though less of it.
- Has some of the fresh, crisp acidity, though less of it.
- A little less tart or sour-fruited.
País
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
- Keeps that the fruit is not covered in oak.
- Keeps how light and easy it feels.
- Has some of the fresh, crisp acidity, though less of it.
- A little less tart or sour-fruited.
Mondeuse Noire
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Keeps that the fruit is not covered in oak.
- Has some of how light and easy it feels, though less of it.
- Keeps the fresh, crisp acidity.
- About as tart or sour-fruited as the wine you started from.
Tibouren
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
- Keeps that the fruit is not covered in oak.
- Keeps how light and easy it feels.
- Has some of the fresh, crisp acidity, though less of it.
- A little less tart or sour-fruited.
Dornfelder
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Keeps that the fruit is not covered in oak.
- Has some of how light and easy it feels, though less of it.
- Has some of the fresh, crisp acidity, though less of it.
- A little less tart or sour-fruited.
Closest overall
Nearest neighbours, no change of direction.
Closest matches
The nearest overall neighbours across structure and flavour, with no deliberate change of direction.
Colorino
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and broader and softer.
Rondinella
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and broader and softer.
Tinto Cão
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and fruitier.
Rondo
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and softer and rounder.
Different grape, similar feel
Deliberately excludes the variety you already know, to find a genuinely new wine that fills the same role.
Colorino
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and broader and softer.
Rondinella
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and broader and softer.
Tinto Cão
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and fruitier.
Rondo
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and softer and rounder.
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.
Schiava
Both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and softer and rounder.
English still Pinot Noir
English still Pinot Noir scores closest to Molinara across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and more oaky.
Poulsard
Poulsard scores closest to Molinara across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and softer and rounder.
Jacquère
Jacquère scores closest to Molinara across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and fresher.
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.
English still Pinot Noir
English still Pinot Noir scores closest to Molinara across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and lighter in alcohol.
Melon de Bourgogne
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and lighter in alcohol.
Muscadet
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and lighter in alcohol.
Grolleau
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and softer and rounder.
Similar but fuller
Keeps the character but adds weight, concentration and mouthfeel.
Colorino
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and broader and softer.
Rondinella
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and broader and softer.
Tinto Cão
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and fruitier.
Rondo
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and softer and rounder.
Similar but less tannic
For readers who find firm reds drying. Reduces tannic grip while holding flavour and weight roughly steady.
Grechetto
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and fruitier.
Altesse
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and fruitier.
Xarel·lo
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and fruitier.
Jura Savagnin and Chardonnay
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and fruitier.
Similar but more structured
More tannic architecture, for food or for ageing.
Colorino
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and broader and softer.
Tinto Cão
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and fruitier.
Mondeuse Noire
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and fresher.
Fer Servadou
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and softer and rounder.
Similar but softer
Lowers acidity and sharpness in favour of a broader, gentler feel.
Colorino
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and broader and softer.
Rondinella
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and broader and softer.
Rondo
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and fruitier.
Tibouren
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and lighter.
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 fruitier, and fresher.
Lambrusco Grasparossa
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and fresher.
Sparkling Shiraz
Sparkling Shiraz scores closest to Molinara across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and more oaky.
Crémant
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and fresher.
Similar but sweeter
Adds perceptible sweetness, which also softens acidity and chilli heat.
Tinto Cão
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and fruitier.
Rondinella
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and broader and softer.
Lambrusco Grasparossa
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and fresher.
Rondo
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and softer and rounder.
Change the flavour
Same shape, different aromatic character.
Similar but more oaky
Adds barrel character, toast and a creamier texture.
Areni
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and fruitier.
Cabernet Franc
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and softer and rounder.
Saperavi
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and fruitier.
Chianti
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and fresher.
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 oaky, and softer and rounder.
Barbaresco
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and fuller and richer.
Nebbiolo
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and fuller and richer.
Barolo
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and fuller and richer.
Similar but more restrained
For readers who find intensely aromatic wines tiring over a whole glass. Keeps the structure, turns the volume down.
Trebbiano Toscano
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and softer and rounder.
Melon de Bourgogne
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and fresher.
Muscadet
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and fresher.
Koshu
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and softer and rounder.
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 oaky, and softer and rounder.
Dornfelder
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and softer and rounder.
Pinot Noir
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and softer and rounder.
Gamay
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and more oaky.
Similar but more savoury
Moves away from primary fruit towards earth, herb, meat and umami character.
Areni
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and fruitier.
País
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and softer and rounder.
Chianti
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and fresher.
Etna Rosso
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and fresher.
Similar but fruitier
More obvious, generous fruit flavour, usually from a warmer climate.
Rondo
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and softer and rounder.
Mondeuse Noire
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and fresher.
Dornfelder
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and softer and rounder.
Fer Servadou
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and softer and rounder.
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.
Cabernet Franc
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and softer and rounder.
Chianti
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and fresher.
Red Burgundy
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and fresher.
Pinot Noir
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and softer and rounder.
Something more adventurous
Less familiar wines that occupy similar territory — the interesting end of the shelf.
Colorino
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and broader and softer.
Rondinella
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and broader and softer.
Tinto Cão
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and fruitier.
Rondo
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and softer and rounder.
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.
Colorino
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and broader and softer.
Rondinella
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and broader and softer.
Tinto Cão
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and fruitier.
Rondo
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and softer and rounder.
A step up
The benchmark expressions of the same territory, usually with more concentration, structure and ageing potential.
Cabernet Franc
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and softer and rounder.
Chianti
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and fresher.
Red Burgundy
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and fresher.
Pinot Noir
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and softer and rounder.
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.