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, the bright red-fruited character, how light and easy it feels and how smooth and easy it is to drink.
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.
Frappato
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.
- Keeps the bright red-fruited character.
- Keeps how light and easy it feels.
- Keeps how smooth and easy it is to drink.
Portugieser
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Keeps that the fruit is not covered in oak.
- Has some of the bright red-fruited character, though less of it.
- Keeps how light and easy it feels.
- Keeps how smooth and easy it is to drink.
Tibouren
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Keeps that the fruit is not covered in oak.
- Has some of the bright red-fruited character, though less of it.
- Keeps how light and easy it feels.
- Keeps how smooth and easy it is to drink.
Cinsault
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Keeps that the fruit is not covered in oak.
- Has some of the bright red-fruited character, though less of it.
- Keeps how light and easy it feels.
- Keeps how smooth and easy it is to drink.
Grolleau
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Keeps that the fruit is not covered in oak.
- Has some of the bright red-fruited character, though less of it.
- Keeps how light and easy it feels.
- Keeps how smooth and easy it is to drink.
Valpolicella
Both are made from molinara, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both come from the same country.
- Has some of that the fruit is not covered in oak, though less of it.
- Keeps the bright red-fruited character.
- Keeps how light and easy it feels.
- Keeps how smooth and easy it is to drink.
País
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Keeps that the fruit is not covered in oak.
- Has some of the bright red-fruited character, though less of it.
- Keeps how light and easy it feels.
- Keeps how smooth and easy it is to drink.
Pinot Meunier
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Keeps that the fruit is not covered in oak.
- Keeps the bright red-fruited character.
- Has some of how light and easy it feels, though less of it.
- Keeps how smooth and easy it is to drink.
Closest overall
Nearest neighbours, no change of direction.
Closest matches
The nearest overall neighbours across structure and flavour, with no deliberate change of direction.
Frappato
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and leaner and more cutting.
Portugieser
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be broader and softer, and softer and rounder.
Tibouren
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be broader and softer, and more herbal and green.
Cinsault
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and broader and softer.
Different grape, similar feel
Deliberately excludes the variety you already know, to find a genuinely new wine that fills the same role.
Frappato
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and leaner and more cutting.
Portugieser
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be broader and softer, and softer and rounder.
Tibouren
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be broader and softer, and more herbal and green.
Cinsault
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and broader and softer.
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
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and broader and softer.
English still Pinot Noir
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and more oaky.
Poulsard
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and broader and softer.
Hondarrabi Zuri
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and less tannic and softer.
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
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and lighter in alcohol.
Colombard
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less tannic and softer, and lighter in alcohol.
Hunter Valley Semillon
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, and less tannic and softer.
Loureiro
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less tannic and softer, and lighter in alcohol.
Similar but fuller
Keeps the character but adds weight, concentration and mouthfeel.
Pinot Meunier
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and fruitier.
Lambrusco Grasparossa
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and more tannic and structured.
Gamay
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and more oaky.
Rondo
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and more tannic and structured.
Similar but less tannic
For readers who find firm reds drying. Reduces tannic grip while holding flavour and weight roughly steady.
Cortese
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 neutral and subtle.
Seyval Blanc
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less tannic and softer, and sweeter.
Colombard
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less tannic and softer, and lighter in alcohol.
Hunter Valley Semillon
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less tannic and softer, and lighter in alcohol.
Similar but more structured
More tannic architecture, for food or for ageing.
Lambrusco Grasparossa
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be more tannic and structured, and fuller and richer.
Rondo
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more tannic and structured, and fuller and richer.
Dornfelder
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more tannic and structured, and fuller and richer.
Mondeuse Noire
Mondeuse Noire scores closest to Molinara across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be more tannic and structured, and fuller and richer.
Similar but softer
Lowers acidity and sharpness in favour of a broader, gentler feel.
Portugieser
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be broader and softer, and softer and rounder.
Tibouren
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be broader and softer, and more herbal and green.
Cinsault
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and broader and softer.
Grolleau
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be broader and softer, and lighter in alcohol.
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 fuller and richer, and more tannic and structured.
Lambrusco Grasparossa
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and more tannic and structured.
Prosecco
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 fruitier.
Glera
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 broader and softer.
Similar but sweeter
Adds perceptible sweetness, which also softens acidity and chilli heat.
Grolleau
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be broader and softer, and lighter in alcohol.
Portugieser
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be broader and softer, and softer and rounder.
Lambrusco Grasparossa
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and more tannic and structured.
Lambrusco
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and more tannic and structured.
Change the flavour
Same shape, different aromatic character.
Similar but more oaky
Adds barrel character, toast and a creamier texture.
Gamay
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and fuller and richer.
Cerasuolo di Vittoria
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.
Muscat Bailey A
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and fuller and richer.
Chianti
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 aromatic
More to smell before you taste — floral, fruity or spiced aromatics.
Gamay
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and more oaky.
Cabernet Franc
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and more tannic and structured.
Muscat Bailey A
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and more oaky.
Pinot Noir
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
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.
Cortese
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.
Seyval Blanc
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less tannic and softer, and sweeter.
Melon de Bourgogne
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less tannic and softer, and more restrained in fruit.
Muscadet
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 floral
Pushes specifically towards rose, violet, blossom and elderflower character.
Frappato
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and leaner and more cutting.
Cinsault
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and broader and softer.
Gamay
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and more oaky.
Pinot Meunier
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and fruitier.
Similar but more savoury
Moves away from primary fruit towards earth, herb, meat and umami character.
País
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be broader and softer, and leaner and more cutting.
Poulsard
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and broader and softer.
Tibouren
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be broader and softer, and more herbal and green.
English still Pinot Noir
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and more oaky.
Similar but fruitier
More obvious, generous fruit flavour, usually from a warmer climate.
Frappato
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and leaner and more cutting.
Cinsault
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and broader and softer.
Pinot Meunier
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and fuller and richer.
Beaujolais
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and more oaky.
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.
Beaujolais
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and fruitier.
Gamay
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and more oaky.
Chianti
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and more tannic and structured.
Cru Beaujolais
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and more tannic and structured.
Something more adventurous
Less familiar wines that occupy similar territory — the interesting end of the shelf.
Frappato
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and leaner and more cutting.
Portugieser
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be broader and softer, and softer and rounder.
Tibouren
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be broader and softer, and more herbal and green.
Cinsault
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and broader and softer.
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.
Frappato
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and leaner and more cutting.
Portugieser
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be broader and softer, and softer and rounder.
Tibouren
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be broader and softer, and more herbal and green.
Cinsault
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and broader and softer.
A step up
The benchmark expressions of the same territory, usually with more concentration, structure and ageing potential.
Chianti
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and more tannic and structured.
Cru Beaujolais
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and more tannic and structured.
Barbera
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.
Cabernet Franc
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, 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.