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Wines like Petit Verdot
A late-ripening Bordeaux variety used in small proportions for colour, tannin and violet aromatics. Below: what to try next, grouped by the direction you want to travel.
Refine
What do you like about Petit Verdot?
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 floral character
- Rose, violet, elderflower, orange blossom.
- 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.
- 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 floral, perfumed side, while moving away from too floral or soapy and too oaky or woody.
- You said you like the floral, perfumed side and that it is too floral or soapy. Both are about floral character, 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.
Cahors
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
- Has some of the floral, perfumed side, though less of it.
- Substantially less floral or soapy.
- Substantially less oaky or woody.
Gamay
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
- Has some of the floral, perfumed side, though less of it.
- Substantially less floral or soapy.
- Substantially less oaky or woody.
Bierzo Mencía
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Has some of the floral, perfumed side, though less of it.
- Substantially less floral or soapy.
- Substantially less oaky or woody.
Cabernet Franc
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
- Has some of the floral, perfumed side, though less of it.
- Substantially less floral or soapy.
- Substantially less oaky or woody.
Beaujolais
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
- Has some of the floral, perfumed side, though less of it.
- Substantially less floral or soapy.
- Substantially less oaky or woody.
Loire Cabernet Franc
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
- Has some of the floral, perfumed side, though less of it.
- Substantially less floral or soapy.
- Substantially less oaky or woody.
Mencía
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Has some of the floral, perfumed side, though less of it.
- Substantially less floral or soapy.
- Substantially less oaky or woody.
Etna Rosso
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Has some of the floral, perfumed side, though less of it.
- Substantially less floral or soapy.
- Substantially less oaky or woody.
Closest overall
Nearest neighbours, no change of direction.
Closest matches
The nearest overall neighbours across structure and flavour, with no deliberate change of direction.
Cahors
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 earthier.
Gamay
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 less tannic and softer.
Bierzo Mencía
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less spicy, and lighter.
Cabernet Franc
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 lighter.
Different grape, similar feel
Deliberately excludes the variety you already know, to find a genuinely new wine that fills the same role.
Cahors
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 earthier.
Gamay
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 less tannic and softer.
Bierzo Mencía
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less spicy, and lighter.
Cabernet Franc
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 lighter.
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.
Cabernet Franc
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 less tannic and softer.
Gamay
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 less tannic and softer.
Loire Cabernet Franc
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 less tannic and softer.
Beaujolais
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 lighter.
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 less spicy, and lighter.
Gamay
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 less tannic and softer.
Cabernet Franc
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 lighter.
Beaujolais
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 lighter.
Similar but fuller
Keeps the character but adds weight, concentration and mouthfeel.
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.
Argentine Malbec
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and more floral.
Châteauneuf-du-Pape
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and spicier.
Toro
Toro scores closest to Petit Verdot across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and more oaky.
Priorat
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and more oaky.
Similar but less tannic
For readers who find firm reds drying. Reduces tannic grip while holding flavour and weight roughly steady.
Grenache
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and spicier.
Cabernet Franc
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 lighter.
Bierzo Mencía
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less spicy, and lighter.
Loire Cabernet Franc
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 lighter.
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, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be less spicy, and lighter.
Etna Rosso
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less spicy, and lighter.
Nerello Mascalese
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less spicy, and lighter.
English still Pinot Noir
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less spicy, and lighter.
Similar but softer
Lowers acidity and sharpness in favour of a broader, gentler feel.
Grenache
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and spicier.
Argentine Malbec
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and more floral.
Malbec
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and spicier.
Châteauneuf-du-Pape
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and spicier.
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.
Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and less spicy.
Sparkling Shiraz
Sparkling Shiraz scores closest to Petit Verdot across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and more oaky.
Lambrusco Grasparossa
Lambrusco Grasparossa scores closest to Petit Verdot across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and less oaky.
Vouvray
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be less spicy, and less tannic and softer.
Similar but sweeter
Adds perceptible sweetness, which also softens acidity and chilli heat.
Dornfelder
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and less spicy.
Lambrusco
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and less spicy.
Ruby Port
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and sweeter.
Touriga Franca
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and more floral.
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.
Cahors
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 earthier.
Gamay
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 less tannic and softer.
Cabernet Franc
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 lighter.
Beaujolais
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 lighter.
Similar but more oaky
Adds barrel character, toast and a creamier texture.
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
Both are made from petit verdot.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and less floral.
Barossa Shiraz
Barossa Shiraz scores closest to Petit Verdot across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and less floral.
Sonoma Cabernet Sauvignon
Sonoma Cabernet Sauvignon scores closest to Petit Verdot across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and less floral.
California Cabernet Sauvignon
California Cabernet Sauvignon scores closest to Petit Verdot across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and less floral.
Similar but more aromatic
More to smell before you taste — floral, fruity or spiced aromatics.
Barbaresco
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more floral, and more oaky.
Nebbiolo
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more floral, and more oaky.
Barolo
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more floral, and more oaky.
Gamay
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 less tannic and softer.
Similar but more restrained
For readers who find intensely aromatic wines tiring over a whole glass. Keeps the structure, turns the volume down.
Pinot Grigio
Pinot Grigio scores closest to Petit Verdot across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and less floral.
Cahors
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 more aromatic.
Beaujolais
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 lighter.
Bierzo Mencía
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less spicy, and lighter.
Similar but more floral
Pushes specifically towards rose, violet, blossom and elderflower character.
Négrette
Both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be more floral, and less oaky.
Frappato
Frappato scores closest to Petit Verdot across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be more floral, and less oaky.
Uco Valley Malbec
Uco Valley Malbec scores closest to Petit Verdot across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be more floral, and more oaky.
Touriga Nacional
Touriga Nacional scores closest to Petit Verdot across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be more floral, and more oaky.
Similar but less floral
Some drinkers read floral aromatics as soapy or perfumed. This holds the structure and removes them.
Cahors
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 earthier.
Gamay
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 less tannic and softer.
Cabernet Franc
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 lighter.
Beaujolais
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 lighter.
Similar but more savoury
Moves away from primary fruit towards earth, herb, meat and umami character.
Cahors
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 earthier.
Etna Rosso
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less spicy, and lighter.
Nerello Mascalese
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less spicy, and lighter.
Dão
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more floral, and less spicy.
Similar but fruitier
More obvious, generous fruit flavour, usually from a warmer climate.
Primitivo
Primitivo scores closest to Petit Verdot across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and more oaky.
Argentine Malbec
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and more floral.
Petite Sirah
Petite Sirah scores closest to Petit Verdot across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and spicier.
Toro
Toro scores closest to Petit Verdot across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and more oaky.
Change the place
Keep the grape, move it somewhere else.
Same grape, somewhere else
Holds the variety constant and changes the place, which is often a bigger change than swapping the grape.
Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon
Both are made from petit verdot.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and more oaky.
Hawke’s Bay Bordeaux blend
Both are made from petit verdot.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and more oaky.
Stellenbosch Cabernet and Cape Bordeaux blends
Both are made from petit verdot.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and more oaky.
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.
Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon
Both are made from petit verdot.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and more oaky.
Hawke’s Bay Bordeaux blend
Both are made from petit verdot.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and more oaky.
Stellenbosch Cabernet and Cape Bordeaux blends
Both are made from petit verdot.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and more oaky.
Red Bordeaux
Both are made from petit verdot, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and more oaky.
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.
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
Both are made from petit verdot.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and less floral.
Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon
Both are made from petit verdot.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and more oaky.
Hawke’s Bay Bordeaux blend
Both are made from petit verdot.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and more oaky.
Stellenbosch Cabernet and Cape Bordeaux blends
Both are made from petit verdot.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, 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.
Gamay
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 less tannic and softer.
Cabernet Franc
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 lighter.
Beaujolais
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 lighter.
Grenache
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and spicier.
Something more adventurous
Less familiar wines that occupy similar territory — the interesting end of the shelf.
Cahors
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 earthier.
Bierzo Mencía
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less spicy, and lighter.
Loire Cabernet Franc
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 lighter.
Mencía
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less spicy, and lighter.
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.
Cahors
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 earthier.
Bierzo Mencía
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less spicy, and lighter.
Loire Cabernet Franc
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 lighter.
Mencía
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less spicy, and lighter.
A step up
The benchmark expressions of the same territory, usually with more concentration, structure and ageing potential.
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.
Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and spicier.
Oregon Pinot Noir
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and less spicy.
Pinot Noir
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and spicier.
Priorat
Priorat scores closest to Petit Verdot across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and more oaky.
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.