If you like this, try…
Wines like Refosco
A Friulian variety producing dark, high-acid reds with a distinctive bitter-plum edge. Below: what to try next, grouped by the direction you want to travel.
Refine
What do you like about Refosco?
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 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.
- 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.
- That it is not oaky
- No barrel character — just the fruit and the acidity. Chablis and Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc are the reference points.
- 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 fresh, crisp acidity and that the fruit is not covered in oak, while moving away from too drying or too tannic and 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.
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.
Corvinone
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
- Has some of the fresh, crisp acidity, though less of it.
- Keeps that the fruit is not covered in oak.
- Substantially less drying or too tannic.
- A little less tart or sour-fruited.
Rondinella
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
- Has some of the fresh, crisp acidity, though less of it.
- Keeps that the fruit is not covered in oak.
- Substantially less drying or too tannic.
- A little less tart or sour-fruited.
Trincadeira
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Has some of the fresh, crisp acidity, though less of it.
- Keeps that the fruit is not covered in oak.
- Substantially less drying or too tannic.
- A little less tart or sour-fruited.
Tinta Negra
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
- Has some of the fresh, crisp acidity, though less of it.
- Keeps that the fruit is not covered in oak.
- Substantially less drying or too tannic.
- About as tart or sour-fruited as the wine you started from.
Canaiolo
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.
- Has noticeably less of the fresh, crisp acidity.
- Keeps that the fruit is not covered in oak.
- Substantially less drying or too tannic.
- A little less tart or sour-fruited.
Areni
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
- Keeps the fresh, crisp acidity.
- Has some of that the fruit is not covered in oak, though less of it.
- Substantially less drying or too tannic.
- About as tart or sour-fruited as the wine you started from.
Tinta Barroca
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
- Has noticeably less of the fresh, crisp acidity.
- Keeps that the fruit is not covered in oak.
- Substantially less drying or too tannic.
- A little less tart or sour-fruited.
Bonarda
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
- Has some of the fresh, crisp acidity, though less of it.
- Has some of that the fruit is not covered in oak, though less of it.
- Substantially less drying or too tannic.
- 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.
Corvinone
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 lighter.
Rondinella
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.
Trincadeira
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and lighter.
Tinta Negra
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and less tannic and softer.
Different grape, similar feel
Deliberately excludes the variety you already know, to find a genuinely new wine that fills the same role.
Corvinone
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 lighter.
Rondinella
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.
Trincadeira
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and lighter.
Tinta Negra
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and less tannic 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.
Rondinella
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and softer and rounder.
Canaiolo
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and softer and rounder.
Rondo
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and softer and rounder.
Trousseau
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and softer and rounder.
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.
Molinara
Both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and fresher.
Grolleau
Grolleau scores closest to Refosco across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and less tannic and softer.
Schiava
Both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and less tannic and softer.
Lambrusco Grasparossa
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher, and lighter.
Similar but fuller
Keeps the character but adds weight, concentration and mouthfeel.
Argentine Malbec
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and more oaky.
Uruguayan Tannat
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and more tannic and structured.
Primitivo
Both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and more oaky.
Douro red
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, 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.
Tinta Barroca
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and lighter.
Corvinone
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 lighter.
Rondinella
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.
Bonarda
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and more oaky.
Similar but more structured
More tannic architecture, for food or for ageing.
Aglianico
Both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be more tannic and structured, and more oaky.
Taurasi
Both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be more tannic and structured, and more oaky.
Barbaresco
Both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be more tannic and structured, and more oaky.
Nebbiolo
Both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be more tannic and structured, and more oaky.
Similar but fresher
Raises acidity and overall lift, usually by moving to a cooler-climate expression.
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.
Molinara
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher, and lighter.
Chianti
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher, and lighter.
Areni
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and fresher.
Graciano
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher, and more tannic and structured.
Similar but softer
Lowers acidity and sharpness in favour of a broader, gentler feel.
Bonarda
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and more oaky.
Valpolicella Ripasso
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and more oaky.
Tinta Barroca
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and lighter.
Corvinone
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.
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.
Sparkling Shiraz
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and fruitier.
Lambrusco
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher, and lighter.
Lambrusco Grasparossa
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher, and lighter.
Corvinone
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and stiller.
Similar but sweeter
Adds perceptible sweetness, which also softens acidity and chilli heat.
Corvinone
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 lighter.
Rondinella
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.
Tinta Negra
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and less tannic and softer.
Tinta Barroca
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and lighter.
Change the flavour
Same shape, different aromatic character.
Similar but more oaky
Adds barrel character, toast and a creamier texture.
Bonarda
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and softer and rounder.
Valpolicella Ripasso
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and lighter.
Nero d’Avola
Both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and softer and rounder.
Montepulciano d’Abruzzo
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and softer and rounder.
Similar but more aromatic
More to smell before you taste — floral, fruity or spiced aromatics.
Cabernet Franc
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and more oaky.
Pinot Noir
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and lighter.
Morgon
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and lighter.
Gamay
Gamay scores closest to Refosco across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher, and lighter.
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.
Corvinone
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 lighter.
Rondinella
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.
Trincadeira
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and lighter.
Tinta Negra
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and less tannic and softer.
Similar but more floral
Pushes specifically towards rose, violet, blossom and elderflower character.
Cabernet Franc
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and more oaky.
Canaiolo
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and lighter.
Jaen
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and softer and rounder.
Pinot Noir
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and lighter.
Similar but more savoury
Moves away from primary fruit towards earth, herb, meat and umami character.
Areni
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and more oaky.
Chianti
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher, and lighter.
Rioja Gran Reserva
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and softer and rounder.
Chianti Classico Riserva
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and more tannic and structured.
Similar but fruitier
More obvious, generous fruit flavour, usually from a warmer climate.
Primitivo
Both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and softer and rounder.
Zinfandel
Zinfandel scores closest to Refosco across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and softer and rounder.
Barbera d’Alba
Both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and more oaky.
California Pinot Noir
California Pinot Noir scores closest to Refosco across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, 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.
Cabernet Franc
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and more oaky.
Montepulciano d’Abruzzo
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and more oaky.
Chianti
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher, and lighter.
Grenache
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and more oaky.
Something more adventurous
Less familiar wines that occupy similar territory — the interesting end of the shelf.
Corvinone
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 lighter.
Rondinella
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.
Trincadeira
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and lighter.
Tinta Negra
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and less tannic 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.
Corvinone
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 lighter.
Rondinella
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.
Trincadeira
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and lighter.
Tinta Negra
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and less tannic and softer.
A step up
The benchmark expressions of the same territory, usually with more concentration, structure and ageing potential.
Amarone della Valpolicella
Both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and fruitier.
Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Châteauneuf-du-Pape scores closest to Refosco across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and fruitier.
Ribera del Duero
Ribera del Duero scores closest to Refosco across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and more tannic and structured.
Priorat
Priorat scores closest to Refosco across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be more tannic and structured, 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.