If you like this, try…
Wines like Rondo
A disease-resistant red hybrid grown in northern Europe, including Wales and England. Below: what to try next, grouped by the direction you want to travel.
Refine
What do you like about Rondo?
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 rich dark fruit
- Blackberry, plum, black cherry — fruit that tastes ripe and generous rather than tart. It comes from warm-climate ripening and it is what most people mean when they call a red "fruity".
- 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.
- 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 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 oaky
- No barrel character — just the fruit and the acidity. Chablis and Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc are the reference points.
- The herbal, green side
- Grass, blackcurrant leaf, green pepper, mint. It divides people more sharply than almost any other character.
Looking for something keeping that the fruit is not covered in oak, while moving away from too light or thin and too plain or too simple.
- You said you like that the fruit is not covered in oak and that it is too plain or too simple. Both are about oak influence, 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.
Alicante Bouschet
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Has noticeably less of that the fruit is not covered in oak.
- Substantially less light or thin.
- Substantially less plain or too simple.
Washington Cabernet Sauvignon
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Has noticeably less of that the fruit is not covered in oak.
- Substantially less light or thin.
- Substantially less plain or too simple.
Uruguayan Tannat
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Has noticeably less of that the fruit is not covered in oak.
- Substantially less light or thin.
- Substantially less plain or too simple.
Tannat
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Has noticeably less of that the fruit is not covered in oak.
- Substantially less light or thin.
- Substantially less plain or too simple.
Madiran
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Has noticeably less of that the fruit is not covered in oak.
- Substantially less light or thin.
- Substantially less plain or too simple.
Argentine Malbec
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Has noticeably less of that the fruit is not covered in oak.
- Substantially less light or thin.
- Substantially less plain or too simple.
Petit Verdot
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Has noticeably less of that the fruit is not covered in oak.
- Substantially less light or thin.
- Substantially less plain or too simple.
Touriga Nacional
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Has noticeably less of that the fruit is not covered in oak.
- Substantially less light or thin.
- Substantially less plain or too simple.
Closest overall
Nearest neighbours, no change of direction.
Closest matches
The nearest overall neighbours across structure and flavour, with no deliberate change of direction.
Alicante Bouschet
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and drier.
Washington Cabernet Sauvignon
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and spicier.
Uruguayan Tannat
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and riper and less green.
Tannat
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more tannic and structured, and more savoury.
Different grape, similar feel
Deliberately excludes the variety you already know, to find a genuinely new wine that fills the same role.
Alicante Bouschet
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and drier.
Washington Cabernet Sauvignon
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and spicier.
Uruguayan Tannat
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and riper and less green.
Tannat
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more tannic and structured, and more savoury.
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.
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.
Alicante Bouschet
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and drier.
Washington Cabernet Sauvignon
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and spicier.
Uruguayan Tannat
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and riper and less green.
Tannat
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more tannic and structured, and more savoury.
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.
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.
Washington Cabernet Sauvignon
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and spicier.
Barbera d’Asti
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and riper and less green.
Chianti Classico
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and more savoury.
Baga
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and more tannic and structured.
Similar but fuller
Keeps the character but adds weight, concentration and mouthfeel.
Alicante Bouschet
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and drier.
Amarone della Valpolicella
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be stronger and warmer, and spicier.
Argentine Malbec
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more floral, and riper and less green.
Dalmatian Plavac Mali
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be stronger and warmer, and spicier.
Similar but less tannic
For readers who find firm reds drying. Reduces tannic grip while holding flavour and weight roughly steady.
Barbera d’Alba
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and riper and less green.
Barbera d’Asti
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and riper and less green.
Barbera
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and riper and less green.
Muscat Bailey A
Muscat Bailey A scores closest to Rondo across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and less oaky.
Similar but more structured
More tannic architecture, for food or for ageing.
Madiran
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more tannic and structured, and more savoury.
Montefalco Sagrantino
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be stronger and warmer, and more tannic and structured.
Petit Verdot
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more tannic and structured, and more floral.
Sagrantino
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be stronger and warmer, and more tannic and structured.
Similar but fresher
Raises acidity and overall lift, usually by moving to a cooler-climate expression.
Barbera d’Asti
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and riper and less green.
Chianti Classico
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and more savoury.
Baga
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and more tannic and structured.
Bairrada Baga
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and more tannic and structured.
Similar but softer
Lowers acidity and sharpness in favour of a broader, gentler feel.
Alicante Bouschet
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and drier.
Argentine Malbec
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more floral, and riper and less green.
Primitivo
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be stronger and warmer, and broader and softer.
Primitivo di Manduria
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be stronger and warmer, and spicier.
The sparkling version
Moves to a sparkling expression while holding the flavour and weight as close as possible.
Sparkling Shiraz
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and riper and less green.
Lambrusco
Lambrusco scores closest to Rondo across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and less oaky.
Lambrusco Grasparossa
Lambrusco Grasparossa scores closest to Rondo across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and less oaky.
Alicante Bouschet
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be stiller, and riper and less green.
Similar but drier
Reduces perceptible sugar while keeping aromatic character.
Alicante Bouschet
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and more tannic and structured.
Washington Cabernet Sauvignon
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and spicier.
Uruguayan Tannat
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and riper and less green.
Tannat
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more tannic and structured, and more savoury.
Similar but sweeter
Adds perceptible sweetness, which also softens acidity and chilli heat.
Late Bottled Vintage Port
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be stronger and warmer, and sweeter.
Port
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be stronger and warmer, and sweeter.
Vin Doux Naturel
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be stronger and warmer, and sweeter.
Touriga Nacional
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more floral, 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.
Alicante Bouschet
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and drier.
Amarone della Valpolicella
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be stronger and warmer, and spicier.
Argentine Malbec
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more floral, and riper and less green.
Dalmatian Plavac Mali
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be stronger and warmer, and spicier.
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 lighter, and more aromatic.
Nebbiolo
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and more aromatic.
Malbec
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and riper and less green.
Barolo
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and more savoury.
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.
Alicante Bouschet
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and riper and less green.
Washington Cabernet Sauvignon
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and riper and less green.
Uruguayan Tannat
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and more savoury.
Tannat
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and more tannic and structured.
Similar but more floral
Pushes specifically towards rose, violet, blossom and elderflower character.
Malbec
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and riper and less green.
Argentine Malbec
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be rounder and creamier in texture, and more floral.
Petit Verdot
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more tannic and structured, and more floral.
Douro red
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be earthier, and more savoury.
Similar but more savoury
Moves away from primary fruit towards earth, herb, meat and umami character.
Tannat
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more tannic and structured, and more savoury.
Madiran
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more tannic and structured, and more savoury.
Red Bordeaux
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and more savoury.
Douro red
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and more floral.
Similar but fruitier
More obvious, generous fruit flavour, usually from a warmer climate.
Primitivo
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be stronger and warmer, and broader and softer.
Petite Sirah
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be stronger and warmer, and more tannic and structured.
Primitivo di Manduria
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be stronger and warmer, and spicier.
Zinfandel
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and stronger and warmer.
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.
Argentine Malbec
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more floral, and rounder and creamier in texture.
Primitivo
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be stronger and warmer, and broader and softer.
Amarone della Valpolicella
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be stronger and warmer, and spicier.
Priorat
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be stronger and warmer, and more tannic and structured.
Something more adventurous
Less familiar wines that occupy similar territory — the interesting end of the shelf.
Alicante Bouschet
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and drier.
Washington Cabernet Sauvignon
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and spicier.
Uruguayan Tannat
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and riper and less green.
Tannat
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more tannic and structured, and more savoury.
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.
Alicante Bouschet
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and drier.
Washington Cabernet Sauvignon
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and spicier.
Uruguayan Tannat
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and riper and less green.
Tannat
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more tannic and structured, and more savoury.
A step up
The benchmark expressions of the same territory, usually with more concentration, structure and ageing potential.
Amarone della Valpolicella
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be stronger and warmer, and spicier.
Argentine Malbec
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more floral, and rounder and creamier in texture.
Priorat
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be stronger and warmer, and more tannic and structured.
Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and drier.
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.