If you like this, try…

Wines like Sagrantino

Umbria’s ferociously tannic variety, with among the highest measured tannin levels of any wine grape. Below: what to try next, grouped by the direction you want to travel.

← Back to Sagrantino

Refine

What do you like about Sagrantino?

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.

I like…

The firm, grippy structure How full and weighty it is The savoury, meaty side

But it’s a bit…

too drying or too tannic too heavy too oaky or woody too earthy or musty too savoury or funky too sweet

Clear all

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 savoury, meaty side: Leather, olive, cured meat, dried herbs, tobacco. It is what people mean by calling a wine "serious" rather than "fruity", and it comes with age as well as with place.
The earthy, mineral side: Forest floor, wet stone, mushroom, damp earth. Widely described and much less well explained than wine writing implies — the sensation is real, the causal story usually is not.
The touch of sweetness: Actual sugar left in the wine, which is a different thing from tasting fruity. A wine can smell of ripe peach and be completely dry.

Looking for something keeping the full body and weight, while moving away from too sweet and too savoury or funky.

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.

Primitivo

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.

Keeps the full body and weight.
Substantially less sweet.
Substantially less savoury or funky.

Primitivo di Manduria

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.

Keeps the full body and weight.
Substantially less sweet.
Substantially less savoury or funky.

Sonoma Cabernet Sauvignon

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Keeps the full body and weight.
Substantially less sweet.
Substantially less savoury or funky.

Toro

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Keeps the full body and weight.
Substantially less sweet.
Substantially less savoury or funky.

Shiraz

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Keeps the full body and weight.
Substantially less sweet.
Substantially less savoury or funky.

McLaren Vale Shiraz

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Keeps the full body and weight.
Substantially less sweet.
Substantially less savoury or funky.

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Keeps the full body and weight.
Substantially less sweet.
Substantially less savoury or funky.

Barossa Shiraz

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Keeps the full body and weight.
Substantially less sweet.
Substantially less savoury or funky.

Closest overall

Nearest neighbours, no change of direction.

Closest matches

The nearest overall neighbours across structure and flavour, with no deliberate change of direction.

Primitivo

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be more fruit-driven, and less tannic and softer.

Primitivo di Manduria

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be more fruit-driven, and spicier.

Sonoma Cabernet Sauvignon

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.

Toro

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and rounder and creamier in texture.

Different grape, similar feel

Deliberately excludes the variety you already know, to find a genuinely new wine that fills the same role.

Primitivo

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be more fruit-driven, and less tannic and softer.

Primitivo di Manduria

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be more fruit-driven, and spicier.

Sonoma Cabernet Sauvignon

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.

Toro

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and rounder and creamier in texture.

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.

California Cabernet Sauvignon

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and more fruit-driven.

California Pinot Noir

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and drier.

Nero d’Avola

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and drier.

Barbera d’Alba

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and drier.

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.

Washington Cabernet Sauvignon

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and lighter in alcohol.

Bolgheri

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and lighter in alcohol.

Argentine Malbec

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and lighter in alcohol.

Barbera d’Alba

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, and drier.

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.

Primitivo

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be more fruit-driven, and less tannic and softer.

Primitivo di Manduria

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be more fruit-driven, and spicier.

Sonoma Cabernet Sauvignon

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.

Shiraz

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and spicier.

Similar but less tannic

For readers who find firm reds drying. Reduces tannic grip while holding flavour and weight roughly steady.

Argentine Malbec

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and lighter in alcohol.

Primitivo

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be more fruit-driven, and less tannic and softer.

Primitivo di Manduria

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be more fruit-driven, and spicier.

Sonoma Cabernet Sauvignon

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.

Similar but fresher

Raises acidity and overall lift, usually by moving to a cooler-climate expression.

Barbera d’Alba

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and lighter.

Barbera d’Asti

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and lighter.

Refosco

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and lighter.

Graciano

Graciano scores closest to Sagrantino across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and lighter.

Similar but softer

Lowers acidity and sharpness in favour of a broader, gentler feel.

Barossa Shiraz

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and spicier.

McLaren Vale Shiraz

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and spicier.

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and spicier.

Primitivo

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be more fruit-driven, and less tannic and softer.

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 sweeter, and lighter.

Lambrusco

Both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and lighter in alcohol.

Lambrusco Grasparossa

Both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and lighter in alcohol.

Primitivo

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be stiller, and more fruit-driven.

Similar but drier

Reduces perceptible sugar while keeping aromatic character.

Primitivo

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be more fruit-driven, and less tannic and softer.

Primitivo di Manduria

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be more fruit-driven, and spicier.

Shiraz

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and spicier.

Sonoma Cabernet Sauvignon

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.

Similar but sweeter

Adds perceptible sweetness, which also softens acidity and chilli heat.

Port

Port scores closest to Sagrantino across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and rounder and creamier in texture.

Vintage Port

Vintage Port scores closest to Sagrantino across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and spicier.

Late Bottled Vintage Port

Late Bottled Vintage Port scores closest to Sagrantino across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and less tannic and softer.

Vin Doux Naturel

Vin Doux Naturel scores closest to Sagrantino across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and less tannic and softer.

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.

Corvinone

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and more fruit-driven.

Refosco

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and lighter.

Nero di Troia

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and lighter.

Bobal

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and lighter.

Similar but more oaky

Adds barrel character, toast and a creamier texture.

Shiraz

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and less oaky.

Sonoma Cabernet Sauvignon

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and less oaky.

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and less oaky.

Barossa Shiraz

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and less oaky.

Similar but more aromatic

More to smell before you taste — floral, fruity or spiced aromatics.

Malbec

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and lighter.

Cabernet Sauvignon

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and lighter.

Nebbiolo

curated

A comparably tannic, ageworthy Italian red.

Expect: Paler, more perfumed and higher in acid.

Syrah

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, 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.

Primitivo

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be more fruit-driven, and more aromatic.

Primitivo di Manduria

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be more fruit-driven, and more aromatic.

Sonoma Cabernet Sauvignon

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and more aromatic.

Toro

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and more aromatic.

Similar but more floral

Pushes specifically towards rose, violet, blossom and elderflower character.

Argentine Malbec

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and lighter in alcohol.

Malbec

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and lighter.

Petit Verdot

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and more restrained in fruit.

Touriga Nacional

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and lighter in alcohol.

Similar but more savoury

Moves away from primary fruit towards earth, herb, meat and umami character.

Taurasi

Both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and more restrained in fruit.

Brunello di Montalcino

Both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and drier.

Barolo

Both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and more restrained in fruit.

Chianti Classico Riserva

Both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and more restrained in fruit.

Similar but fruitier

More obvious, generous fruit flavour, usually from a warmer climate.

Barossa Shiraz

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and rounder and creamier in texture.

McLaren Vale Shiraz

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and rounder and creamier in texture.

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and rounder and creamier in texture.

Petite Sirah

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and more fruit-driven.

Change the place

Keep the grape, move it somewhere else.

Same grape, cooler climate

Typically fresher, lighter and more herbal, with lower alcohol.

Montefalco Sagrantino

Both are made from sagrantino, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and more restrained in fruit.

Same grape, warmer climate

Typically riper, fuller and more generous in fruit, with higher alcohol.

Montefalco Sagrantino

Both are made from sagrantino, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and more restrained in fruit.

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.

Primitivo

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be more fruit-driven, and less tannic and softer.

Shiraz

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and spicier.

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and rounder and creamier in texture.

Barossa Shiraz

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and rounder and creamier in texture.

Something more adventurous

Less familiar wines that occupy similar territory — the interesting end of the shelf.

Primitivo di Manduria

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be more fruit-driven, and spicier.

Sonoma Cabernet Sauvignon

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.

Toro

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and rounder and creamier in texture.

McLaren Vale Shiraz

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and rounder and creamier in texture.

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.

Primitivo di Manduria

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be more fruit-driven, and spicier.

Sonoma Cabernet Sauvignon

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.

Toro

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and rounder and creamier in texture.

McLaren Vale Shiraz

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and rounder and creamier in texture.

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, and both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and spicier.

Primitivo

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be more fruit-driven, and less tannic and softer.

Châteauneuf-du-Pape

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and more savoury.

Shiraz

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and spicier.

How these are chosen

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.