If you like this, try…
Wines like Schiava
A very pale, light Alpine red from Alto Adige, with a distinctive strawberry-and-almond character. Below: what to try next, grouped by the direction you want to travel.
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What do you like about Schiava?
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.
- 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 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 floral character
- Rose, violet, elderflower, orange blossom.
Looking for something keeping that it is not too alcoholic and that the fruit is not covered in oak.
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.
Grolleau
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Keeps that it is not too alcoholic.
- Keeps that the fruit is not covered in oak.
Frappato
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
- Has some of that it is not too alcoholic, though less of it.
- Keeps that the fruit is not covered in oak.
Cinsault
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Has some of that it is not too alcoholic, though less of it.
- Keeps that the fruit is not covered in oak.
Molinara
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
- Has some of that it is not too alcoholic, though less of it.
- Keeps that the fruit is not covered in oak.
Poulsard
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Has some of that it is not too alcoholic, though less of it.
- Keeps that the fruit is not covered in oak.
País
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Has some of that it is not too alcoholic, though less of it.
- Keeps that the fruit is not covered in oak.
Canaiolo
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
- Has some of that it is not too alcoholic, though less of it.
- Keeps that the fruit is not covered in oak.
Pinot Meunier
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Has some of that it is not too alcoholic, though less of it.
- Keeps that the fruit is not covered in oak.
Closest overall
Nearest neighbours, no change of direction.
Closest matches
The nearest overall neighbours across structure and flavour, with no deliberate change of direction.
Grolleau
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and less floral.
Frappato
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be stronger and warmer, and more floral.
Cinsault
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be stronger and warmer, and fuller and richer.
Molinara
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be stronger and warmer, and fuller and richer.
Different grape, similar feel
Deliberately excludes the variety you already know, to find a genuinely new wine that fills the same role.
Grolleau
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and less floral.
Frappato
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be stronger and warmer, and more floral.
Cinsault
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be stronger and warmer, and fuller and richer.
Molinara
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be stronger and warmer, and fuller and richer.
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.
Grolleau
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and sweeter.
English still Pinot Noir
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and earthier.
Poulsard
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be stronger and warmer, and earthier.
Frappato
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be stronger and warmer, and fuller and richer.
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.
Kabinett
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, and sweeter.
Hunter Valley Semillon
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, and more savoury.
Mosel Riesling
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, and sweeter.
Grolleau
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and less floral.
Similar but fuller
Keeps the character but adds weight, concentration and mouthfeel.
Canaiolo
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be stronger and warmer, and fuller and richer.
Colorino
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be stronger and warmer, and more tannic and structured.
Grolleau
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and less floral.
Pinot Meunier
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be stronger and warmer, and fuller and richer.
Similar but less tannic
For readers who find firm reds drying. Reduces tannic grip while holding flavour and weight roughly steady.
Parellada
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and rounder and creamier in texture.
Trebbiano Romagnolo
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and less floral.
Trebbiano Toscano
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and less floral.
Müller-Thurgau
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and softer and rounder.
Similar but more structured
More tannic architecture, for food or for ageing.
Colorino
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be stronger and warmer, and more tannic and structured.
Fer Servadou
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be stronger and warmer, and more tannic and structured.
Mondeuse Noire
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be stronger and warmer, and more tannic and structured.
Canaiolo
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be stronger and warmer, and fuller and richer.
Similar but fresher
Raises acidity and overall lift, usually by moving to a cooler-climate expression.
Molinara
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be stronger and warmer, and fuller and richer.
English still Pinot Noir
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and earthier.
Mondeuse Noire
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be stronger and warmer, and fuller and richer.
Valpolicella
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and stronger and warmer.
Similar but softer
Lowers acidity and sharpness in favour of a broader, gentler feel.
Canaiolo
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be stronger and warmer, and fuller and richer.
Portugieser
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be stronger and warmer, and sweeter.
Négrette
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be stronger and warmer, and fuller and richer.
Dolcetto
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and stronger and warmer.
The sparkling version
Moves to a sparkling expression while holding the flavour and weight as close as possible.
Lambrusco
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be stronger and warmer, and stiller.
Lambrusco Grasparossa
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be stronger and warmer, and stiller.
Asti
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and more aromatic.
Glera
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be stronger and warmer, and sweeter.
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 less floral, and fuller and richer.
Lambrusco Grasparossa
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be stronger and warmer, and sweeter.
Portugieser
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be stronger and warmer, and less floral.
Rondinella
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be stronger and warmer, and fuller and richer.
Change the flavour
Same shape, different aromatic character.
Similar but more oaky
Adds barrel character, toast and a creamier texture.
English still Pinot Noir
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and earthier.
Gamay
curatedBoth are pale, light, chillable reds.
Expect: More structure and darker fruit.
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 stronger and warmer.
Dolcetto
Both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and stronger and warmer.
Similar but more aromatic
More to smell before you taste — floral, fruity or spiced aromatics.
Gamay
curatedBoth are pale, light, chillable reds.
Expect: More structure and darker fruit.
Cabernet Franc
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and stronger and warmer.
Mantinia Moschofilero
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and less tannic and softer.
Moschofilero
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, 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.
Trebbiano Toscano
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and less tannic and softer.
Koshu
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less tannic and softer, and more savoury.
Jacquère
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and less tannic and softer.
Melon de Bourgogne
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more sparkling, and fresher and more acidic.
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 stronger and warmer, and more neutral and subtle.
Négrette
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be stronger and warmer, 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 stronger and warmer.
Mantinia Moschofilero
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and less tannic and softer.
Similar but less floral
Some drinkers read floral aromatics as soapy or perfumed. This holds the structure and removes them.
Grolleau
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and sweeter.
Molinara
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be stronger and warmer, and less floral.
País
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be stronger and warmer, and less floral.
Poulsard
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be stronger and warmer, and less floral.
Similar but more savoury
Moves away from primary fruit towards earth, herb, meat and umami character.
Poulsard
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be stronger and warmer, and less floral.
País
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be stronger and warmer, and less floral.
English still Pinot Noir
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and fresher and more acidic.
Tibouren
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be stronger and warmer, and more herbal and green.
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 stronger and warmer, and more floral.
Cinsault
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be stronger and warmer, and fuller and richer.
Pinot Meunier
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be stronger and warmer, and fuller and richer.
Dornfelder
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be stronger and warmer, and fuller and richer.
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
curatedBoth are pale, light, chillable reds.
Expect: More structure and darker fruit.
Beaujolais
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and stronger and warmer.
Cru Beaujolais
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and stronger and warmer.
Cabernet Franc
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and stronger and warmer.
Something more adventurous
Less familiar wines that occupy similar territory — the interesting end of the shelf.
Grolleau
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and less floral.
Frappato
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be stronger and warmer, and more floral.
Cinsault
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be stronger and warmer, and fuller and richer.
Molinara
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be stronger and warmer, and fuller and richer.
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.
Grolleau
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and less floral.
Frappato
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be stronger and warmer, and more floral.
Cinsault
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be stronger and warmer, and fuller and richer.
Molinara
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be stronger and warmer, and fuller and richer.
A step up
The benchmark expressions of the same territory, usually with more concentration, structure and ageing potential.
Cru Beaujolais
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and stronger and warmer.
Cabernet Franc
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and stronger and warmer.
Gamay
curatedBoth are pale, light, chillable reds.
Expect: More structure and darker fruit.
Beaujolais
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and stronger and warmer.
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.