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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 the fruit is not covered in oak, the bright red-fruited character and how light and easy it feels.
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.
Poulsard
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Keeps that the fruit is not covered in oak.
- Keeps the bright red-fruited character.
- Keeps how light and easy it feels.
Grolleau
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Keeps that the fruit is not covered in oak.
- Keeps the bright red-fruited character.
- Has some of how light and easy it feels, though less of it.
País
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Keeps that the fruit is not covered in oak.
- Keeps the bright red-fruited character.
- Has some of how light and easy it feels, though less of it.
Portugieser
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Keeps that the fruit is not covered in oak.
- Keeps the bright red-fruited character.
- Has some of how light and easy it feels, though less of it.
English still Pinot Noir
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Has some of that the fruit is not covered in oak, though less of it.
- Keeps the bright red-fruited character.
- Keeps how light and easy it feels.
Tibouren
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Keeps that the fruit is not covered in oak.
- Keeps the bright red-fruited character.
- Has some of how light and easy it feels, though less of it.
Cinsault
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Keeps that the fruit is not covered in oak.
- Keeps the bright red-fruited character.
- Has some of how light and easy it feels, though less of it.
Molinara
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.
- Keeps that the fruit is not covered in oak.
- Keeps the bright red-fruited character.
- Has some of how light and easy it feels, though less of it.
Closest overall
Nearest neighbours, no change of direction.
Closest matches
The nearest overall neighbours across structure and flavour, with no deliberate change of direction.
Poulsard
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be stronger and warmer, and earthier.
Grolleau
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and sweeter.
País
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and stronger and warmer.
Portugieser
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and stronger and warmer.
Different grape, similar feel
Deliberately excludes the variety you already know, to find a genuinely new wine that fills the same role.
Poulsard
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be stronger and warmer, and earthier.
Grolleau
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and sweeter.
País
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and stronger and warmer.
Portugieser
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and stronger and warmer.
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.
English still Pinot Noir
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and fresher.
Poulsard
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be stronger and warmer, and earthier.
Grolleau
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and sweeter.
País
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and stronger and warmer.
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 fresher.
Mosel Riesling
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, and fresher.
Hunter Valley Semillon
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, 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 fresher.
Similar but fuller
Keeps the character but adds weight, concentration and mouthfeel.
Grolleau
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and sweeter.
Portugieser
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and stronger and warmer.
Tibouren
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and stronger and warmer.
Cinsault
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and fruitier.
Similar but less tannic
For readers who find firm reds drying. Reduces tannic grip while holding flavour and weight roughly steady.
Hondarrabi Zuri
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher, and more sparkling.
Jacquère
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher, and more restrained in fruit.
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.
Txakoli
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher, and more sparkling.
Similar but more structured
More tannic architecture, for food or for ageing.
Fer Servadou
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and fruitier.
Colorino
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and broader and softer.
Tinto Cão
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and stronger and warmer.
Mondeuse Noire
Mondeuse Noire scores closest to Schiava across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and fruitier.
Similar but fresher
Raises acidity and overall lift, usually by moving to a cooler-climate expression.
English still Pinot Noir
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher, and more oaky.
Molinara
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher, 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 fresher, and more oaky.
Mondeuse Noire
Mondeuse Noire scores closest to Schiava across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and fresher.
Similar but softer
Lowers acidity and sharpness in favour of a broader, gentler feel.
Portugieser
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and stronger and warmer.
Canaiolo
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and broader and softer.
Négrette
Négrette scores closest to Schiava across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and stronger and warmer.
Dolcetto
Both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and more oaky.
The sparkling version
Moves to a sparkling expression while holding the flavour and weight as close as possible.
Lambrusco
Both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and fruitier.
Lambrusco Grasparossa
Both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and fruitier.
Glera
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and stronger and warmer.
Asti
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and fuller and richer.
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 fuller and richer, and less floral.
Portugieser
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and stronger and warmer.
Tinto Cão
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and stronger and warmer.
Lambrusco Grasparossa
Both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and fruitier.
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 fresher.
País
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and fuller and richer.
Cabernet Franc
Cabernet Franc scores closest to Schiava across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and more oaky.
Valpolicella
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and fuller and richer.
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 fuller and richer, and more oaky.
Gamay
curatedBoth are pale, light, chillable reds.
Expect: More structure and darker fruit.
Kabinett
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and fresher.
Pinot Noir
Pinot Noir scores closest to Schiava across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and more oaky.
Similar but more restrained
For readers who find intensely aromatic wines tiring over a whole glass. Keeps the structure, turns the volume down.
Jacquère
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher, and more restrained in fruit.
Pinot Grigio
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and stronger and warmer.
Koshu
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and more restrained in fruit.
Trebbiano Toscano
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and more restrained in fruit.
Similar but more floral
Pushes specifically towards rose, violet, blossom and elderflower character.
Frappato
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and fruitier.
Négrette
Négrette scores closest to Schiava across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and stronger and warmer.
Cerasuolo di Vittoria
Both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and more oaky.
Dão
Dão scores closest to Schiava across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and stronger and warmer.
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 fuller and richer, and less floral.
País
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and stronger and warmer.
Portugieser
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and stronger and warmer.
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 fuller and richer, and stronger and warmer.
English still Pinot Noir
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and fresher.
Tibouren
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and stronger and warmer.
Similar but fruitier
More obvious, generous fruit flavour, usually from a warmer climate.
Cinsault
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and fuller and richer.
Frappato
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and fuller and richer.
Beaujolais
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and more oaky.
Dornfelder
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and fruitier.
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.
Beaujolais
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and fuller and richer.
Gamay
curatedBoth are pale, light, chillable reds.
Expect: More structure and darker fruit.
Cabernet Franc
Cabernet Franc scores closest to Schiava across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and more oaky.
Cru Beaujolais
Cru Beaujolais scores closest to Schiava across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and more oaky.
Something more adventurous
Less familiar wines that occupy similar territory — the interesting end of the shelf.
Poulsard
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be stronger and warmer, and earthier.
Grolleau
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and sweeter.
País
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and stronger and warmer.
Portugieser
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and stronger and warmer.
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.
Poulsard
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be stronger and warmer, and earthier.
Grolleau
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and sweeter.
País
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and stronger and warmer.
Portugieser
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and stronger and warmer.
A step up
The benchmark expressions of the same territory, usually with more concentration, structure and ageing potential.
Cabernet Franc
Cabernet Franc scores closest to Schiava across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and more oaky.
Beaujolais
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and more oaky.
Cru Beaujolais
Cru Beaujolais scores closest to Schiava across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and more oaky.
Chianti
Both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, 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.