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Wines like Shiraz

The Australian name for Syrah, used to signal the riper, fuller, sweeter-fruited style the country made famous. Below: what to try next, grouped by the direction you want to travel.

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What do you like about Shiraz?

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 rich dark fruit How full and weighty it is The firm, grippy structure The vanilla and oak

But it’s a bit…

too jammy or sweet-tasting too tart or sour-fruited too heavy too drying or too tannic too oaky or woody too peppery

Clear all

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".
The bright red fruit: Raspberry, redcurrant, sour cherry — lighter and sharper than dark fruit, usually from a cooler place or an earlier picking.
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 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.
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 spice: Black pepper, clove, cinnamon. Some of it is the grape — the pepper in Syrah is a measured compound called rotundone — and some is the barrel.

Looking for something moving away from too jammy or sweet-tasting.

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.

Syrah

curated

The same variety in its cooler-climate expression.

Substantially less jammy or sweet-tasting.

Uruguayan Tannat

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

Substantially less jammy or sweet-tasting.

Ribera del Duero

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

Substantially less jammy or sweet-tasting.

Tempranillo

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

Substantially less jammy or sweet-tasting.

Jumilla Monastrell

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

Substantially less jammy or sweet-tasting.

Rioja

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

Substantially less jammy or sweet-tasting.

Rioja Reserva

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

Substantially less jammy or sweet-tasting.

Mourvèdre

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

Substantially less jammy or sweet-tasting.

Closest overall

Nearest neighbours, no change of direction.

Closest matches

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

Syrah

curated

The same variety in its cooler-climate expression.

Expect: Black pepper, olive and savoury meat in place of chocolate and sweet fruit, at lower alcohol.

Uruguayan Tannat

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

Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and lighter in alcohol.

Ribera del Duero

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

Expect: Expect it to be earthier, and fresher and more acidic.

Tempranillo

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

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

Different grape, similar feel

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

Uruguayan Tannat

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

Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and lighter in alcohol.

Ribera del Duero

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

Expect: Expect it to be earthier, and fresher and more acidic.

Tempranillo

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

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

Rioja

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

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

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.

Australian Pinot Noir

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

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

Bekaa Valley Red

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

Expect: Expect it to be earthier, and fresher and more acidic.

Carmenère

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

Expect: Expect it to be more herbal and green, and less tannic and softer.

Chilean Carmenère

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

Expect: Expect it to be more herbal and green, and less tannic and softer.

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.

Pinot Noir

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Spätburgunder (German Pinot Noir)

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

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

Red Burgundy

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Red Bordeaux

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

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

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.

Priorat

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

Expect: Expect it to be earthier, and fresher and more acidic.

Ribera del Duero

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

Expect: Expect it to be earthier, and fresher and more acidic.

Uruguayan Tannat

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

Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and leaner and more cutting.

Douro red

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

Expect: Expect it to be earthier, and more floral.

Similar but less tannic

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

Carmenère

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

Expect: Expect it to be more herbal and green, and lighter.

Chilean Carmenère

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

Expect: Expect it to be more herbal and green, and lighter.

Rioja Gran Reserva

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Tinta Negra

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

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

Similar but more structured

More tannic architecture, for food or for ageing.

Priorat

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

Expect: Expect it to be earthier, and fresher and more acidic.

Tannat

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

Expect: Expect it to be less spicy, and earthier.

Madiran

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

Expect: Expect it to be less spicy, and earthier.

Mavrud

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

Expect: Expect it to be earthier, and fresher and more acidic.

Similar but fresher

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

Aglianico

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Sangiovese

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Vino Nobile di Montepulciano

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

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

Red Bordeaux

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

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

Similar but softer

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

Marsanne

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Syrah

curated

The same variety in its cooler-climate expression.

Expect: Black pepper, olive and savoury meat in place of chocolate and sweet fruit, at lower alcohol.

Tempranillo

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

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

Jumilla Monastrell

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

Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and earthier.

The sparkling version

Moves to a sparkling expression while holding the flavour and weight as close as possible.

Lambrusco

Lambrusco scores closest to Shiraz across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

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

Lambrusco Grasparossa

Lambrusco Grasparossa scores closest to Shiraz across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

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

Sparkling Shiraz

Both are made from shiraz, and both come from the same country.

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

Franciacorta

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

Expect: Expect it to be more sparkling, and less tannic and softer.

Similar but sweeter

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

Sagrantino

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

Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and less spicy.

Tawny Port

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

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

Tinta Negra

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

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

Montefalco Sagrantino

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

Expect: Expect it to be less spicy, and earthier.

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.

Australian Pinot Noir

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

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and earthier.

Cahors

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Carignan

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

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

Cornalin

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

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

Similar but more oaky

Adds barrel character, toast and a creamier texture.

Ribera del Duero

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

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

Tempranillo

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

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

Rioja

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

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

Rioja Reserva

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

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

Similar but more aromatic

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

Syrah

curated

The same variety in its cooler-climate expression.

Expect: Black pepper, olive and savoury meat in place of chocolate and sweet fruit, at lower alcohol.

Nebbiolo

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Barbaresco

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Barolo

Barolo scores closest to Shiraz across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

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

Franken Silvaner

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be more restrained in fruit, and less tannic and softer.

Tempranillo

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

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

Uruguayan Tannat

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

Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and fresher and more acidic.

Ribera del Duero

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

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

Similar but more floral

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

Syrah

curated

The same variety in its cooler-climate expression.

Expect: Black pepper, olive and savoury meat in place of chocolate and sweet fruit, at lower alcohol.

Pinot Noir

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Nebbiolo

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Barbaresco

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Similar but more savoury

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

Jumilla Monastrell

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

Expect: Expect it to be earthier, and lighter.

Mourvèdre

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

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

Ribera del Duero

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

Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and earthier.

Rioja

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

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

Similar but fruitier

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

Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon

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

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

Syrah

curated

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

Expect: Expect it to be earthier, and lighter.

Uruguayan Tannat

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

Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and lighter in alcohol.

Ribera del Duero

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

Expect: Expect it to be earthier, and fresher and more acidic.

Change the place

Keep the grape, move it somewhere else.

Same grape, somewhere else

Holds the variety constant and changes the place, which is often a bigger change than swapping the grape.

Syrah

curated

The same variety in its cooler-climate expression.

Expect: Black pepper, olive and savoury meat in place of chocolate and sweet fruit, at lower alcohol.

Jumilla Monastrell

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

Expect: Expect it to be earthier, and lighter.

Priorat

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

Expect: Expect it to be earthier, and fresher and more acidic.

Bekaa Valley Red

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

Expect: Expect it to be earthier, and fresher and more acidic.

Same grape, cooler climate

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

Bekaa Valley Red

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

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

Hawke’s Bay Syrah

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

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

Swartland Syrah and Rhône blends

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

Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and more herbal and green.

Washington Syrah

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

Expect: Expect it to be earthier, and more floral.

Same grape, warmer climate

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

Syrah

curated

The same variety in its cooler-climate expression.

Expect: Black pepper, olive and savoury meat in place of chocolate and sweet fruit, at lower alcohol.

Priorat

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

Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and earthier.

Jumilla Monastrell

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

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and earthier.

Languedoc red

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

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and less 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.

Syrah

curated

The same variety in its cooler-climate expression.

Expect: Black pepper, olive and savoury meat in place of chocolate and sweet fruit, at lower alcohol.

Ribera del Duero

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

Expect: Expect it to be earthier, and fresher and more acidic.

Tempranillo

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

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

Rioja

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

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

Something more adventurous

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

Uruguayan Tannat

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

Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and lighter in alcohol.

Jumilla Monastrell

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

Expect: Expect it to be earthier, and lighter.

Mourvèdre

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

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

Carmenère

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

Expect: Expect it to be more herbal and green, and lighter.

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.

Uruguayan Tannat

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

Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and lighter in alcohol.

Jumilla Monastrell

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

Expect: Expect it to be earthier, and lighter.

Mourvèdre

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

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

Carmenère

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

Expect: Expect it to be more herbal and green, and lighter.

A step up

The benchmark expressions of the same territory, usually with more concentration, structure and ageing potential.

Ribera del Duero

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

Expect: Expect it to be earthier, and fresher and more acidic.

Priorat

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

Expect: Expect it to be earthier, and fresher and more acidic.

Syrah

curated

The same variety in its cooler-climate expression.

Expect: Black pepper, olive and savoury meat in place of chocolate and sweet fruit, at lower alcohol.

Tempranillo

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

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

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.