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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.

← Back to Shiraz

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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 oaky or woody, too tart or sour-fruited and too heavy.

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.

Malbec

curated

Comparable weight and dark plush fruit, and the most common crossover choice.

A little less oaky or woody.
About as tart or sour-fruited as the wine you started from.
Substantially less heavy.

Syrah

curated

The same variety in its cooler-climate expression.

A little less oaky or woody.
About as tart or sour-fruited as the wine you started from.
Substantially less heavy.

Merlot

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

Substantially less oaky or woody.
About as tart or sour-fruited as the wine you started from.
Substantially less heavy.

Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon

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

Substantially less oaky or woody.
About as tart or sour-fruited as the wine you started from.
Substantially less heavy.

Montepulciano d’Abruzzo

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

Substantially less oaky or woody.
About as tart or sour-fruited as the wine you started from.
Substantially less heavy.

Montepulciano

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

Substantially less oaky or woody.
About as tart or sour-fruited as the wine you started from.
Substantially less heavy.

Touriga Franca

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

Substantially less oaky or woody.
About as tart or sour-fruited as the wine you started from.
Substantially less heavy.

Montsant

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

Substantially less oaky or woody.
About as tart or sour-fruited as the wine you started from.
Substantially less heavy.

Closest overall

Nearest neighbours, no change of direction.

Closest matches

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

Malbec

curated

Comparable weight and dark plush fruit, and the most common crossover choice.

Expect: More floral, less oaky and usually a touch fresher.

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.

Merlot

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

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

Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon

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

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

Different grape, similar feel

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

Merlot

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

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

Malbec

curated

Comparable weight and dark plush fruit, and the most common crossover choice.

Expect: More floral, less oaky and usually a touch fresher.

Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon

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

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

Montepulciano d’Abruzzo

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

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

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.

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.

Merlot

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

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

Malbec

curated

Comparable weight and dark plush fruit, and the most common crossover choice.

Expect: More floral, less oaky and usually a touch fresher.

Montepulciano d’Abruzzo

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

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

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.

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 fresher, and less spicy.

Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon

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

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

Australian Grenache

Both are made from shiraz, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure, both come from the same country.

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

Merlot

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

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

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.

Toro

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and fruitier.

McLaren Vale Shiraz

Both are made from shiraz, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure, both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and fresher.

Barossa Shiraz

Both are made from shiraz, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure, both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and more oaky.

Argentine Malbec

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and fresher.

Similar but less tannic

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

Merlot

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

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

Montepulciano d’Abruzzo

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

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

Montepulciano

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

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

Bonarda

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

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

Similar but more structured

More tannic architecture, for food or for ageing.

Mavrud

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

Expect: Expect it to be fresher, and spicier.

Tannat

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and fresher.

Madiran

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and fresher.

Barbaresco

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Similar but fresher

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

Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon

Both are made from shiraz, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure, both come from the same country.

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

Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon

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

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

Chianti Classico Gran Selezione

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Australian Grenache

Both are made from shiraz, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure, both come from the same country.

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

Similar but softer

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

Marsanne

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

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

Grenache Blanc

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Condrieu

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and less oaky.

Viognier

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and less oaky.

The sparkling version

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

Sparkling Shiraz

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 fresher, and fruitier.

Lambrusco

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

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

Lambrusco Grasparossa

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

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

Franciacorta

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

Expect: Expect it to be fresher, and lighter.

Similar but sweeter

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

Touriga Franca

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

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

Sparkling Shiraz

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 fresher, and fruitier.

Tinta Barroca

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

California Cabernet Sauvignon

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

Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and fruitier.

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.

Malbec

curated

Comparable weight and dark plush fruit, and the most common crossover choice.

Expect: More floral, less oaky and usually a touch fresher.

Montepulciano d’Abruzzo

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

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

Montepulciano

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

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

Montsant

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

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

Similar but more oaky

Adds barrel character, toast and a creamier texture.

Merlot

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

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

California Cabernet Sauvignon

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and fruitier.

Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon

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

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

Barossa Shiraz

Both are made from shiraz, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure, 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.

Malbec

curated

Comparable weight and dark plush fruit, and the most common crossover choice.

Expect: More floral, less oaky and usually a touch fresher.

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.

Barbaresco

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Nebbiolo

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Similar but more restrained

For readers who find intensely aromatic wines tiring over a whole glass. Keeps the structure, turns the volume down.

Merlot

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

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

Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon

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

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

Montepulciano d’Abruzzo

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

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

Montepulciano

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

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

Similar but more floral

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

Malbec

curated

Comparable weight and dark plush fruit, and the most common crossover choice.

Expect: More floral, less oaky and usually a touch fresher.

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.

Touriga Franca

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

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

Barbaresco

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Similar but more savoury

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

Negroamaro

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

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

Melnik

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

Expect: Expect it to be fresher, and spicier.

Mourvèdre

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

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

Similar but fruitier

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

California Cabernet Sauvignon

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

Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and more oaky.

Bonarda

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

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

Touriga Franca

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

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

Primitivo

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and fuller and richer.

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.

Montsant

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

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

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 fresher, and stronger and warmer.

Bekaa Valley Red

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

Expect: Expect it to be fresher, and spicier.

Same grape, cooler climate

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

Montsant

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

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

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 fresher, and less spicy.

Australian Grenache

Both are made from shiraz, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure, both come from the same country.

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

Bekaa Valley Red

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

Expect: Expect it to be fresher, and spicier.

Same grape, warmer climate

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

McLaren Vale Shiraz

Both are made from shiraz, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure, both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and fruitier.

Barossa Shiraz

Both are made from shiraz, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure, both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and fruitier.

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 fresher, 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.

Merlot

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

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

Malbec

curated

Comparable weight and dark plush fruit, and the most common crossover choice.

Expect: More floral, less oaky and usually a touch fresher.

Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon

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

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

Montepulciano d’Abruzzo

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

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

Something more adventurous

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

Montepulciano

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

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

Touriga Franca

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

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

Montsant

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

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

Bonarda

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

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

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.

Montepulciano

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

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

Touriga Franca

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

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

Montsant

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

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

Bonarda

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

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

A step up

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

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

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and fresher.

Ribera del Duero

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and fresher.

Barbaresco

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

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.