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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 keeping the rich, ripe dark fruit, the full body and weight and the vanilla, toast and oak character, while moving away from too oaky or woody.

You said you like the vanilla, toast and oak character and that it is too oaky or woody. Both are about oak influence, so they pull the same axis in opposite directions — the dislike is applied and the like is set aside.
You said you like the vanilla, toast and oak character and that it is too oaky or woody. Both are about spice, so they pull the same axis in opposite directions — the dislike is applied and the like is set aside.

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.

McLaren Vale Shiraz

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

Keeps the rich, ripe dark fruit.
Keeps the full body and weight.
Has some of the vanilla, toast and oak character, though less of it.
A little less oaky or woody.

Toro

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

Keeps the rich, ripe dark fruit.
Keeps the full body and weight.
Has noticeably less of the vanilla, toast and oak character.
Substantially less oaky or woody.

Barossa Shiraz

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

Keeps the rich, ripe dark fruit.
Keeps the full body and weight.
Keeps the vanilla, toast and oak character.
About as oaky or woody as the wine you started from.

Petite Sirah

curated

A Syrah offspring giving even denser colour and firmer tannin.

Keeps the rich, ripe dark fruit.
Keeps the full body and weight.
Has some of the vanilla, toast and oak character, though less of it.
A little less oaky or woody.

Primitivo

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

Keeps the rich, ripe dark fruit.
Keeps the full body and weight.
Has some of the vanilla, toast and oak character, though less of it.
A little less oaky or woody.

Washington Cabernet Sauvignon

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

Keeps the rich, ripe dark fruit.
Keeps the full body and weight.
Has some of the vanilla, toast and oak character, though less of it.
A little less oaky or woody.

Malbec

curated

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

Has some of the rich, ripe dark fruit, though less of it.
Has some of the full body and weight, though less of it.
Has some of the vanilla, toast and oak character, though less of it.
A little less oaky or woody.

Argentine Malbec

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

Keeps the rich, ripe dark fruit.
Keeps the full body and weight.
Has some of the vanilla, toast and oak character, though less of it.
A little less oaky or woody.

Closest overall

Nearest neighbours, no change of direction.

Closest matches

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

McLaren Vale 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 spicier, and rounder and creamier in texture.

Toro

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

Expect: Expect it to be less spicy, and more tannic and structured.

Barossa 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 more oaky, and spicier.

Petite Sirah

curated

A Syrah offspring giving even denser colour and firmer tannin.

Expect: Much more tannic and inky.

Different grape, similar feel

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

Toro

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

Expect: Expect it to be less spicy, and more tannic and structured.

Primitivo

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

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

Argentine Malbec

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

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

Touriga Nacional

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

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

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.

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 lighter, and lighter in alcohol.

Malbec

curated

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

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

California Pinot Noir

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

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 lighter in alcohol, and spicier.

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 lighter in alcohol, and lighter.

Argentine Malbec

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

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

Touriga Nacional

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

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

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.

McLaren Vale 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 spicier.

Barossa 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 more oaky, and spicier.

Toro

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

Expect: Expect it to be less spicy, and more tannic and structured.

Argentine Malbec

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

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

Primitivo

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

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

Barbera d’Alba

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

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

California Pinot Noir

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

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

Similar but more structured

More tannic architecture, for food or for ageing.

Petite Sirah

curated

A Syrah offspring giving even denser colour and firmer tannin.

Expect: Much more tannic and inky.

Toro

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

Expect: Expect it to be less spicy, and broader and softer.

Touriga Nacional

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

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

Priorat

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

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

Similar but fresher

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

Washington Cabernet Sauvignon

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

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

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 lighter, and more restrained in fruit.

Barbera d’Alba

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

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

Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon

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

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

Similar but softer

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

Condrieu

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Viognier

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Pedro Ximénez

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

McLaren Vale 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 spicier, and fresher and more acidic.

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 lighter, and more fruit-driven.

Lambrusco

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

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

Lambrusco Grasparossa

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

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

McLaren Vale 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 stiller, and spicier.

Similar but sweeter

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

Late Bottled Vintage Port

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

Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and spicier.

Port

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

Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and spicier.

Touriga Nacional

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

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

Vin Doux Naturel

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

Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and spicier.

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.

McLaren Vale 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 spicier, and rounder and creamier in texture.

Toro

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

Expect: Expect it to be less spicy, and more tannic and structured.

Malbec

curated

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

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

Primitivo

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

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

Similar but more oaky

Adds barrel character, toast and a creamier texture.

Barossa 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 more oaky, and spicier.

McLaren Vale 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 spicier.

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

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

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

Toro

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

Expect: Expect it to be less spicy, and more tannic and structured.

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.

Cabernet Sauvignon

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

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

Nebbiolo

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

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

McLaren Vale 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 spicier, and more aromatic.

Toro

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

Expect: Expect it to be less spicy, and more aromatic.

Barossa 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 more oaky, and spicier.

Primitivo

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

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

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.

Argentine Malbec

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

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

Touriga Nacional

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

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

Petit Verdot

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

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

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.

Priorat

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

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

Montefalco Sagrantino

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Sagrantino

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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.

Primitivo

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

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

McLaren Vale 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 spicier, and rounder and creamier in texture.

Petite Sirah

curated

A Syrah offspring giving even denser colour and firmer tannin.

Expect: Much more tannic and inky.

Primitivo di Manduria

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

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

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.

Washington Cabernet Sauvignon

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

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

Bolgheri

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

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

Priorat

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

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

California Rhône blend

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

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and spicier.

Same grape, cooler climate

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

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 lighter, and more restrained in fruit.

Washington Cabernet Sauvignon

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

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

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 lighter, and less oaky.

Bolgheri

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

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

Same grape, warmer climate

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

McLaren Vale 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 spicier, and fresher and more acidic.

Barossa 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 more oaky, and spicier.

Washington Cabernet Sauvignon

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

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

Châteauneuf-du-Pape

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

Expect: Expect it to be spicier, 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.

Barossa 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 more oaky, and spicier.

Primitivo

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

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

Argentine Malbec

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

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

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

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

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

Something more adventurous

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

McLaren Vale 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 spicier, and rounder and creamier in texture.

Petite Sirah

curated

A Syrah offspring giving even denser colour and firmer tannin.

Expect: Much more tannic and inky.

Toro

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

Expect: Expect it to be less spicy, and more tannic and structured.

Washington Cabernet Sauvignon

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

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

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.

McLaren Vale 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 spicier, and rounder and creamier in texture.

Toro

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

Expect: Expect it to be less spicy, and more tannic and structured.

Washington Cabernet Sauvignon

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

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

Touriga Nacional

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

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

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.

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

Priorat

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

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

Châteauneuf-du-Pape

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

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

Barossa 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 more oaky, 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.