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

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.

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

Alicante Bouschet

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

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

Tannat

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

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

Madiran

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

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

Merlot

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

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

Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon

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

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

Toro

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

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

Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon

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

Substantially less peppery.
Substantially less heavy.
Substantially less oaky or woody.
More tart or sour-fruited, not less.

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.

Alicante Bouschet

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

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

Tannat

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

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

Madiran

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.

Alicante Bouschet

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

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

Tannat

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

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

Madiran

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

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

Merlot

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

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and fresher.

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.

Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and fresher.

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 fresher.

Merlot

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

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and fresher.

Montepulciano d’Abruzzo

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and fresher.

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

Expect: Expect it to be fresher, and lighter.

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 lighter.

Alicante Bouschet

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

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

Hawke’s Bay Bordeaux blend

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be fresher, and lighter.

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

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

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

Alicante Bouschet

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

Expect: Expect it to be fresher, 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 fresher, and fruitier.

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 fruitier.

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 lighter, and fresher.

Montepulciano d’Abruzzo

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and fresher.

Montepulciano

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and fresher.

Bonarda

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and fresher.

Similar but more structured

More tannic architecture, for food or for ageing.

Tannat

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

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

Madiran

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

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

Toro

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

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

Montefalco Sagrantino

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

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

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 lighter.

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 lighter.

Chianti Classico Gran Selezione

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be fresher, and lighter.

Hawke’s Bay Bordeaux blend

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be fresher, and lighter.

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 lighter, and less oaky.

Condrieu

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

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

Viognier

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

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

Toro

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

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

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

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and fresher.

Lambrusco

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

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and fresher.

Lambrusco Grasparossa

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

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and fresher.

Alicante Bouschet

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

Expect: Expect it to be fresher, and stiller.

Similar but sweeter

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

Touriga Franca

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and fresher.

Sagrantino

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

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

Montefalco Sagrantino

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

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

Tinta Barroca

Tinta Barroca scores closest to Shiraz across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

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

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.

Montepulciano d’Abruzzo

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Montepulciano

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Montsant

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Bonarda

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Similar but more oaky

Adds barrel character, toast and a creamier texture.

Toro

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

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

California Cabernet Sauvignon

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Alicante Bouschet

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

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

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.

Barbaresco

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be fresher, and lighter.

Nebbiolo

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be fresher, and lighter.

Barolo

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be fresher, 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.

Alicante Bouschet

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

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

Tannat

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

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

Madiran

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

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

Merlot

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

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and fresher.

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.

Barbaresco

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be fresher, and lighter.

Touriga Franca

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and fresher.

Argentine Cabernet Franc

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be fresher, and lighter.

Similar but more savoury

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

Tannat

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

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

Madiran

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

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

Negroamaro

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and fresher.

Montefalco Sagrantino

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

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

Similar but fruitier

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

California Cabernet Sauvignon

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and lighter.

Alicante Bouschet

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

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

Toro

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

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

Primitivo

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

Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and stronger and warmer.

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

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and fresher.

Priorat

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

Expect: Expect it to be fresher, and stronger and warmer.

Jumilla Monastrell

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and fresher.

Super Tuscan

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

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

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 fresher, and lighter.

Montsant

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and fresher.

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 lighter.

Bekaa Valley Red

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be spicier, and lighter.

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 fruitier, and fresher.

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 fruitier, and more oaky.

Washington Cabernet Sauvignon

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

Expect: Expect it to be fresher, and fruitier.

Bolgheri

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

Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and fresher.

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 lighter, and fresher.

Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon

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

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and fresher.

Montepulciano d’Abruzzo

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and fresher.

California Cabernet Sauvignon

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Something more adventurous

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

Alicante Bouschet

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

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

Tannat

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

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

Madiran

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

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

Toro

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

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

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.

Alicante Bouschet

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

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

Tannat

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

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

Madiran

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

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

Toro

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

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

A step up

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

Priorat

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

Expect: Expect it to be fresher, and stronger and warmer.

Ribera del Duero

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

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

Barbaresco

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be fresher, 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.