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Wines like Tannat

One of the most tannic wine grapes in commercial use, native to south-west France and the national variety of Uruguay. Below: what to try next, grouped by the direction you want to travel.

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What do you like about Tannat?

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 firm, grippy structure How full and weighty it is The savoury, meaty side

But it’s a bit…

too drying or too tannic too heavy too oaky or woody too earthy or musty too savoury or funky too austere

Clear all

What these words mean

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.
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 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 savoury, meaty side: Leather, olive, cured meat, dried herbs, tobacco. It is what people mean by calling a wine "serious" rather than "fruity", and it comes with age as well as with place.
The earthy, mineral side: Forest floor, wet stone, mushroom, damp earth. Widely described and much less well explained than wine writing implies — the sensation is real, the causal story usually is not.
That it is properly dry: No perceptible sugar at all. Almost all red wine is dry and a good deal of white wine is not, which is why this is a more useful thing to say about a white than about a red.

Looking for something keeping the full body and weight and the firm tannic structure, while moving away from too austere and too drying or too tannic.

You said you like the firm tannic structure and that it is too drying or too tannic. Both are about tannin, 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.

Sagrantino

curated

Umbria’s Sagrantino is the other contender for the most tannic wine grape in commercial use.

Keeps the full body and weight.
Keeps the firm tannic structure.
Substantially less austere.
About as drying or too tannic as the wine you started from.

Touriga Franca

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

Has some of the full body and weight, though less of it.
Has some of the firm tannic structure, though less of it.
Substantially less austere.
Substantially less drying or too tannic.

Touriga Nacional

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

Keeps the full body and weight.
Keeps the firm tannic structure.
Substantially less austere.
About as drying or too tannic as the wine you started from.

Amarone della Valpolicella

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

Keeps the full body and weight.
Has some of the firm tannic structure, though less of it.
Substantially less austere.
Substantially less drying or too tannic.

Primitivo di Manduria

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

Keeps the full body and weight.
Has some of the firm tannic structure, though less of it.
Substantially less austere.
Substantially less drying or too tannic.

Tinta Barroca

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Has some of the full body and weight, though less of it.
Has noticeably less of the firm tannic structure.
Substantially less austere.
Substantially less drying or too tannic.

Pinotage

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

Has some of the full body and weight, though less of it.
Has some of the firm tannic structure, though less of it.
Substantially less austere.
Substantially less drying or too tannic.

Saperavi

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Has some of the full body and weight, though less of it.
Has some of the firm tannic structure, though less of it.
Substantially less austere.
Substantially less drying or too tannic.

Closest overall

Nearest neighbours, no change of direction.

Closest matches

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

Sagrantino

curated

Umbria’s Sagrantino is the other contender for the most tannic wine grape in commercial use.

Expect: Higher acidity and more overtly Italian savoury character.

Touriga Franca

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

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

Touriga Nacional

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

Expect: Expect it to be more tannic and structured, and more floral.

Amarone della Valpolicella

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

Expect: Expect it to be drier, 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.

Sagrantino

curated

Umbria’s Sagrantino is the other contender for the most tannic wine grape in commercial use.

Expect: Higher acidity and more overtly Italian savoury character.

Touriga Franca

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

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

Touriga Nacional

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

Expect: Expect it to be more tannic and structured, and more floral.

Amarone della Valpolicella

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

Expect: Expect it to be drier, 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.

Touriga Franca

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

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

Pinotage

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and drier.

Saperavi

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and drier.

Tinta Barroca

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, 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.

Lambrusco Grasparossa

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

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

Dornfelder

Dornfelder scores closest to Tannat across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

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

Rondo

Rondo scores closest to Tannat across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

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

Fer Servadou

Both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, 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.

Touriga Nacional

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

Expect: Expect it to be more tannic and structured, and more floral.

Amarone della Valpolicella

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

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

Primitivo di Manduria

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

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

Primitivo

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

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

Similar but less tannic

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

Touriga Franca

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

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

Amarone della Valpolicella

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

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

Primitivo di Manduria

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

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

Pinotage

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

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and lighter.

Similar but fresher

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

Saperavi

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

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and lighter.

Chianti Classico Gran Selezione

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and lighter.

Vino Nobile di Montepulciano

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and lighter.

Sangiovese

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and lighter.

Similar but softer

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

Primitivo di Manduria

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

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

Tinta Barroca

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Primitivo

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

California Cabernet Sauvignon

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and lighter.

The sparkling version

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

Sparkling Shiraz

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

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

Lambrusco Grasparossa

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

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

Lambrusco

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

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and drier.

Sagrantino

curated

Umbria’s Sagrantino is the other contender for the most tannic wine grape in commercial use.

Expect: Higher acidity and more overtly Italian savoury character.

Similar but sweeter

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

Sagrantino

curated

Umbria’s Sagrantino is the other contender for the most tannic wine grape in commercial use.

Expect: Higher acidity and more overtly Italian savoury character.

Touriga Franca

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

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

Touriga Nacional

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

Expect: Expect it to be more tannic and structured, and more floral.

Sparkling Shiraz

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

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

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.

Tinta Barroca

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Tinto Cão

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Corvinone

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and lighter.

Lambrusco Grasparossa

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

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

Similar but more oaky

Adds barrel character, toast and a creamier texture.

Pinotage

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

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and lighter.

Ribera del Duero

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

California Cabernet Sauvignon

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and lighter.

Super Tuscan

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Similar but more aromatic

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

Syrah

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

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and lighter.

Malbec

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and lighter.

Cabernet Sauvignon

curated

A structured, tannic red in the same family of wines but far more widely available.

Expect: Noticeably less tannic and more aromatic.

Barbaresco

Barbaresco scores closest to Tannat across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, 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.

Sagrantino

curated

Umbria’s Sagrantino is the other contender for the most tannic wine grape in commercial use.

Expect: Higher acidity and more overtly Italian savoury character.

Amarone della Valpolicella

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

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

Primitivo di Manduria

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Tinta Barroca

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Similar but more floral

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

Touriga Franca

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

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

Touriga Nacional

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

Expect: Expect it to be more tannic and structured, and more floral.

Malbec

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and lighter.

Douro red

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Similar but more savoury

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

Chianti Classico Riserva

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and lighter.

Northern Rhône Syrah

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

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and lighter.

Rioja Gran Reserva

Rioja Gran Reserva scores closest to Tannat across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and lighter.

Chianti Classico Gran Selezione

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and lighter.

Similar but fruitier

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

Touriga Nacional

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

Expect: Expect it to be more tannic and structured, and more floral.

Primitivo di Manduria

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

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

Primitivo

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

California Cabernet Sauvignon

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and lighter.

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.

Uruguayan Tannat

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

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and spicier.

Same grape, cooler climate

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

Cahors

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

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and lighter.

Uruguayan Tannat

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

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and softer and rounder.

Madiran

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

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and more tannic and structured.

Same grape, warmer climate

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

Uruguayan Tannat

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

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and spicier.

Madiran

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

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and more tannic and structured.

Cahors

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

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and lighter.

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.

Amarone della Valpolicella

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

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

Cabernet Sauvignon

curated

A structured, tannic red in the same family of wines but far more widely available.

Expect: Noticeably less tannic and more aromatic.

Primitivo

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Ribera del Duero

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and spicier.

Something more adventurous

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

Sagrantino

curated

Umbria’s Sagrantino is the other contender for the most tannic wine grape in commercial use.

Expect: Higher acidity and more overtly Italian savoury character.

Touriga Franca

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

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

Touriga Nacional

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

Expect: Expect it to be more tannic and structured, and more floral.

Primitivo di Manduria

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

Expect: Expect it to be drier, 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.

Sagrantino

curated

Umbria’s Sagrantino is the other contender for the most tannic wine grape in commercial use.

Expect: Higher acidity and more overtly Italian savoury character.

Touriga Franca

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

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

Touriga Nacional

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

Expect: Expect it to be more tannic and structured, and more floral.

Primitivo di Manduria

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

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

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 drier, and stronger and warmer.

Ribera del Duero

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and spicier.

Châteauneuf-du-Pape

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

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

Northern Rhône Syrah

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

Expect: Expect it to be drier, 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.