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Wines like Tempranillo

Spain’s leading red variety, giving savoury, leather-and-cherry wines that are shaped as much by oak ageing as by the grape itself. Below: what to try next, grouped by the direction you want to travel.

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Refine

What do you like about Tempranillo?

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 The vanilla and oak The savoury, meaty side

But it’s a bit…

too drying or too tannic too oaky or woody too peppery 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.
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.
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 savoury, non-fruity character, while moving away from too austere, too earthy or musty, too drying or too tannic and too peppery.

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.

Tinta Negra

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Keeps the savoury, non-fruity character.
Substantially less austere.
Substantially less earthy or musty.
Substantially less drying or too tannic.
Substantially less peppery.

Tinta Barroca

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Has noticeably less of the savoury, non-fruity character.
Substantially less austere.
Substantially less earthy or musty.
Substantially less drying or too tannic.
Substantially less peppery.

Lambrusco Grasparossa

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Has noticeably less of the savoury, non-fruity character.
Substantially less austere.
Substantially less earthy or musty.
Substantially less drying or too tannic.
Substantially less peppery.

Rondinella

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Has noticeably less of the savoury, non-fruity character.
Substantially less austere.
Substantially less earthy or musty.
Substantially less drying or too tannic.
Substantially less peppery.

Corvina

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Has some of the savoury, non-fruity character, though less of it.
Substantially less austere.
Substantially less earthy or musty.
Substantially less drying or too tannic.
About as peppery as the wine you started from.

Valpolicella Ripasso

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Has some of the savoury, non-fruity character, though less of it.
Substantially less austere.
Substantially less earthy or musty.
Substantially less drying or too tannic.
About as peppery as the wine you started from.

Tinto Cão

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Has noticeably less of the savoury, non-fruity character.
Substantially less austere.
Substantially less earthy or musty.
About as drying or too tannic as the wine you started from.
Substantially less peppery.

Corvinone

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Has noticeably less of the savoury, non-fruity character.
Substantially less austere.
Substantially less earthy or musty.
Substantially less drying or too tannic.
Substantially less peppery.

Closest overall

Nearest neighbours, no change of direction.

Closest matches

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

Tinta Negra

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Tinta Barroca

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Lambrusco Grasparossa

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Rondinella

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Different grape, similar feel

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

Tinta Negra

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Tinta Barroca

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Lambrusco Grasparossa

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Rondinella

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

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.

Lambrusco Grasparossa

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Rondinella

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Portugieser

Portugieser scores closest to Tempranillo across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

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

Grolleau

Grolleau scores closest to Tempranillo across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

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

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

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Grolleau

Grolleau scores closest to Tempranillo across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

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

Dornfelder

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

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

Rondo

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

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

Similar but fuller

Keeps the character but adds weight, concentration and mouthfeel.

Argentine Malbec

Argentine Malbec scores closest to Tempranillo across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and fruitier.

Touriga Nacional

curated

A blending partner in Portugal, sharing dark fruit and structure.

Expect: More floral, more concentrated and considerably more tannic.

Amarone della Valpolicella

Amarone della Valpolicella scores closest to Tempranillo across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be spicier, and drier.

Primitivo

Primitivo scores closest to Tempranillo across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

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

Similar but less tannic

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

Tinta Negra

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Tinta Barroca

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

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

Valpolicella Ripasso

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

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.

California Cabernet Sauvignon

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Similar but more structured

More tannic architecture, for food or for ageing.

Touriga Nacional

curated

A blending partner in Portugal, sharing dark fruit and structure.

Expect: More floral, more concentrated and considerably more tannic.

Sagrantino

Sagrantino scores closest to Tempranillo across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

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

Montefalco Sagrantino

Montefalco Sagrantino scores closest to Tempranillo across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

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

Toro

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

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

Similar but fresher

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

Lambrusco Grasparossa

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Tinta Negra

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Corvina

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.

Valpolicella Ripasso

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.

Similar but softer

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

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.

Tinta Barroca

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

California Cabernet Sauvignon

California Cabernet Sauvignon scores closest to Tempranillo across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

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

Merlot

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Argentine Malbec

Argentine Malbec scores closest to Tempranillo across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and fruitier.

The sparkling version

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

Sparkling Shiraz

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Lambrusco Grasparossa

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Lambrusco

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

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

Corpinnat

Both come from the same country.

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

Similar but sweeter

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

Tinta Negra

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

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

Tinta Barroca

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

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

Lambrusco Grasparossa

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Tinto Cão

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

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 Negra

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Tinta Barroca

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Lambrusco Grasparossa

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Rondinella

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Similar but more oaky

Adds barrel character, toast and a creamier texture.

California Cabernet Sauvignon

California Cabernet Sauvignon scores closest to Tempranillo across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

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

Rioja

Both are made from tempranillo, 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.

Rioja Reserva

Both are made from tempranillo, 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.

Tinta Negra

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Similar but more aromatic

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

Cabernet Franc

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Gamay

Gamay scores closest to Tempranillo across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

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

Muscat Bailey A

Muscat Bailey A scores closest to Tempranillo across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

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

Pinot Noir

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and earthier.

Similar but more restrained

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

Sémillon

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Tinta Negra

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Tinta Barroca

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Lambrusco Grasparossa

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Similar but more floral

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

Cabernet Franc

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Dornfelder

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

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

Touriga Franca

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Gamay

Gamay scores closest to Tempranillo across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

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

Similar but more savoury

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

Rioja Gran Reserva

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

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

Chianti Classico Riserva

Chianti Classico Riserva scores closest to Tempranillo across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

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

Chianti Classico Gran Selezione

Chianti Classico Gran Selezione scores closest to Tempranillo across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

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

Naoussa Xinomavro

Naoussa Xinomavro scores closest to Tempranillo across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

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

Similar but fruitier

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

Tinta Barroca

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Tinta Negra

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Lambrusco Grasparossa

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Corvina

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and fruitier.

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.

Alentejo red

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

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

Dão

Both are made from tempranillo.

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

Douro red

Both are made from tempranillo.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and earthier.

Same grape, cooler climate

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

Dão

Both are made from tempranillo.

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

Rioja Crianza

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

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.

Rioja

Both are made from tempranillo, 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.

Rioja Reserva

Both are made from tempranillo, 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.

Toro

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

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

Ribera del Duero

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

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

Douro red

Both are made from tempranillo.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and earthier.

Alentejo red

Both are made from tempranillo.

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

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.

California Cabernet Sauvignon

California Cabernet Sauvignon scores closest to Tempranillo across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

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

Merlot

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Rioja Crianza

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

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.

Montepulciano d’Abruzzo

Montepulciano d’Abruzzo scores closest to Tempranillo across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

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

Something more adventurous

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

Tinta Negra

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Tinta Barroca

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Lambrusco Grasparossa

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Rondinella

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

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.

Tinta Negra

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Tinta Barroca

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Lambrusco Grasparossa

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Rondinella

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

A step up

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

Ribera del Duero

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

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

Amarone della Valpolicella

Amarone della Valpolicella scores closest to Tempranillo across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be spicier, and drier.

Priorat

Both come from the same country.

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

Châteauneuf-du-Pape

Châteauneuf-du-Pape scores closest to Tempranillo across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, 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.