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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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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 vanilla, toast and oak character and the savoury, non-fruity character, while moving away from too austere.

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.

Touriga Nacional

curated

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

Has some of the vanilla, toast and oak character, though less of it.
Has noticeably less of the savoury, non-fruity character.
Substantially less austere.

Sagrantino

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

Has noticeably less of the vanilla, toast and oak character.
Keeps the savoury, non-fruity character.
Substantially less austere.

Rioja

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

Keeps the vanilla, toast and oak character.
Keeps the savoury, non-fruity character.
About as austere as the wine you started from.

Rioja Reserva

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

Keeps the vanilla, toast and oak character.
Keeps the savoury, non-fruity character.
About as austere as the wine you started from.

Pinotage

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

Keeps the vanilla, toast and oak character.
Has some of the savoury, non-fruity character, though less of it.
Substantially less austere.

Sangiovese

curated

Both are savoury, cherry-fruited, food-oriented Mediterranean reds of medium to full body.

Has some of the vanilla, toast and oak character, though less of it.
Keeps the savoury, non-fruity character.
About as austere as the wine you started from.

Ribera del Duero

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

Keeps the vanilla, toast and oak character.
Keeps the savoury, non-fruity character.
About as austere as the wine you started from.

Rioja Gran Reserva

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

Keeps the vanilla, toast and oak character.
Keeps the savoury, non-fruity character.
About as austere as the wine you started from.

Closest overall

Nearest neighbours, no change of direction.

Closest matches

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

Touriga Nacional

curated

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

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

Sagrantino

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

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

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 fresher and more acidic.

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 fresher and more acidic.

Different grape, similar feel

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

Sagrantino

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

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

Pinotage

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

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

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

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and fruitier.

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.

Pinot Noir

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Red Burgundy

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Spätburgunder (German Pinot Noir)

Spätburgunder (German Pinot Noir) scores closest to Tempranillo across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

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

Areni

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

Expect: Expect it to be drier, 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.

Pinot Noir

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Red Burgundy

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Spätburgunder (German Pinot Noir)

Spätburgunder (German Pinot Noir) scores closest to Tempranillo across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

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

Lambrusco Grasparossa

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

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

Similar but fuller

Keeps the character but adds weight, concentration and mouthfeel.

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

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and fruitier.

Ribera del Duero

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 fruitier.

Priorat

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

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

Similar but less tannic

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

Rioja Gran 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 savoury.

Valpolicella Ripasso

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Carmenère

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Chilean Carmenère

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

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

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

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

Montefalco Sagrantino

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Aglianico

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Similar but fresher

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

Sangiovese

curated

Both are savoury, cherry-fruited, food-oriented Mediterranean reds of medium to full body.

Expect: Higher acidity and firmer, grippier tannin, with tomato-leaf and herb notes in place of leather and vanilla.

Saperavi

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Corvina

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Sagrantino

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

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

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.

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

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

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and fruitier.

Barossa Shiraz

Barossa Shiraz scores closest to Tempranillo across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and fruitier.

Mourvèdre

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Dalmatian Plavac Mali

Dalmatian Plavac Mali 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

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

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

Lambrusco

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

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

Corpinnat

Both come from the same country.

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

Similar but sweeter

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

Sagrantino

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

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

Tawny Port

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

Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and fruitier.

Touriga Nacional

curated

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

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

Sparkling Shiraz

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Sagrantino

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

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

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Montefalco Sagrantino

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Similar but more oaky

Adds barrel character, toast and a creamier texture.

Rioja

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

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

Rioja Reserva

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

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

Pinotage

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

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

Ribera del Duero

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 fruitier.

Similar but more aromatic

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

Nebbiolo

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Barolo

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

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

Pinot Noir

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Syrah

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

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 spicy, and less oaky.

Sagrantino

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

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

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 aromatic.

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 aromatic.

Similar but more floral

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

Touriga Nacional

curated

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

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

Pinot Noir

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Nebbiolo

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Barolo

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

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

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

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

Taurasi

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

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

Barolo

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

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.

Similar but fruitier

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

Touriga Nacional

curated

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

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

Pinotage

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and fruitier.

Sagrantino

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

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

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.

Douro red

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

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

Alentejo red

Both are made from tempranillo.

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

Dão

Both are made from tempranillo.

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

Tawny Port

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

Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and fruitier.

Same grape, cooler climate

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

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 fuller and richer.

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 fuller and richer.

Rioja Gran 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 savoury.

Dão

Both are made from tempranillo.

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

Same grape, warmer climate

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

Ribera del Duero

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 fruitier.

Douro red

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

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

Toro

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

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and fruitier.

Port

Both are made from tempranillo.

Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and sweeter.

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.

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 fresher and more acidic.

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 fresher and more acidic.

Ribera del Duero

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 fruitier.

Rioja Gran 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 savoury.

Something more adventurous

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

Touriga Nacional

curated

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

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

Sagrantino

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

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

Pinotage

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

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

Corvina

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, 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.

Sagrantino

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

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

Pinotage

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

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

Touriga Nacional

curated

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

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

Corvina

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

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

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and fruitier.

Amarone della Valpolicella

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and fruitier.

Priorat

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

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

Châteauneuf-du-Pape

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

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

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.