If you like this, try…
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.
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.
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 moving away from too drying or too tannic and too oaky or woody.
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.
Mencía
curatedA Spanish red for someone who finds Rioja too oaky and wants freshness instead.
- Substantially less drying or too tannic.
- Substantially less oaky or woody.
Merlot
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Substantially less drying or too tannic.
- Substantially less oaky or woody.
Rioja Crianza
Both are made from tempranillo, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both come from the same country.
- Substantially less drying or too tannic.
- A little less oaky or woody.
Alentejo red
Both are made from tempranillo, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Substantially less drying or too tannic.
- A little less oaky or woody.
Hemel-en-Aarde Pinot Noir
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Substantially less drying or too tannic.
- Substantially less oaky or woody.
Montepulciano d’Abruzzo
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Substantially less drying or too tannic.
- Substantially less oaky or woody.
Spätburgunder (German Pinot Noir)
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Substantially less drying or too tannic.
- Substantially less oaky or woody.
Montepulciano
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Substantially less drying or too tannic.
- Substantially 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.
Mencía
curatedA Spanish red for someone who finds Rioja too oaky and wants freshness instead.
Expect: Much lighter and higher in acid, with floral red fruit and a graphite edge.
Merlot
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be cleaner and more fruit-focused, and more fruit-driven.
Rioja Crianza
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 spicier, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.
Alentejo red
Both are made from tempranillo, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be spicier, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.
Different grape, similar feel
Deliberately excludes the variety you already know, to find a genuinely new wine that fills the same role.
Merlot
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be cleaner and more fruit-focused, and more fruit-driven.
Mencía
curatedA Spanish red for someone who finds Rioja too oaky and wants freshness instead.
Expect: Much lighter and higher in acid, with floral red fruit and a graphite edge.
Hemel-en-Aarde Pinot Noir
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less spicy, and lighter.
Montepulciano d’Abruzzo
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and less spicy.
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.
Spätburgunder (German Pinot Noir)
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less spicy, and more floral.
Mencía
curatedA Spanish red for someone who finds Rioja too oaky and wants freshness instead.
Expect: Much lighter and higher in acid, with floral red fruit and a graphite edge.
País
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and less tannic and softer.
Cru Beaujolais
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and less spicy.
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.
Spätburgunder (German Pinot Noir)
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less spicy, and more floral.
English still Pinot Noir
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be less tannic and softer, and less oaky.
Cru Beaujolais
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and less spicy.
Cabernet Franc
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and less spicy.
Similar but fuller
Keeps the character but adds weight, concentration and mouthfeel.
Argentine Malbec
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be spicier, and more floral.
Primitivo
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be spicier, and fruitier.
McLaren Vale Shiraz
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more tannic and structured, and spicier.
Douro red
Both are made from tempranillo, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more tannic and structured, 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 spicier, and more floral.
Rioja Crianza
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 spicier, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.
Merlot
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be cleaner and more fruit-focused, and more fruit-driven.
Montepulciano d’Abruzzo
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and less spicy.
Similar but more structured
More tannic architecture, for food or for ageing.
Touriga Nacional
curatedA blending partner in Portugal, sharing dark fruit and structure.
Expect: More floral, more concentrated and considerably more tannic.
Toro
Both are made from tempranillo, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be more tannic and structured, and less spicy.
Tannat
Tannat scores closest to Tempranillo across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be more tannic and structured, and less spicy.
Madiran
Madiran scores closest to Tempranillo across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be more tannic and structured, and less spicy.
Similar but fresher
Raises acidity and overall lift, usually by moving to a cooler-climate expression.
Barbera d’Alba
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less tannic and softer, and less spicy.
Barbera d’Asti
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less tannic and softer, and less spicy.
Chianti
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and less spicy.
Hemel-en-Aarde Pinot Noir
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less spicy, and lighter.
Similar but softer
Lowers acidity and sharpness in favour of a broader, gentler feel.
Marsanne
Marsanne scores closest to Tempranillo across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be less tannic and softer, and less oaky.
Condrieu
Condrieu scores closest to Tempranillo across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be less tannic and softer, and less oaky.
Viognier
Viognier scores closest to Tempranillo across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be less tannic and softer, and less oaky.
Argentine Malbec
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be spicier, and more floral.
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 spicier, and sweeter.
Lambrusco
Lambrusco scores closest to Tempranillo across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and less spicy.
Lambrusco Grasparossa
Lambrusco Grasparossa scores closest to Tempranillo across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and less spicy.
English sparkling rosé
English sparkling rosé scores closest to Tempranillo across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be less tannic and softer, and less oaky.
Similar but sweeter
Adds perceptible sweetness, which also softens acidity and chilli heat.
Late Bottled Vintage Port
Both are made from tempranillo, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and spicier.
Sparkling Shiraz
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be spicier, and more sparkling.
Vin Doux Naturel
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and spicier.
Ruby Port
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and sweeter.
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.
Mencía
curatedA Spanish red for someone who finds Rioja too oaky and wants freshness instead.
Expect: Much lighter and higher in acid, with floral red fruit and a graphite edge.
Montepulciano d’Abruzzo
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and less spicy.
Bierzo Mencía
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and less spicy.
Montepulciano
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and less spicy.
Similar but more oaky
Adds barrel character, toast and a creamier texture.
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.
Argentine Malbec
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be spicier, and more floral.
Rioja Crianza
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 spicier, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.
Merlot
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be cleaner and more fruit-focused, and more fruit-driven.
Alentejo red
Both are made from tempranillo, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be spicier, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.
Similar but more aromatic
More to smell before you taste — floral, fruity or spiced aromatics.
Cabernet Franc
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and less spicy.
Pinot Noir
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be spicier, and lighter.
Gamay
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and less tannic and softer.
Morgon
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and less spicy.
Similar but more restrained
For readers who find intensely aromatic wines tiring over a whole glass. Keeps the structure, turns the volume down.
Koshu
Koshu scores closest to Tempranillo across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be less tannic and softer, and less oaky.
Merlot
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.
Rioja Crianza
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 spicier, and more aromatic.
Alentejo red
Both are made from tempranillo, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be spicier, and more aromatic.
Similar but more floral
Pushes specifically towards rose, violet, blossom and elderflower character.
Cabernet Franc
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and less spicy.
Pinot Noir
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be spicier, and lighter.
Gamay
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and less tannic and softer.
Mencía
curatedA Spanish red for someone who finds Rioja too oaky and wants freshness instead.
Expect: Much lighter and higher in acid, with floral red fruit and a graphite edge.
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 more oaky, and spicier.
Chianti Classico Riserva
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more tannic and structured, and less spicy.
Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more tannic and structured, and less spicy.
Naoussa Xinomavro
Naoussa Xinomavro scores closest to Tempranillo across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be more tannic and structured, and less spicy.
Similar but fruitier
More obvious, generous fruit flavour, usually from a warmer climate.
Barbera d’Alba
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less tannic and softer, and less spicy.
Merlot
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be cleaner and more fruit-focused, and more herbal and green.
Rioja Crianza
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 spicier, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.
Mencía
curatedA Spanish red for someone who finds Rioja too oaky and wants freshness instead.
Expect: Much lighter and higher in acid, with floral red fruit and a graphite edge.
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 the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be spicier, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.
Dão
Both are made from tempranillo, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more tannic and structured, and less oaky.
Douro red
Both are made from tempranillo, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more tannic and structured, and spicier.
Same grape, cooler climate
Typically fresher, lighter and more herbal, with lower alcohol.
Rioja Crianza
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 spicier, and fuller and richer.
Dão
Both are made from tempranillo, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more tannic and structured, and less oaky.
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 more oaky, and spicier.
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 more tannic and structured, and more oaky.
Same grape, warmer climate
Typically riper, fuller and more generous in fruit, with higher alcohol.
Douro red
Both are made from tempranillo, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more tannic and structured, and spicier.
Toro
Both are made from tempranillo, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be more tannic and structured, and less spicy.
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 more tannic and structured, and more oaky.
Late Bottled Vintage Port
Both are made from tempranillo, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be spicier, 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.
Merlot
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be cleaner and more fruit-focused, and more fruit-driven.
Rioja Crianza
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 spicier, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.
Montepulciano d’Abruzzo
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and less spicy.
Oregon Pinot Noir
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less spicy, and fresher and more acidic.
Something more adventurous
Less familiar wines that occupy similar territory — the interesting end of the shelf.
Mencía
curatedA Spanish red for someone who finds Rioja too oaky and wants freshness instead.
Expect: Much lighter and higher in acid, with floral red fruit and a graphite edge.
Alentejo red
Both are made from tempranillo, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be spicier, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.
Hemel-en-Aarde Pinot Noir
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less spicy, and lighter.
Spätburgunder (German Pinot Noir)
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less spicy, and more floral.
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.
Mencía
curatedA Spanish red for someone who finds Rioja too oaky and wants freshness instead.
Expect: Much lighter and higher in acid, with floral red fruit and a graphite edge.
Alentejo red
Both are made from tempranillo, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be spicier, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.
Hemel-en-Aarde Pinot Noir
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less spicy, and lighter.
Spätburgunder (German Pinot Noir)
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less spicy, and more floral.
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 more tannic and structured, and more oaky.
Amarone della Valpolicella
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more tannic and structured, and spicier.
Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Châteauneuf-du-Pape scores closest to Tempranillo across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be more tannic and structured, and spicier.
Priorat
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be more tannic and structured, and spicier.
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.