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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.

← Back to Tempranillo

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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 firm tannic structure, while moving away from 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.

Rioja Gran Reserva

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

Keeps the vanilla, toast and oak character.
Has some of the firm tannic structure, though less of it.
Substantially less drying or too tannic.

Rioja Crianza

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

Has some of the vanilla, toast and oak character, though less of it.
Has some of the firm tannic structure, though less of it.
Substantially less drying or too tannic.

Alentejo red

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

Has some of the vanilla, toast and oak character, though less of it.
Has some of the firm tannic structure, though less of it.
Substantially less drying or too tannic.

Rioja

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

Keeps the vanilla, toast and oak character.
Keeps the firm tannic structure.
About as drying or too tannic as the wine you started from.

Rioja Reserva

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

Keeps the vanilla, toast and oak character.
Keeps the firm tannic structure.
About as drying or too tannic as the wine you started from.

Ribera del Duero

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

Keeps the vanilla, toast and oak character.
Keeps the firm tannic structure.
About as drying or too tannic as the wine you started from.

California Pinot Noir

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

Has some of the vanilla, toast and oak character, though less of it.
Has some of the firm tannic structure, though less of it.
Substantially less drying or too tannic.

Agiorgitiko

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

Has some of the vanilla, toast and oak character, though less of it.
Has some of the firm tannic structure, though less of it.
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.

Rioja Gran 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 spicier, and fresher and more acidic.

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 less oaky, 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 less oaky, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.

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 more tannic and structured, 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.

California Pinot Noir

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

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

Agiorgitiko

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

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

Nemea Agiorgitiko

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

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

Nero d’Avola

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

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

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

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

Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and more floral.

Red Burgundy

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

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

Spätburgunder (German Pinot Noir)

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Egri Bikavér

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

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

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

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

Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and more floral.

Red Burgundy

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

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

Spätburgunder (German Pinot Noir)

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Cru Beaujolais

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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 less oaky, and more floral.

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

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

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

Barossa Shiraz

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

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

Ribera del Duero

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 more tannic and structured, and fresher and more acidic.

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

Expect: Expect it to be spicier, and fresher and more acidic.

Argentine Malbec

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

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

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.

Priorat

Both come from the same country.

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

Brunello di Montalcino

Brunello di Montalcino scores closest to Tempranillo across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

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

Aglianico

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

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

Red Burgundy

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

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

Rioja Gran 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 spicier, and broader and softer.

New Zealand Pinot Noir

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

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

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.

Argentine Malbec

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

Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and more floral.

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

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

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

Barossa Shiraz

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

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

Alentejo red

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

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

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 less oaky, 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.

Rioja Gran 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 stiller, and spicier.

Similar but sweeter

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

Tawny Port

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

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

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 less oaky, and sweeter.

Sparkling Shiraz

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

Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and more sparkling.

Vin Doux Naturel

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

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.

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 less oaky, 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 less oaky, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.

California Pinot Noir

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

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

Carmenère

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

Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and more herbal and green.

Similar but more oaky

Adds barrel character, toast and a creamier texture.

Rioja Gran 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 spicier, and leaner and more cutting.

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

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

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

Barossa Shiraz

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

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

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 more tannic and structured, and leaner and more cutting.

Similar but more aromatic

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

Pinot Noir

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

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

Malbec

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Syrah

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Cabernet Franc

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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.

Rioja Gran 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 spicier, and more aromatic.

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 less oaky, 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 less oaky, and more aromatic.

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 more tannic and structured, and more aromatic.

Similar but more floral

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

Pinot Noir

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

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

Red Burgundy

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

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

Argentine Malbec

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

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

Malbec

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be more tannic and structured, 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 the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be spicier, and fresher and more acidic.

Chianti Classico Riserva

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

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

Northern Rhône Syrah

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Chianti Classico Gran Selezione

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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.

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 less oaky, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.

California Pinot Noir

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

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

Alentejo red

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

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

Argentine Malbec

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

Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and more floral.

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 less oaky, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.

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 less oaky.

Dão

Both are made from tempranillo.

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

Same grape, cooler climate

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

Rioja Gran 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 spicier, and fuller and richer.

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 less oaky, and fuller and richer.

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 more tannic and structured, and fuller and richer.

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 more tannic and structured, and fuller and richer.

Same grape, warmer climate

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

Ribera del Duero

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 more tannic and structured, and fresher and more acidic.

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 less oaky.

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.

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 less oaky, 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 Gran 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 spicier, and fresher and more acidic.

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 less oaky, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.

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 more tannic and structured, and fresher and more acidic.

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 more tannic and structured, and fresher and more acidic.

Something more adventurous

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

Alentejo red

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

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

Agiorgitiko

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

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

Nemea Agiorgitiko

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

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

Nero d’Avola

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

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

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.

Alentejo red

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

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

Agiorgitiko

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

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

Nemea Agiorgitiko

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

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

Nero d’Avola

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

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

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

Expect: Expect it to be more tannic and structured, and fuller and richer.

Amarone della Valpolicella

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Châteauneuf-du-Pape

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

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

Priorat

Both come from the same country.

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