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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 moving away from too savoury or funky, too drying or too tannic, too oaky or woody 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.

Mencía

curated

A Spanish red for someone who finds Rioja too oaky and wants freshness instead.

Substantially less savoury or funky.
Substantially less drying or too tannic.
Substantially less oaky or woody.
Substantially less peppery.

Merlot

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

Substantially less savoury or funky.
Substantially less drying or too tannic.
Substantially less oaky or woody.
Substantially less peppery.

Montepulciano d’Abruzzo

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

Substantially less savoury or funky.
Substantially less drying or too tannic.
Substantially less oaky or woody.
Substantially less peppery.

Montepulciano

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

Substantially less savoury or funky.
Substantially less drying or too tannic.
Substantially less oaky or woody.
Substantially less peppery.

Bierzo Mencía

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

Substantially less savoury or funky.
Substantially less drying or too tannic.
Substantially less oaky or woody.
Substantially less peppery.

Morgon

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

Substantially less savoury or funky.
Substantially less drying or too tannic.
Substantially less oaky or woody.
Substantially less peppery.

Chilean Pinot Noir

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

Substantially less savoury or funky.
Substantially less drying or too tannic.
Substantially less oaky or woody.
Substantially less peppery.

Cru Beaujolais

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

Substantially less savoury or funky.
Substantially less drying or too tannic.
Substantially less oaky or woody.
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.

Mencía

curated

A 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 herbal and green.

Montepulciano d’Abruzzo

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

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

Montepulciano

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

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

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 herbal and green.

Montepulciano d’Abruzzo

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

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

Mencía

curated

A 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

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.

Cru Beaujolais

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

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

Mencía

curated

A 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.

Loire Cabernet Franc

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

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

Valpolicella

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Similar but lower in alcohol

Holds the character and the weight where it can, and moves specifically on strength. Note that below about 11% the choices narrow sharply, and below 5% they are mostly a different category rather than a lighter version of the same one.

Cru Beaujolais

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

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

Loire Cabernet Franc

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

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

English still Pinot Noir

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Valpolicella

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

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 fruitier.

Toro

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 less spicy.

McLaren Vale Shiraz

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

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

Primitivo

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

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

Similar but less tannic

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

Montepulciano d’Abruzzo

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

Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, 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.

Montepulciano

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

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

Barbera d’Alba

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Similar but more structured

More tannic architecture, for food or for ageing.

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.

Touriga Nacional

curated

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

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

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

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

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

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.

Bierzo Mencía

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

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

Similar but softer

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

Marsanne

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Pedro Ximénez

Both come from the same country.

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 fresher and more acidic, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.

Argentine Malbec

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

Expect: Expect it to be spicier, and fruitier.

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 more fruit-driven, and spicier.

Lambrusco

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

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

Lambrusco Grasparossa

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

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

English sparkling rosé

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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 spicier, and sweeter.

Tinta Barroca

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Vin Doux Naturel

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

Expect: Expect it to be spicier, and sweeter.

Lambrusco Grasparossa

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

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

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.

Bierzo Mencía

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

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

Mencía

curated

A 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

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

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

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 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.

Merlot

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

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

California Cabernet Sauvignon

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

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.

Argentine Malbec

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

Expect: Expect it to be spicier, and fruitier.

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.

Gamay

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Morgon

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

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

Muscat Bailey A

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Similar but more restrained

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

Merlot

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

Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, 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.

Montepulciano

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

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

Chilean Pinot Noir

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

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

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.

Gamay

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Mencía

curated

A 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.

Bierzo Mencía

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

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

Similar but more savoury

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

Chianti Classico Riserva

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

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

Chianti Classico Gran Selezione

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

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

Naoussa Xinomavro

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

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

Xinomavro

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

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

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 fruitier, and less tannic and softer.

Bierzo Mencía

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

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

Mencía

curated

A 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 herbal and green.

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 more savoury.

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

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.

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 more tannic and structured, and more oaky.

Same grape, warmer climate

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

Toro

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 less spicy.

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 more savoury.

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 fruitier, and spicier.

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 herbal and green.

Montepulciano d’Abruzzo

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

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

Cru Beaujolais

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

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

Barbera

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

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

Something more adventurous

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

Mencía

curated

A 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

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

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

Bierzo Mencía

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

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

Morgon

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

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

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

curated

A 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

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

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

Bierzo Mencía

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

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

Morgon

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

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

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 savoury.

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 more savoury.

Amarone della Valpolicella

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

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.