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Wines like Xinomavro

Northern Greece’s great red: pale, austere, extremely tannic and scented of dried tomato and olive. Below: what to try next, grouped by the direction you want to travel.

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What do you like about Xinomavro?

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 bright red fruit The firm, grippy structure How fresh and crisp it is The earthy, mineral side The savoury, meaty side

But it’s a bit…

too tart or sour-fruited too drying or too tannic too sharp or acidic too floral or soapy too earthy or musty too savoury or funky

Clear all

What these words mean

The bright red fruit: Raspberry, redcurrant, sour cherry — lighter and sharper than dark fruit, usually from a cooler place or an earlier picking.
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.
How fresh and crisp it is: Acidity is what makes your mouth water and makes a wine feel refreshing rather than heavy. It is the single most useful thing to know about your own taste.
The floral character: Rose, violet, elderflower, orange blossom.
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.
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.

Looking for something keeping the firm tannic structure, while moving away from too sharp or acidic, too earthy or musty and too tart or sour-fruited.

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.

Nebbiolo

curated

The structural parallel is close enough that Xinomavro is routinely used as a Barolo substitute.

Keeps the firm tannic structure.
A little less sharp or acidic.
About as earthy or musty as the wine you started from.
A little less tart or sour-fruited.

Carignan

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

Has some of the firm tannic structure, though less of it.
Substantially less sharp or acidic.
Substantially less earthy or musty.
A little less tart or sour-fruited.

Red Bordeaux

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

Has some of the firm tannic structure, though less of it.
Substantially less sharp or acidic.
Substantially less earthy or musty.
A little less tart or sour-fruited.

Sangiovese

curated

Shared high acidity and savoury tomato-leaf character.

Has some of the firm tannic structure, though less of it.
A little less sharp or acidic.
Substantially less earthy or musty.
A little less tart or sour-fruited.

Tannat

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Keeps the firm tannic structure.
Substantially less sharp or acidic.
Substantially less earthy or musty.
A little less tart or sour-fruited.

Madiran

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Keeps the firm tannic structure.
Substantially less sharp or acidic.
Substantially less earthy or musty.
A little less tart or sour-fruited.

Rioja

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

Has some of the firm tannic structure, though less of it.
Substantially less sharp or acidic.
Substantially less earthy or musty.
Substantially less tart or sour-fruited.

Montefalco Sagrantino

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Keeps the firm tannic structure.
Substantially less sharp or acidic.
Substantially less earthy or musty.
A little less tart or sour-fruited.

Closest overall

Nearest neighbours, no change of direction.

Closest matches

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

Nebbiolo

curated

The structural parallel is close enough that Xinomavro is routinely used as a Barolo substitute.

Expect: Rose and tar in place of tomato and olive, at several times the price.

Carignan

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

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

Red Bordeaux

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

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

Sangiovese

curated

Shared high acidity and savoury tomato-leaf character.

Expect: Softer, fruitier and easier to drink young.

Different grape, similar feel

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

Carignan

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

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

Red Bordeaux

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

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

Tannat

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and broader and softer.

Madiran

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and broader and softer.

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.

País

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

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

Tibouren

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

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

Grolleau

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

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

Portugieser

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

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, 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

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Cerasuolo di Vittoria

Cerasuolo di Vittoria scores closest to Xinomavro across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

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

Lambrusco Grasparossa

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

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

Mondeuse Noire

Mondeuse Noire scores closest to Xinomavro across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

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

Similar but fuller

Keeps the character but adds weight, concentration and mouthfeel.

Rioja

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

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

Rioja Reserva

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

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

Tempranillo

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Petit Verdot

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Similar but less tannic

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

Rioja

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Rioja Reserva

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Sangiovese

curated

Shared high acidity and savoury tomato-leaf character.

Expect: Softer, fruitier and easier to drink young.

Tempranillo

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Similar but softer

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

Rioja

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

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

Rioja Reserva

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

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

Petit Verdot

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Tempranillo

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

The sparkling version

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

Sparkling Shiraz

Sparkling Shiraz scores closest to Xinomavro across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

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

Lambrusco

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

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

Lambrusco Grasparossa

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

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

Red Bordeaux

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

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

Similar but sweeter

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

Sagrantino

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and broader and softer.

Montefalco Sagrantino

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

Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and broader and softer.

Touriga Nacional

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Tinto Cão

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

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.

Tinto Cão

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Bobal

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Cornalin

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Carignan

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

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

Similar but more oaky

Adds barrel character, toast and a creamier texture.

Rioja

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

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

Rioja Reserva

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

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

Tempranillo

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Pinotage

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Similar but more aromatic

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

Nebbiolo

curated

The structural parallel is close enough that Xinomavro is routinely used as a Barolo substitute.

Expect: Rose and tar in place of tomato and olive, at several times the price.

Barbaresco

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

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

Barolo

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

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

Malbec

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

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

Similar but more restrained

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

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.

Carignan

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

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

Red Bordeaux

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

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

Tannat

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and broader and softer.

Madiran

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and broader and softer.

Similar but more floral

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

Nebbiolo

curated

The structural parallel is close enough that Xinomavro is routinely used as a Barolo substitute.

Expect: Rose and tar in place of tomato and olive, at several times the price.

Uco Valley Malbec

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

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

Barbaresco

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

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

Barolo

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

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

Similar but less floral

Some drinkers read floral aromatics as soapy or perfumed. This holds the structure and removes them.

Carignan

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

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

Red Bordeaux

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

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

Tannat

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

Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and broader and softer.

Madiran

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

Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and broader and softer.

Similar but more savoury

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

Barolo

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

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

Taurasi

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

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

Red Bordeaux

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

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

Carignan

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

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

Similar but fruitier

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

Tannat

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and broader and softer.

Madiran

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and broader and softer.

Montefalco Sagrantino

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and broader and softer.

Sagrantino

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and broader and softer.

Change the place

Keep the grape, move it somewhere else.

Same grape, cooler climate

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

Naoussa Xinomavro

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

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

Same grape, warmer climate

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

Naoussa Xinomavro

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

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

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.

Sangiovese

curated

Shared high acidity and savoury tomato-leaf character.

Expect: Softer, fruitier and easier to drink young.

Nebbiolo

curated

The structural parallel is close enough that Xinomavro is routinely used as a Barolo substitute.

Expect: Rose and tar in place of tomato and olive, at several times the price.

Red Bordeaux

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

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

Rioja

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

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

Something more adventurous

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

Carignan

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

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

Tannat

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and broader and softer.

Madiran

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and broader and softer.

Montefalco Sagrantino

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and broader and softer.

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.

Carignan

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

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

Tannat

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and broader and softer.

Madiran

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and broader and softer.

Montefalco Sagrantino

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and broader and softer.

A step up

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

Barolo

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

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

Northern Rhône Syrah

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Brunello di Montalcino

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Rioja Gran Reserva

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

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.