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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 moving away from too sharp or acidic, too earthy or musty and too floral or soapy.

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.

Carignan

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

Substantially less sharp or acidic.
Substantially less earthy or musty.
Substantially less floral or soapy.

Lagrein

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

Substantially less sharp or acidic.
Substantially less earthy or musty.
Substantially less floral or soapy.

Hemel-en-Aarde Pinot Noir

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

Substantially less sharp or acidic.
Substantially less earthy or musty.
Substantially less floral or soapy.

Red Bordeaux

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

Substantially less sharp or acidic.
Substantially less earthy or musty.
Substantially less floral or soapy.

Stellenbosch Cabernet and Cape Bordeaux blends

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

Substantially less sharp or acidic.
Substantially less earthy or musty.
Substantially less floral or soapy.

Chilean Pinot Noir

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

Substantially less sharp or acidic.
Substantially less earthy or musty.
Substantially less floral or soapy.

Australian Pinot Noir

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

Substantially less sharp or acidic.
Substantially less earthy or musty.
Substantially less floral or soapy.

St Laurent

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

Substantially less sharp or acidic.
Substantially less earthy or musty.
Substantially less floral or soapy.

Closest overall

Nearest neighbours, no change of direction.

Closest matches

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

Carignan

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

Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and fuller and richer.

Lagrein

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

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

Hemel-en-Aarde Pinot Noir

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

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

Red Bordeaux

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

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

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 floral, and fuller and richer.

Lagrein

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

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

Hemel-en-Aarde Pinot Noir

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

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

Red Bordeaux

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

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

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.

Poulsard

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

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

País

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

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

Tibouren

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Grolleau

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

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.

Grolleau

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Lambrusco Grasparossa

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

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

Gamay

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Schiava

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Similar but fuller

Keeps the character but adds weight, concentration and mouthfeel.

Ribera del Duero

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

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

Stellenbosch Cabernet and Cape Bordeaux blends

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

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

New Zealand Pinot Noir

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

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

Rioja

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

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

Similar but less tannic

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

California Pinot Noir

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

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

New Zealand Pinot Noir

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

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

Stellenbosch Cabernet and Cape Bordeaux blends

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

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

Hemel-en-Aarde Pinot Noir

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

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

Similar but softer

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

California Pinot Noir

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

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

Fetească Neagră

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

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

Mavrud

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

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

Negroamaro

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

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

The sparkling version

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

Sparkling Shiraz

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Lambrusco Grasparossa

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

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

Lambrusco

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Franciacorta

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Similar but sweeter

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

Sagrantino

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

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

Tinto Cão

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Pinotage

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

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

Montefalco Sagrantino

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

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

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.

Frühburgunder

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

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

País

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

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

Piedirosso

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

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

Poulsard

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

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

Similar but more oaky

Adds barrel character, toast and a creamier texture.

Ribera del Duero

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

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

Rioja

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

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

Rioja Reserva

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

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

Pinotage

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

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

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 more floral, and less tannic and softer.

Gamay

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Pinot Noir

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

Expect: Expect it to be earthier, and more floral.

Malbec

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

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

Similar but more restrained

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

Franken Silvaner

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Silvaner

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Trebbiano d’Abruzzo

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Vernaccia di San Gimignano

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Similar but more floral

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

Dão

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be more floral, and more neutral and subtle.

Hawke’s Bay Syrah

Hawke’s Bay Syrah scores closest to Xinomavro across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

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

Argentine Cabernet Franc

Argentine Cabernet Franc scores closest to Xinomavro across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

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

Australian Grenache

Australian Grenache scores closest to Xinomavro across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

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

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 floral, and fuller and richer.

Lagrein

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

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

Hemel-en-Aarde Pinot Noir

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

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

Red Bordeaux

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

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

Similar but more savoury

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

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.

Rioja Gran Reserva

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Carignan

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

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

Red Bordeaux

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

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

Rioja

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

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

Similar but fruitier

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

California Pinot Noir

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

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

Hemel-en-Aarde Pinot Noir

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

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

Lagrein

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

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

New Zealand Pinot Noir

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

Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and less tannic 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 earthier.

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 earthier.

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.

Red Bordeaux

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

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

Sangiovese

curated

Shared high acidity and savoury tomato-leaf character.

Expect: Softer, fruitier and easier to drink young.

New Zealand Pinot Noir

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

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

Cabernet Sauvignon

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

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 floral, and fuller and richer.

Lagrein

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

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

Hemel-en-Aarde Pinot Noir

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

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

Stellenbosch Cabernet and Cape Bordeaux blends

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

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

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 floral, and fuller and richer.

Lagrein

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

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

Hemel-en-Aarde Pinot Noir

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

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

Stellenbosch Cabernet and Cape Bordeaux blends

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

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

A step up

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

Rioja Gran Reserva

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Northern Rhône Syrah

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

Expect: Expect it to be earthier, and more floral.

Brunello di Montalcino

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Barolo

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

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.