If you like this, try…
Wines like Australian Grenache
Old bush-vine Grenache from McLaren Vale and the Barossa — perfumed, medium-bodied and transformed from its jammy past. Below: what to try next, grouped by the direction you want to travel.
Refine
What do you like about Australian Grenache?
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 rich dark fruit
- Blackberry, plum, black cherry — fruit that tastes ripe and generous rather than tart. It comes from warm-climate ripening and it is what most people mean when they call a red "fruity".
- How smooth and soft it is
- Low tannin. Tannin is the drying, gum-gripping sensation in red wine — like strong tea. A smooth red has little of it.
- That it is not oaky
- No barrel character — just the fruit and the acidity. Chablis and Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc are the reference points.
- The floral character
- Rose, violet, elderflower, orange blossom.
- The herbal, green side
- Grass, blackcurrant leaf, green pepper, mint. It divides people more sharply than almost any other character.
- 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.
Looking for something keeping the rich, ripe dark fruit.
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.
Southern Rhône blend
curatedThe same variety in its Mediterranean home.
- Keeps the rich, ripe dark fruit.
Mencía
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Keeps the rich, ripe dark fruit.
Bonarda
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Keeps the rich, ripe dark fruit.
Trincadeira
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Keeps the rich, ripe dark fruit.
Zweigelt
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Keeps the rich, ripe dark fruit.
Cerasuolo di Vittoria
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Keeps the rich, ripe dark fruit.
Jaen
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Keeps the rich, ripe dark fruit.
Touriga Franca
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Keeps the rich, ripe dark fruit.
Closest overall
Nearest neighbours, no change of direction.
Closest matches
The nearest overall neighbours across structure and flavour, with no deliberate change of direction.
Southern Rhône blend
curatedThe same variety in its Mediterranean home.
Expect: More herbal garrigue character and a touch more earth.
Mencía
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less spicy, and earthier.
Bonarda
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and riper and less green.
Trincadeira
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and less oaky.
Different grape, similar feel
Deliberately excludes the variety you already know, to find a genuinely new wine that fills the same role.
Mencía
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less spicy, and earthier.
Bonarda
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and riper and less green.
Trincadeira
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and less oaky.
Zweigelt
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and riper and less 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.
Beaujolais
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and leaner and more cutting.
Cerasuolo di Vittoria
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and less spicy.
Cinsault
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and riper and less green.
Cru Beaujolais
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and riper and less green.
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.
Beaujolais
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and leaner and more cutting.
Cerasuolo di Vittoria
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and less spicy.
Frappato
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and leaner and more cutting.
Gamay
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and less spicy.
Similar but fuller
Keeps the character but adds weight, concentration and mouthfeel.
Primitivo di Manduria
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and less floral.
Alicante Bouschet
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and riper and less green.
McLaren Vale Shiraz
Both are made from shiraz, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure, both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and more savoury.
Barossa Shiraz
Both are made from shiraz, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure, both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and more savoury.
Similar but less tannic
For readers who find firm reds drying. Reduces tannic grip while holding flavour and weight roughly steady.
Barbera d’Alba
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and more savoury.
Alsace Pinot Gris
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less tannic and softer, and sweeter.
Wachau Grüner Veltliner
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less tannic and softer, and less floral.
Malagousia
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less tannic and softer, and riper and less green.
Similar but more structured
More tannic architecture, for food or for ageing.
Alicante Bouschet
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and riper and less green.
Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon
Both are made from shiraz, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and less floral.
Fer Servadou
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and less spicy.
Graciano
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and less spicy.
Similar but fresher
Raises acidity and overall lift, usually by moving to a cooler-climate expression.
Barbera d’Asti
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and less floral.
Graciano
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and less spicy.
Mondeuse Noire
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and riper and less green.
Barbera
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and less floral.
Similar but softer
Lowers acidity and sharpness in favour of a broader, gentler feel.
Primitivo di Manduria
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and less floral.
Southern Rhône blend
curatedThe same variety in its Mediterranean home.
Expect: More herbal garrigue character and a touch more earth.
Alicante Bouschet
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and riper and less green.
Tinta Barroca
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and less floral.
The sparkling version
Moves to a sparkling expression while holding the flavour and weight as close as possible.
Sparkling Shiraz
Both are made from shiraz, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and sweeter.
Lambrusco
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be stiller, and riper and less green.
Lambrusco Grasparossa
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be stiller, and sweeter.
Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less tannic and softer, and riper and less green.
Similar but sweeter
Adds perceptible sweetness, which also softens acidity and chilli heat.
Corvinone
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and riper and less green.
Dornfelder
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and less spicy.
Lambrusco
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more sparkling, and riper and less green.
Lambrusco Grasparossa
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and more sparkling.
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.
Ciliegiolo
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and riper and less green.
Cinsault
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and riper and less green.
Corvinone
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and riper and less green.
Dornfelder
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and less spicy.
Similar but more oaky
Adds barrel character, toast and a creamier texture.
Barossa Shiraz
Both are made from shiraz, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure, both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and more savoury.
California Cabernet Sauvignon
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and less floral.
Touriga Franca
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and less oaky.
Primitivo di Manduria
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and less oaky.
Similar but more aromatic
More to smell before you taste — floral, fruity or spiced aromatics.
Torrontés
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and less tannic and softer.
Nebbiolo
Nebbiolo scores closest to Australian Grenache across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and more restrained in fruit.
Barbaresco
Barbaresco scores closest to Australian Grenache across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and more restrained in fruit.
Moschofilero
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and more aromatic.
Similar but more restrained
For readers who find intensely aromatic wines tiring over a whole glass. Keeps the structure, turns the volume down.
Pinot Blanc
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more restrained in fruit, and less tannic and softer.
Pinot Grigio
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more restrained in fruit, and lighter.
Cortese
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more restrained in fruit, and lighter.
Seyval Blanc
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more restrained in fruit, and lighter.
Similar but more floral
Pushes specifically towards rose, violet, blossom and elderflower character.
Négrette
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and less spicy.
Frappato
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and leaner and more cutting.
Uco Valley Malbec
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and riper and less green.
Touriga Nacional
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and more savoury.
Similar but less floral
Some drinkers read floral aromatics as soapy or perfumed. This holds the structure and removes them.
Agiorgitiko
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and less floral.
Alentejo red
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and less floral.
Alicante Bouschet
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and riper and less green.
Barbera d’Asti
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and less floral.
Similar but more savoury
Moves away from primary fruit towards earth, herb, meat and umami character.
Southern Rhône blend
curatedThe same variety in its Mediterranean home.
Expect: More herbal garrigue character and a touch more earth.
Cru Beaujolais
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and riper and less green.
Morgon
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and less floral.
Blaufränkisch
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and less floral.
Similar but fruitier
More obvious, generous fruit flavour, usually from a warmer climate.
Zinfandel
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and less floral.
Primitivo
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and less floral.
Petite Sirah
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and more tannic and structured.
California Cabernet Sauvignon
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and less 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.
Southern Rhône blend
curatedThe same variety in its Mediterranean home.
Expect: More herbal garrigue character and a touch more earth.
Rioja Crianza
Both are made from grenache, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and less floral.
Montsant
Both are made from grenache, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and less floral.
Grenache
Both are made from grenache, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and less floral.
Same grape, cooler climate
Typically fresher, lighter and more herbal, with lower alcohol.
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 Crianza
Both are made from grenache, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and softer and rounder.
Montsant
Both are made from grenache, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and softer and rounder.
Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon
Both are made from shiraz, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and softer and rounder.
Swartland Syrah and Rhône blends
Both are made from grenache, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure, both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and earthier.
Same grape, warmer climate
Typically riper, fuller and more generous in fruit, with higher alcohol.
McLaren Vale Shiraz
Both are made from shiraz, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure, both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and more savoury.
Shiraz
Both are made from shiraz, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure, both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and more savoury.
Barossa Shiraz
Both are made from shiraz, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and more savoury.
Super Tuscan
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and more oaky.
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.
Southern Rhône blend
curatedThe same variety in its Mediterranean home.
Expect: More herbal garrigue character and a touch more earth.
Gamay
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and less spicy.
Beaujolais
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and leaner and more cutting.
Rioja Crianza
Both are made from grenache, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and less floral.
Something more adventurous
Less familiar wines that occupy similar territory — the interesting end of the shelf.
Mencía
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less spicy, and earthier.
Bonarda
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and riper and less green.
Trincadeira
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and less oaky.
Zweigelt
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and riper and less 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.
Mencía
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less spicy, and earthier.
Bonarda
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and riper and less green.
Trincadeira
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and less oaky.
Zweigelt
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and riper and less green.
A step up
The benchmark expressions of the same territory, usually with more concentration, structure and ageing potential.
Super Tuscan
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and more oaky.
Shiraz
Both are made from shiraz, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure, both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and fruitier.
Barossa Shiraz
Both are made from shiraz, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure, both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and fruitier.
Argentine Malbec
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and fruitier.
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.