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 floral, perfumed side.
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.
Hawke’s Bay Syrah
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.
- Keeps the floral, perfumed side.
Argentine Cabernet Franc
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Keeps the floral, perfumed side.
Cru Beaujolais
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.
- Keeps the floral, perfumed side.
Cerasuolo di Vittoria
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Keeps the floral, perfumed side.
Argentine Malbec
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Keeps the floral, perfumed side.
Dão
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.
- Keeps the floral, perfumed side.
Petit Verdot
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Keeps the floral, perfumed side.
Touriga Franca
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Keeps the floral, perfumed side.
Closest overall
Nearest neighbours, no change of direction.
Closest matches
The nearest overall neighbours across structure and flavour, with no deliberate change of direction.
Hawke’s Bay Syrah
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.
Argentine Cabernet Franc
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less spicy, and more tannic and structured.
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 riper and less green, and less spicy.
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.
Different grape, similar feel
Deliberately excludes the variety you already know, to find a genuinely new wine that fills the same role.
Argentine Cabernet Franc
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less spicy, and more tannic and structured.
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 riper and less green, and less spicy.
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.
Argentine Malbec
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and fuller and richer.
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.
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.
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 riper and less green, and less spicy.
Frappato
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more floral, and lighter.
Dão
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.
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.
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 riper and less green, and less spicy.
Frappato
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more floral, and lighter.
Loire Cabernet Franc
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, 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 riper and less green, and more savoury.
Petit Verdot
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more tannic and structured, and riper and less green.
Douro red
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be earthier, and more savoury.
Touriga Nacional
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more floral, and sweeter.
Similar but less tannic
For readers who find firm reds drying. Reduces tannic grip while holding flavour and weight roughly steady.
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.
Hárslevelű
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be less tannic and softer, and sweeter.
Muscat of Alexandria
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be less tannic and softer, and sweeter.
Condrieu
Condrieu scores closest to Australian Grenache across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be more floral, and less tannic and softer.
Similar but more structured
More tannic architecture, for food or for ageing.
Argentine Cabernet Franc
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less spicy, and more savoury.
Barbaresco
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more tannic and structured, and earthier.
Barolo
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more tannic and structured, and more savoury.
Dão
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 fresher
Raises acidity and overall lift, usually by moving to a cooler-climate expression.
Graciano
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and less spicy.
Langhe Nebbiolo
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.
Nebbiolo
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more tannic and structured, and earthier.
Barolo
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and more tannic and structured.
Similar but softer
Lowers acidity and sharpness in favour of a broader, gentler feel.
Argentine Malbec
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and fuller and richer.
Malbec
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and riper and less green.
Grenache
Both are made from grenache, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and leaner and more cutting.
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.
The sparkling version
Moves to a sparkling expression while holding the flavour and weight as close as possible.
Lambrusco
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and stiller.
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.
Glera
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and less tannic and softer.
Prosecco
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and less tannic and softer.
Similar but sweeter
Adds perceptible sweetness, which also softens acidity and chilli heat.
Touriga Franca
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and riper and less green.
Touriga Nacional
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more floral, and sweeter.
Dornfelder
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and riper and less green.
Lambrusco
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, 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.
Graciano
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and less spicy.
Négrette
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more floral, and riper and less green.
Frappato
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more floral, and lighter.
Jaen
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and riper and less green.
Similar but more oaky
Adds barrel character, toast and a creamier texture.
Argentine Malbec
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and riper and less green.
Hawke’s Bay Syrah
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and more savoury.
Argentine Cabernet Franc
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and less spicy.
Petit Verdot
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more tannic and structured, and less oaky.
Similar but more aromatic
More to smell before you taste — floral, fruity or spiced aromatics.
Nebbiolo
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and more tannic and structured.
Barolo
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and more aromatic.
Barbaresco
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and more tannic and structured.
Torrontés
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more floral, 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.
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.
Hawke’s Bay Syrah
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and more savoury.
Argentine Cabernet Franc
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and less spicy.
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 aromatic, and riper and less green.
Cerasuolo di Vittoria
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and riper and less green.
Similar but more floral
Pushes specifically towards rose, violet, blossom and elderflower character.
Uco Valley Malbec
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more floral, and riper and less green.
Négrette
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more floral, and riper and less green.
Touriga Nacional
Touriga Nacional scores closest to Australian Grenache across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be more floral, and sweeter.
Frappato
Frappato scores closest to Australian Grenache across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be more floral, and lighter.
Similar but less floral
Some drinkers read floral aromatics as soapy or perfumed. This holds the structure and removes them.
Mencía
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and less spicy.
Bierzo Mencía
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and less spicy.
Malbec
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and riper and less green.
Jaen
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and riper and less green.
Similar but more savoury
Moves away from primary fruit towards earth, herb, meat and umami character.
Barbaresco
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more tannic and structured, and more savoury.
Barolo
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and more tannic and structured.
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 riper and less green, and less spicy.
Dão
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 fruitier
More obvious, generous fruit flavour, usually from a warmer climate.
Muscat of Alexandria
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and softer and rounder.
Spätlese
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and less tannic and softer.
Condrieu
Condrieu scores closest to Australian Grenache across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be more floral, and softer and rounder.
Viognier
Viognier scores closest to Australian Grenache across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be more floral, and softer and rounder.
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.
Hawke’s Bay Syrah
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.
Washington Syrah
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and earthier.
Northern Rhône Syrah
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and more savoury.
Grenache
Both are made from grenache.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and softer and rounder.
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.
Hawke’s Bay Syrah
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and more savoury.
Washington Syrah
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and earthier.
Northern Rhône Syrah
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and more savoury.
Same grape, warmer climate
Typically riper, fuller and more generous in fruit, with higher alcohol.
McLaren Vale Shiraz
Both are made from shiraz, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and riper and less green.
Shiraz
Both are made from shiraz, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and more oaky.
Barossa Shiraz
Both are made from shiraz, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and more oaky.
Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Both are made from grenache.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, 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.
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 riper and less green, and less spicy.
Argentine Malbec
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and fuller and richer.
Nebbiolo
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more tannic and structured, and earthier.
Barolo
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and more tannic and structured.
Something more adventurous
Less familiar wines that occupy similar territory — the interesting end of the shelf.
Hawke’s Bay Syrah
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.
Argentine Cabernet Franc
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less spicy, and more tannic and structured.
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.
Dão
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.
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.
Hawke’s Bay Syrah
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.
Argentine Cabernet Franc
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less spicy, and more tannic and structured.
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.
Dão
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.
A step up
The benchmark expressions of the same territory, usually with more concentration, structure and ageing potential.
Argentine Malbec
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and riper and less green.
Shiraz
Both are made from shiraz, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and more oaky.
Super Tuscan
Super Tuscan scores closest to Australian Grenache across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and more oaky.
Barossa Shiraz
Both are made from shiraz, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and more oaky.
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.