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Wines like Barbera d’Asti

Piedmont’s everyday red at its most serious — very high acidity, almost no tannin, and built entirely for food. Below: what to try next, grouped by the direction you want to travel.

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What do you like about Barbera d’Asti?

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 How fresh and crisp it is How smooth and soft it is

But it’s a bit…

too tart or sour-fruited too sharp or acidic too soft or too easy too heavy too oaky or woody too austere

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.
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.
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.
How full and weighty it is: Body is how much the wine seems to fill your mouth — the difference between skimmed and whole milk. It comes mostly from alcohol and ripeness.
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.
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 keeping the fresh, crisp acidity, while moving away from too sharp or acidic.

You said you like the fresh, crisp acidity and that it is too sharp or acidic. Both are about acidity, so they pull the same axis in opposite directions — the dislike is applied and the like is set aside.
You said you like the fresh, crisp acidity and that it is too sharp or acidic. Both are about perceived freshness, so they pull the same axis in opposite directions — the dislike is applied and the like is set aside.

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.

Valpolicella Ripasso

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.

Has some of the fresh, crisp acidity, though less of it.
Substantially less sharp or acidic.

Egri Bikavér

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.

Has some of the fresh, crisp acidity, though less of it.
Substantially less sharp or acidic.

Morgon

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.

Has some of the fresh, crisp acidity, though less of it.
Substantially less sharp or acidic.

Corvina

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

Has some of the fresh, crisp acidity, though less of it.
Substantially less sharp or acidic.

Lagrein

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

Has some of the fresh, crisp acidity, though less of it.
Substantially less sharp or acidic.

New Zealand Pinot Noir

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.

Has some of the fresh, crisp acidity, though less of it.
Substantially less sharp or acidic.

Ciliegiolo

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

Has some of the fresh, crisp acidity, though less of it.
Substantially less sharp or acidic.

Nerello Cappuccio

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

Has some of the fresh, crisp acidity, though less of it.
Substantially less sharp or acidic.

Closest overall

Nearest neighbours, no change of direction.

Closest matches

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

Valpolicella Ripasso

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.

Expect: Expect it to be spicier, and sweeter.

Egri Bikavér

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.

Expect: Expect it to be spicier, and lighter.

Morgon

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.

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

Corvina

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

Expect: Expect it to be spicier, and sweeter.

Different grape, similar feel

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

Valpolicella Ripasso

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.

Expect: Expect it to be spicier, and sweeter.

Egri Bikavér

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.

Expect: Expect it to be spicier, and lighter.

Morgon

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.

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

Corvina

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

Expect: Expect it to be spicier, and sweeter.

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

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

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and earthier.

Cinsault

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

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

Tibouren

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

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

Spätburgunder (German Pinot Noir)

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

Expect: Expect it to be earthier, and more 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.

Schiava

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

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

Grolleau

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

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

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 fresher, and more floral.

Cerasuolo di Vittoria

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

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

Similar but fuller

Keeps the character but adds weight, concentration and mouthfeel.

Washington Cabernet Sauvignon

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

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

Super Tuscan

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

Expect: Expect it to be broader and softer, and more tannic and structured.

Bolgheri

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

Expect: Expect it to be broader and softer, and more tannic and structured.

Uruguayan Tannat

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

Expect: Expect it to be broader and softer, and more tannic and structured.

Similar but less tannic

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

Soave Classico

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 more savoury.

Fiano

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

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

Fiano di Avellino

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

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

Chilean Chardonnay

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

Expect: Expect it to be rounder and creamier in texture.

Similar but more structured

More tannic architecture, for food or for ageing.

Bobal

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

Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and more tannic and structured.

Carignan

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

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

Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon

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

Expect: Expect it to be more tannic and structured, and more herbal and green.

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 tannic and structured, and more floral.

Similar but softer

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

Australian Grenache

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.

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

Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon

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

Expect: Expect it to be more tannic and structured, and more herbal and green.

Hawke’s Bay Bordeaux blend

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

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

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 broader and softer, and sweeter.

Lambrusco

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be fresher, and stiller.

Lambrusco Grasparossa

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be fresher, and stiller.

Franciacorta

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

Expect: Expect it to be more sparkling, and sweeter.

Similar but sweeter

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

Valpolicella Ripasso

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.

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

Corvina

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

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

Tinto Cão

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

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

Muscat Bailey A

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

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, 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.

Bobal

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

Expect: Expect it to be more tannic and structured.

Castelão

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

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

Ciliegiolo

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

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

Cinsault

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

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

Similar but more oaky

Adds barrel character, toast and a creamier texture.

Super Tuscan

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

Expect: Expect it to be broader and softer, and more tannic and structured.

Bolgheri

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

Expect: Expect it to be broader and softer, and more tannic and structured.

Rioja

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.

Expect: Expect it to be broader and softer, and more tannic and structured.

Rioja Reserva

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.

Expect: Expect it to be broader and softer, and more tannic and structured.

Similar but more aromatic

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

Pinot Noir

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

Expect: Expect it to be earthier, and spicier.

Cabernet Franc

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

Expect: Expect it to be more herbal and green, and earthier.

Morgon

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.

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

Gamay

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

Expect: Expect it to be fresher, and lighter.

Similar but more restrained

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

Trebbiano d’Abruzzo

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

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

Vernaccia di San Gimignano

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

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

Pinot Blanc

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

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

Koshu

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

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and more restrained in fruit.

Similar but more floral

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

Pinot Noir

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

Expect: Expect it to be earthier, and spicier.

Cabernet Franc

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

Expect: Expect it to be more herbal and green, and earthier.

Gamay

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

Expect: Expect it to be fresher, and lighter.

Australian Grenache

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.

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

Similar but more savoury

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

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 tannic and structured, and more floral.

Carignan

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

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

Red Bordeaux

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

Expect: Expect it to be more tannic and structured, and more herbal and green.

Cahors

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

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

Similar but fruitier

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

Petite Sirah

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

Expect: Expect it to be broader and softer, and more tannic and structured.

Washington Cabernet Sauvignon

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

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

California Pinot Noir

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.

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

Barbera d’Alba

Both are made from barbera, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both sit in the same style family.

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

Change the place

Keep the grape, move it somewhere else.

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.

Barbera

curated

The same variety in its home appellation.

Expect: More structure and more oak at the top level.

Barbera d’Alba

Both are made from barbera, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure, both sit in the same style family.

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

Same grape, warmer climate

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

Barbera d’Alba

Both are made from barbera, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure, both sit in the same style family.

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

Barbera

curated

The same variety in its home appellation.

Expect: More structure and more oak at the top level.

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.

New Zealand Pinot Noir

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.

Expect: Expect it to be more herbal and green, and spicier.

Rioja Crianza

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.

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

Red Bordeaux

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

Expect: Expect it to be more tannic and structured, and more herbal and green.

Pinot Noir

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

Expect: Expect it to be earthier, and spicier.

Something more adventurous

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

Valpolicella Ripasso

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.

Expect: Expect it to be spicier, and sweeter.

Egri Bikavér

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.

Expect: Expect it to be spicier, and lighter.

Morgon

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.

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

Corvina

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

Expect: Expect it to be spicier, and sweeter.

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.

Valpolicella Ripasso

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.

Expect: Expect it to be spicier, and sweeter.

Egri Bikavér

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.

Expect: Expect it to be spicier, and lighter.

Morgon

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.

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

Corvina

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

Expect: Expect it to be spicier, and sweeter.

A step up

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

Ribera del Duero

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

Expect: Expect it to be broader and softer, and more tannic and structured.

Amarone della Valpolicella

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

Expect: Expect it to be broader and softer, and more tannic and structured.

Priorat

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be broader and softer, and more tannic and structured.

Super Tuscan

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

Expect: Expect it to be broader and softer, 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.