If you like this, try…
Wines like Cru Beaujolais
Gamay from the ten named granite hills — structured, mineral and ageworthy, and nothing like Beaujolais Nouveau. Below: what to try next, grouped by the direction you want to travel.
Refine
What do you like about Cru Beaujolais?
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 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.
- That it is not too strong
- Alcohol you notice as warmth at the back of the throat. Some people find it a pleasant part of a big red and some find it tiring.
- How light it is
- A wine you can drink without it feeling like a commitment. Usually lower in alcohol as well as lighter in the mouth.
- 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.
Looking for something keeping the fresh, crisp acidity and the bright red-fruited character, while moving away from too floral or soapy, too alcoholic or warming and too earthy or musty.
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.
Gamay
Both are made from gamay, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both come from the same country.
- Keeps the fresh, crisp acidity.
- Keeps the bright red-fruited character.
- Substantially less floral or soapy.
- About as alcoholic or warming as the wine you started from.
- Substantially less earthy or musty.
Barbera
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.
- Keeps the fresh, crisp acidity.
- Keeps the bright red-fruited character.
- Substantially less floral or soapy.
- Substantially less alcoholic or warming.
- Substantially less earthy or musty.
Loire Cabernet Franc
curatedComparable weight, freshness and food-friendliness.
- Keeps the fresh, crisp acidity.
- Keeps the bright red-fruited character.
- Substantially less floral or soapy.
- About as alcoholic or warming as the wine you started from.
- About as earthy or musty as the wine you started from.
Beaujolais
Both are made from gamay, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure, both come from the same country.
- Keeps the fresh, crisp acidity.
- Keeps the bright red-fruited character.
- Substantially less floral or soapy.
- About as alcoholic or warming as the wine you started from.
- Substantially less earthy or musty.
Jaen
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Keeps the fresh, crisp acidity.
- Has some of the bright red-fruited character, though less of it.
- Substantially less floral or soapy.
- Substantially less alcoholic or warming.
- Substantially less earthy or musty.
Egri Bikavér
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.
- Keeps the fresh, crisp acidity.
- Has some of the bright red-fruited character, though less of it.
- Substantially less floral or soapy.
- Substantially less alcoholic or warming.
- Substantially less earthy or musty.
Barbera d’Asti
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.
- Keeps the fresh, crisp acidity.
- Keeps the bright red-fruited character.
- Substantially less floral or soapy.
- Substantially less alcoholic or warming.
- Substantially less earthy or musty.
Pinot Meunier
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
- Keeps the fresh, crisp acidity.
- Keeps the bright red-fruited character.
- Substantially less floral or soapy.
- About as alcoholic or warming as the wine you started from.
- Substantially less earthy or musty.
Closest overall
Nearest neighbours, no change of direction.
Closest matches
The nearest overall neighbours across structure and flavour, with no deliberate change of direction.
Gamay
Both are made from gamay, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, and more aromatic.
Barbera
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and fresher and more acidic.
Loire Cabernet Franc
curatedComparable weight, freshness and food-friendliness.
Expect: Leafier and more graphite-edged.
Beaujolais
Both are made from gamay, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure, both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.
Different grape, similar feel
Deliberately excludes the variety you already know, to find a genuinely new wine that fills the same role.
Barbera
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and fresher and more acidic.
Jaen
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be broader and softer, and lighter in alcohol.
Egri Bikavér
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and broader and softer.
Barbera d’Asti
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and fresher and more acidic.
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
Both are made from gamay, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure, both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, and lighter.
Cinsault
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, and lighter.
Valpolicella
Valpolicella scores closest to Cru Beaujolais across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, and lighter.
Grolleau
Both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, and lighter.
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.
English still Pinot Noir
English still Pinot Noir scores closest to Cru Beaujolais across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, and lighter.
Gamay
Both are made from gamay, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure, both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, and more aromatic.
Beaujolais
Both are made from gamay, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure, both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.
Pinot Meunier
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.
Similar but fuller
Keeps the character but adds weight, concentration and mouthfeel.
Valpolicella Ripasso
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and less floral.
Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and less floral.
Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and less floral.
Hawke’s Bay Bordeaux blend
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and less floral.
Similar but less tannic
For readers who find firm reds drying. Reduces tannic grip while holding flavour and weight roughly steady.
Gamay
Both are made from gamay, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, and more aromatic.
Barbera
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and fresher and more acidic.
Barbera d’Asti
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and fresher and more acidic.
Pinot Meunier
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.
Similar but more structured
More tannic architecture, for food or for ageing.
Rosso di Montalcino
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and fresher and more acidic.
Bobal
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and broader and softer.
Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and broader and softer.
Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and broader and softer.
Similar but fresher
Raises acidity and overall lift, usually by moving to a cooler-climate expression.
Barbera
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and less floral.
Barbera d’Asti
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and less floral.
Rosso di Montalcino
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and less floral.
Chianti
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and less floral.
Similar but softer
Lowers acidity and sharpness in favour of a broader, gentler feel.
Grenache
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and broader and softer.
Montepulciano d’Abruzzo
Both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be broader and softer, and softer and rounder.
Malbec
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be broader and softer, and softer and rounder.
Zinfandel
Zinfandel scores closest to Cru Beaujolais across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be broader and softer, and softer and rounder.
The sparkling version
Moves to a sparkling expression while holding the flavour and weight as close as possible.
Lambrusco
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.
Sparkling Shiraz
Sparkling Shiraz scores closest to Cru Beaujolais across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be broader and softer, and less floral.
Lambrusco Grasparossa
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, and less floral.
English sparkling rosé
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, and less floral.
Similar but sweeter
Adds perceptible sweetness, which also softens acidity and chilli heat.
Tinta Negra
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
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 less floral, and broader and softer.
Lambrusco Grasparossa
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, and less floral.
Tawny Port
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
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.
Jaen
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be broader and softer, and lighter in alcohol.
Pinot Meunier
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.
Castelão
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and broader and softer.
Ciliegiolo
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and broader and softer.
Similar but more oaky
Adds barrel character, toast and a creamier texture.
Barbera
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and fresher and more acidic.
Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and broader and softer.
Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and broader and softer.
Hawke’s Bay Bordeaux blend
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
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.
Nebbiolo
Nebbiolo scores closest to Cru Beaujolais across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be earthier, and fresher and more acidic.
Barolo
Barolo scores closest to Cru Beaujolais across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be earthier, and fresher and more acidic.
Barbaresco
Barbaresco scores closest to Cru Beaujolais across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be earthier, and fresher and more acidic.
Torrontés
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more floral, and broader and softer.
Similar but more restrained
For readers who find intensely aromatic wines tiring over a whole glass. Keeps the structure, turns the volume down.
Pinot Grigio
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.
Seyval Blanc
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, and less floral.
Pinot Blanc
Both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, and less floral.
Trebbiano d’Abruzzo
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, and less floral.
Similar but more floral
Pushes specifically towards rose, violet, blossom and elderflower character.
Frappato
Frappato scores closest to Cru Beaujolais across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be more floral, and lighter in alcohol.
Négrette
Both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be more floral, and broader and softer.
Uco Valley Malbec
Uco Valley Malbec scores closest to Cru Beaujolais across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be more floral, and broader and softer.
Touriga Nacional
Touriga Nacional scores closest to Cru Beaujolais across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be more floral, and broader and softer.
Similar but less floral
Some drinkers read floral aromatics as soapy or perfumed. This holds the structure and removes them.
Barbera
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and fresher and more acidic.
Gamay
Both are made from gamay, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, and more aromatic.
Egri Bikavér
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and broader and softer.
Barbera d’Asti
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and fresher and more acidic.
Similar but more savoury
Moves away from primary fruit towards earth, herb, meat and umami character.
Red Burgundy
curatedThe classic upgrade path, from Pinot’s offspring to Pinot itself.
Expect: More earthy complexity and perfume, at several times the price.
Naoussa Xinomavro
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be earthier, and fresher and more acidic.
Xinomavro
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be earthier, and fresher and more acidic.
Etna Rosso
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be earthier, and fresher and more acidic.
Similar but fruitier
More obvious, generous fruit flavour, usually from a warmer climate.
Zinfandel
Zinfandel scores closest to Cru Beaujolais across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be broader and softer, and fruitier.
Petite Sirah
Petite Sirah scores closest to Cru Beaujolais across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be broader and softer, and fuller and richer.
Barbera d’Alba
Both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and less floral.
Washington Cabernet Sauvignon
Washington Cabernet Sauvignon scores closest to Cru Beaujolais across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and fruitier.
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.
Beaujolais
Both are made from gamay, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, and lighter.
Gamay
Both are made from gamay, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, and more aromatic.
Morgon
Both are made from gamay, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure, both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and lighter in alcohol.
Same grape, warmer climate
Typically riper, fuller and more generous in fruit, with higher alcohol.
Morgon
Both are made from gamay, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure, both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and fuller and richer.
Gamay
Both are made from gamay, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, and more aromatic.
Beaujolais
Both are made from gamay, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, 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.
Gamay
Both are made from gamay, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, and more aromatic.
Barbera
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and fresher and more acidic.
Beaujolais
Both are made from gamay, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure, both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.
Chianti
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and fresher and more acidic.
Something more adventurous
Less familiar wines that occupy similar territory — the interesting end of the shelf.
Jaen
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be broader and softer, and lighter in alcohol.
Egri Bikavér
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and broader and softer.
Barbera d’Asti
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and fresher and more acidic.
Pinot Meunier
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.
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.
Jaen
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be broader and softer, and lighter in alcohol.
Egri Bikavér
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and broader and softer.
Barbera d’Asti
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and fresher and more acidic.
Pinot Meunier
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.
A step up
The benchmark expressions of the same territory, usually with more concentration, structure and ageing potential.
Chianti Classico
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and fresher and more acidic.
New Zealand Pinot Noir
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and lighter in alcohol.
Red Bordeaux
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and broader and softer.
Amarone della Valpolicella
Amarone della Valpolicella scores closest to Cru Beaujolais across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and broader and softer.
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.