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Wines like Blaufränkisch

Central Europe’s finest red: peppery, high-acid and structured, with sour cherry fruit and real ageing potential. Below: what to try next, grouped by the direction you want to travel.

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What do you like about Blaufränkisch?

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…

How fresh and crisp it is The firm, grippy structure The spice

But it’s a bit…

too sharp or acidic too drying or too tannic too light or thin too oaky or woody too peppery too earthy or musty

Clear all

What these words mean

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 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 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 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.
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.
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 moving away from too light or thin, too oaky or woody, too drying or too tannic and too sharp or acidic.

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.

Grenache

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

Substantially less light or thin.
Substantially less oaky or woody.
Substantially less drying or too tannic.
Substantially less sharp or acidic.

Primitivo

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

Substantially less light or thin.
About as oaky or woody as the wine you started from.
Substantially less drying or too tannic.
Substantially less sharp or acidic.

Montepulciano d’Abruzzo

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.

A little less light or thin.
Substantially less oaky or woody.
Substantially less drying or too tannic.
Substantially less sharp or acidic.

Argentine Malbec

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

Substantially less light or thin.
About as oaky or woody as the wine you started from.
Substantially less drying or too tannic.
Substantially less sharp or acidic.

Valpolicella Ripasso

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

A little less light or thin.
Substantially less oaky or woody.
Substantially less drying or too tannic.
A little less sharp or acidic.

Southern Rhône blend

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

A little less light or thin.
A little less oaky or woody.
Substantially less drying or too tannic.
Substantially less sharp or acidic.

Australian Grenache

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

A little less light or thin.
Substantially less oaky or woody.
Substantially less drying or too tannic.
A little less sharp or acidic.

Nero d’Avola

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

A little less light or thin.
About as oaky or woody as the wine you started from.
Substantially less drying or too tannic.
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.

Grenache

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

Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and lighter.

Primitivo

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

Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and more oaky.

Montepulciano d’Abruzzo

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.

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

Argentine Malbec

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

Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and more oaky.

Different grape, similar feel

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

Grenache

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

Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and lighter.

Primitivo

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

Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and more oaky.

Montepulciano d’Abruzzo

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.

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

Argentine Malbec

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

Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and more oaky.

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

País scores closest to Blaufränkisch across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and lighter in alcohol.

Cinsault

Cinsault scores closest to Blaufränkisch across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and lighter in alcohol.

Tibouren

Tibouren scores closest to Blaufränkisch across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and lighter in alcohol.

Portugieser

Portugieser scores closest to Blaufränkisch across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and lighter in alcohol.

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.

Cru Beaujolais

Both sit in the same style family.

Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, and lighter.

Gamay

Gamay scores closest to Blaufränkisch across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, and lighter.

Cerasuolo di Vittoria

Cerasuolo di Vittoria scores closest to Blaufränkisch across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, and lighter.

Trousseau

Trousseau scores closest to Blaufränkisch across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, and lighter.

Similar but fuller

Keeps the character but adds weight, concentration and mouthfeel.

Primitivo

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

Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and more oaky.

Argentine Malbec

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

Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and more oaky.

Grenache

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

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and softer and rounder.

Châteauneuf-du-Pape

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

Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, 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.

Grenache

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

Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and lighter.

Primitivo

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

Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and more oaky.

Montepulciano d’Abruzzo

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

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

Southern Rhône blend

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

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and softer and rounder.

Similar but more structured

More tannic architecture, for food or for ageing.

Priorat

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Montefalco Sagrantino

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Sagrantino

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Petite Sirah

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Similar but fresher

Raises acidity and overall lift, usually by moving to a cooler-climate expression.

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 d’Asti

Both sit in the same style family.

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

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 lighter, and fresher.

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 lighter, and fresher.

Chianti

Both sit in the same style family.

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

Similar but softer

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

Grenache

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

Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and lighter.

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 lighter, and lighter in alcohol.

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 lighter, and fresher.

Primitivo

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

Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and more oaky.

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 lighter, and more oaky.

Lambrusco

Lambrusco scores closest to Blaufränkisch across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and fresher.

Lambrusco Grasparossa

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

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and fresher.

Ruby Port

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

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and stiller.

Similar but sweeter

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

Ruby Port

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

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and sweeter.

Late Bottled Vintage Port

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

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

Vin Doux Naturel

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

Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and more oaky.

Primitivo

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

Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and more oaky.

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.

Grenache

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

Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and lighter.

Corvinone

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Montepulciano d’Abruzzo

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

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

Trincadeira

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Similar but more oaky

Adds barrel character, toast and a creamier texture.

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon scores closest to Blaufränkisch across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

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

Rioja Gran Reserva

Both sit in the same style family.

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

Shiraz

Shiraz scores closest to Blaufränkisch across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and softer and rounder.

Barossa Shiraz

Barossa Shiraz scores closest to Blaufränkisch across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and softer and rounder.

Similar but more aromatic

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

Morgon

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

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

Malbec

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Cabernet Franc

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and lighter in alcohol.

Syrah

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Primitivo

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

Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and more oaky.

Montepulciano d’Abruzzo

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.

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

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 lighter, and lighter in alcohol.

Southern Rhône blend

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

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and softer and rounder.

Similar but more floral

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

Argentine Malbec

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

Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and more oaky.

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 lighter, and fresher.

Grenache

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

Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and lighter.

Malbec

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Similar but more savoury

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

Rioja Gran Reserva

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.

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

Cahors

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Mourvèdre

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Douro red

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

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

Similar but fruitier

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

Primitivo

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

Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and more oaky.

Zinfandel

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

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and softer and rounder.

Argentine Malbec

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

Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and more oaky.

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 lighter, and more oaky.

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.

Egri Bikavér

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

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

Same grape, cooler climate

Typically fresher, lighter and more herbal, with lower alcohol.

Egri Bikavér

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

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

Blaufränkisch

Both are made from blaufränkisch, and both come from the same country.

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

Same grape, warmer climate

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

Egri Bikavér

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

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

Blaufränkisch

Both are made from blaufränkisch, and both come from the same country.

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

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.

Grenache

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

Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and lighter.

Primitivo

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

Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and more oaky.

Montepulciano d’Abruzzo

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.

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

Argentine Malbec

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

Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and more oaky.

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 lighter, and lighter in alcohol.

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 lighter, and fresher.

Nero d’Avola

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

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

Bonarda

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

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

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 lighter, and lighter in alcohol.

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 lighter, and fresher.

Nero d’Avola

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

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

Bonarda

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

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

A step up

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

Châteauneuf-du-Pape

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

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

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 lighter, and more oaky.

Amarone della Valpolicella

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

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

Grenache

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

Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and lighter.

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.