If you like this, try…
Wines like Mavrud
Bulgaria’s most structured indigenous red, from the Thracian Lowlands. Below: what to try next, grouped by the direction you want to travel.
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What do you like about Mavrud?
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 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.
- 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 savoury, meaty side
- Leather, olive, cured meat, dried herbs, tobacco. It is what people mean by calling a wine "serious" rather than "fruity", and it comes with age as well as with place.
- 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.
- 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 firm tannic structure, the peppery, spicy character and the savoury, non-fruity character, while moving away from too oaky or woody and too peppery.
- You said you like the peppery, spicy character and that it is too oaky or woody. Both are about spice, so they pull the same axis in opposite directions — the dislike is applied and the like is set aside.
- You said you like the peppery, spicy character and that it is too peppery. Both are about spice, 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.
Saperavi
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.
- Keeps the firm tannic structure.
- Has some of the peppery, spicy character, though less of it.
- Keeps the savoury, non-fruity character.
- Substantially less oaky or woody.
- Substantially less peppery.
Valais Cornalin
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.
- Keeps the firm tannic structure.
- Has some of the peppery, spicy character, though less of it.
- Keeps the savoury, non-fruity character.
- Substantially less oaky or woody.
- Substantially less peppery.
Broad-leaved Melnik
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
- Keeps the firm tannic structure.
- Has some of the peppery, spicy character, though less of it.
- Keeps the savoury, non-fruity character.
- Substantially less oaky or woody.
- Substantially less peppery.
Melnik
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.
- Keeps the firm tannic structure.
- Has some of the peppery, spicy character, though less of it.
- Keeps the savoury, non-fruity character.
- About as oaky or woody as the wine you started from.
- Substantially less peppery.
Cornalin
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Keeps the firm tannic structure.
- Has some of the peppery, spicy character, though less of it.
- Keeps the savoury, non-fruity character.
- Substantially less oaky or woody.
- Substantially less peppery.
Jumilla Monastrell
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.
- Keeps the firm tannic structure.
- Has some of the peppery, spicy character, though less of it.
- Keeps the savoury, non-fruity character.
- About as oaky or woody as the wine you started from.
- Substantially less peppery.
Uruguayan Tannat
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.
- Keeps the firm tannic structure.
- Has some of the peppery, spicy character, though less of it.
- Keeps the savoury, non-fruity character.
- About as oaky or woody as the wine you started from.
- Substantially less peppery.
Douro red
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.
- Keeps the firm tannic structure.
- Has some of the peppery, spicy character, though less of it.
- Keeps the savoury, non-fruity character.
- About as oaky or woody as the wine you started from.
- Substantially less peppery.
Closest overall
Nearest neighbours, no change of direction.
Closest matches
The nearest overall neighbours across structure and flavour, with no deliberate change of direction.
Saperavi
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and fresher and more acidic.
Valais Cornalin
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be cleaner and more fruit-focused, and fresher.
Broad-leaved Melnik
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 leaner and more cutting.
Melnik
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and leaner and more cutting.
Different grape, similar feel
Deliberately excludes the variety you already know, to find a genuinely new wine that fills the same role.
Saperavi
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and fresher and more acidic.
Valais Cornalin
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be cleaner and more fruit-focused, and fresher.
Broad-leaved Melnik
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 leaner and more cutting.
Melnik
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and leaner and more cutting.
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.
Dolcetto
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less spicy, and more fruit-driven.
Australian Pinot Noir
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less tannic and softer, and stronger and warmer.
Trousseau
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be less tannic and softer, and less oaky.
Pinot Noir
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less tannic and softer, and more oaky.
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.
Trousseau
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be less tannic and softer, and less oaky.
Pinot Noir
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be less tannic and softer, and more oaky.
Red Burgundy
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be less tannic and softer, and more oaky.
Cru Beaujolais
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be less spicy, and less tannic and softer.
Similar but fuller
Keeps the character but adds weight, concentration and mouthfeel.
Priorat
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 oaky.
Châteauneuf-du-Pape
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 fruitier.
McLaren Vale Shiraz
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and more fruit-driven.
Uruguayan Tannat
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.
Similar but less tannic
For readers who find firm reds drying. Reduces tannic grip while holding flavour and weight roughly steady.
Valpolicella Ripasso
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less tannic and softer, and more fruit-driven.
Argentine Malbec
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be less tannic and softer, and more fruit-driven.
Chilean Carmenère
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less tannic and softer, and more oaky.
Carmenère
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less tannic and softer, and more oaky.
Similar but more structured
More tannic architecture, for food or for ageing.
Priorat
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be more tannic and structured, and more oaky.
Brunello di Montalcino
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be more tannic and structured, and more savoury.
Mavrud
Both are made from mavrud, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure, both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be more tannic and structured, and more oaky.
Aglianico
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.
Saperavi
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be sweeter.
Sangiovese
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and more restrained in fruit.
Areni
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less tannic and softer, and more restrained in fruit.
Rosso di Montalcino
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less spicy, and more herbal and green.
Similar but softer
Lowers acidity and sharpness in favour of a broader, gentler feel.
Châteauneuf-du-Pape
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 fruitier.
McLaren Vale Shiraz
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and more fruit-driven.
Jumilla Monastrell
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and leaner and more cutting.
Dalmatian Plavac Mali
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and spicier.
The sparkling version
Moves to a sparkling expression while holding the flavour and weight as close as possible.
Sparkling Shiraz
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more fruit-driven, and less tannic and softer.
Lambrusco
Lambrusco scores closest to Mavrud across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be more fruit-driven, and less spicy.
Lambrusco Grasparossa
Lambrusco Grasparossa scores closest to Mavrud across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be more fruit-driven, and less spicy.
Saperavi
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be stiller, and sweeter.
Similar but sweeter
Adds perceptible sweetness, which also softens acidity and chilli heat.
Saperavi
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and fresher.
Valpolicella Ripasso
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less tannic and softer, and more fruit-driven.
Port
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and more fruit-driven.
Touriga Nacional
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more tannic and structured, 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.
Saperavi
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and fresher and more acidic.
Broad-leaved Melnik
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 leaner and more cutting.
Valais Cornalin
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be cleaner and more fruit-focused, and fresher.
Cornalin
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.
Similar but more oaky
Adds barrel character, toast and a creamier texture.
Ribera del Duero
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and fuller and richer.
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
Both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and more fruit-driven.
Barossa Shiraz
Both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and more fruit-driven.
Rioja
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and more restrained in fruit.
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 tannic and structured, and more oaky.
Barolo
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and more tannic and structured.
Malbec
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more fruit-driven, and more oaky.
Syrah
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and spicier.
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.
Saperavi
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 sweeter.
Valais Cornalin
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 cleaner and more fruit-focused.
Broad-leaved Melnik
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 aromatic.
Melnik
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and more aromatic.
Similar but more floral
Pushes specifically towards rose, violet, blossom and elderflower character.
Malbec
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more fruit-driven, and more oaky.
Nebbiolo
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more tannic and structured, and more oaky.
Douro 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 oaky, and more floral.
Barolo
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and more tannic and structured.
Similar but more savoury
Moves away from primary fruit towards earth, herb, meat and umami character.
Taurasi
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and more tannic and structured.
Barolo
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and more tannic and structured.
Brunello di Montalcino
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and more tannic and structured.
Chianti Classico Riserva
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and less spicy.
Similar but fruitier
More obvious, generous fruit flavour, usually from a warmer climate.
Washington Cabernet Sauvignon
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and more oaky.
McLaren Vale Shiraz
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and more oaky.
Châteauneuf-du-Pape
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and spicier.
Touriga Nacional
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and more tannic and structured.
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.
Same grape, warmer climate
Typically riper, fuller and more generous in fruit, with higher 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.
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.
Red Bordeaux
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and more restrained in fruit.
Sangiovese
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and more restrained in fruit.
Priorat
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 oaky.
Châteauneuf-du-Pape
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 fruitier.
Something more adventurous
Less familiar wines that occupy similar territory — the interesting end of the shelf.
Saperavi
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and fresher and more acidic.
Valais Cornalin
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be cleaner and more fruit-focused, and fresher.
Broad-leaved Melnik
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 leaner and more cutting.
Melnik
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and leaner and more cutting.
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.
Saperavi
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and fresher and more acidic.
Valais Cornalin
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be cleaner and more fruit-focused, and fresher.
Broad-leaved Melnik
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 leaner and more cutting.
Melnik
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and leaner and more cutting.
A step up
The benchmark expressions of the same territory, usually with more concentration, structure and ageing potential.
Priorat
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 oaky.
Châteauneuf-du-Pape
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 fruitier.
Ribera del Duero
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and fuller and richer.
Amarone della Valpolicella
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and spicier.
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.