If you like this, try…

Wines like Châteauneuf-du-Pape

The southern Rhône’s flagship: a warm, powerful, herb-scented Grenache-led blend from stony vineyards near Avignon. Below: what to try next, grouped by the direction you want to travel.

← Back to Châteauneuf-du-Pape

Refine

What do you like about Châteauneuf-du-Pape?

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 rich dark fruit How full and weighty it is The herbal, green side The spice The earthy, mineral side The savoury, meaty side

But it’s a bit…

too jammy or sweet-tasting too heavy too green or grassy too peppery too earthy or musty too savoury or funky

Clear all

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 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 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.
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.
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.

Looking for something keeping the earthy, savoury-mineral character, while moving away from too earthy or musty and too savoury or funky.

You said you like the earthy, savoury-mineral character and that it is too earthy or musty. Both are about earthy character, 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.

Southern Rhône blend

curated

The same varieties and region at village level.

Has some of the earthy, savoury-mineral character, though less of it.
Substantially less earthy or musty.
A little less savoury or funky.

California Pinot Noir

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

Has some of the earthy, savoury-mineral character, though less of it.
Substantially less earthy or musty.
A little less savoury or funky.

Pinotage

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

Has some of the earthy, savoury-mineral character, though less of it.
Substantially less earthy or musty.
A little less savoury or funky.

Uco Valley Malbec

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

Has some of the earthy, savoury-mineral character, though less of it.
Substantially less earthy or musty.
A little less savoury or funky.

Morgon

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

Has some of the earthy, savoury-mineral character, though less of it.
Substantially less earthy or musty.
A little less savoury or funky.

McLaren Vale Shiraz

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

Has noticeably less of the earthy, savoury-mineral character.
Substantially less earthy or musty.
A little less savoury or funky.

California Rhône blend

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

Has noticeably less of the earthy, savoury-mineral character.
Substantially less earthy or musty.
A little less savoury or funky.

Cabernet Sauvignon

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

Has noticeably less of the earthy, savoury-mineral character.
Substantially less earthy or musty.
A little less savoury or funky.

Closest overall

Nearest neighbours, no change of direction.

Closest matches

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

Southern Rhône blend

curated

The same varieties and region at village level.

Expect: Lighter and simpler, at a fraction of the price.

California Pinot Noir

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

Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and lighter.

Pinotage

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

Expect: Expect it to be more restrained in fruit, and riper and less green.

Uco Valley Malbec

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

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

Different grape, similar feel

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

California Pinot Noir

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

Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and lighter.

Pinotage

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

Expect: Expect it to be more restrained in fruit, and riper and less green.

Uco Valley Malbec

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

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

Morgon

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

Expect: Expect it to be more restrained in fruit, and riper and less green.

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.

Southern Rhône blend

curated

The same varieties and region at village level.

Expect: Lighter and simpler, at a fraction of the price.

California Pinot Noir

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

Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and fresher and more acidic.

Pinotage

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

Expect: Expect it to be more restrained in fruit, and riper and less green.

Uco Valley Malbec

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

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

Southern Rhône blend

curated

The same varieties and region at village level.

Expect: Lighter and simpler, at a fraction of the price.

Loire Cabernet Franc

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

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

Cru Beaujolais

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

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

Uco Valley Malbec

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

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

Similar but less tannic

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

Argentine Malbec

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

Expect: Expect it to be cleaner and more fruit-focused, and riper and less green.

País

Both are made from cinsault, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Poulsard

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

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

Barbera d’Alba

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be cleaner and more fruit-focused, and fresher and more acidic.

Similar but more structured

More tannic architecture, for food or for ageing.

Priorat

curated

Both are concentrated old-vine Grenache expressions from hot Mediterranean sites.

Expect: More mineral and firmer, with a distinctive slate character.

Toro

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

Expect: Expect it to be cleaner and more fruit-focused, and riper and less green.

Madiran

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 restrained in fruit.

Touriga Nacional

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be cleaner and more fruit-focused, and sweeter.

Similar but fresher

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

Uco Valley Malbec

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

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

Morgon

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

Expect: Expect it to be more restrained in fruit, and riper and less green.

Blaufränkisch

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

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

Loire Cabernet Franc

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

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

Similar but softer

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

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.

Southern Rhône blend

curated

The same varieties and region at village level.

Expect: Lighter and simpler, at a fraction of the price.

McLaren Vale Shiraz

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

Expect: Expect it to be cleaner and more fruit-focused, and fresher and more acidic.

Barossa Shiraz

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

Expect: Expect it to be cleaner and more fruit-focused, and fresher and more acidic.

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

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

Expect: Expect it to be cleaner and more fruit-focused, and fresher and more acidic.

The sparkling version

Moves to a sparkling expression while holding the flavour and weight as close as possible.

Sparkling Shiraz

Sparkling Shiraz scores closest to Châteauneuf-du-Pape across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

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

Lambrusco

Lambrusco scores closest to Châteauneuf-du-Pape across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

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

Lambrusco Grasparossa

Lambrusco Grasparossa scores closest to Châteauneuf-du-Pape across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

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

Southern Rhône blend

curated

The same varieties and region at village level.

Expect: Lighter and simpler, at a fraction of the price.

Similar but sweeter

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

Pinotage

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

Expect: Expect it to be more restrained in fruit, and riper and less green.

Vin Doux Naturel

Both are made from grenache, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure, both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be cleaner and more fruit-focused, and sweeter.

Port

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be cleaner and more fruit-focused, and sweeter.

Vintage Port

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be cleaner and more fruit-focused, and sweeter.

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.

Frühburgunder

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Piedirosso

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Poulsard

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

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

País

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Similar but more oaky

Adds barrel character, toast and a creamier texture.

Barossa Shiraz

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

Expect: Expect it to be cleaner and more fruit-focused, and riper and less green.

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

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

Expect: Expect it to be cleaner and more fruit-focused, and riper and less green.

Pinotage

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

Expect: Expect it to be more restrained in fruit, and riper and less green.

McLaren Vale Shiraz

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

Expect: Expect it to be cleaner and more fruit-focused, and riper and less green.

Similar but more aromatic

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

Syrah

Both are made from syrah, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both come from the same country.

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

Cabernet Franc

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

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

Morgon

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

Expect: Expect it to be more restrained in fruit, and riper and less green.

Cabernet Sauvignon

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

Expect: Expect it to be cleaner and more fruit-focused, and more restrained in fruit.

Similar but more restrained

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

Southern Rhône blend

curated

The same varieties and region at village level.

Expect: Lighter and simpler, at a fraction of the price.

California Pinot Noir

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

Expect: Expect it to be more aromatic, and riper and less green.

Pinotage

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

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

McLaren Vale Shiraz

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

Expect: Expect it to be cleaner and more fruit-focused, and more aromatic.

Similar but more floral

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

Cabernet Franc

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

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

Uco Valley Malbec

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

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

Syrah

Both are made from syrah, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure, both come from the same country.

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

Loire Cabernet Franc

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

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

Similar but more savoury

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

Northern Rhône Syrah

Both are made from syrah, and both sit in the same style family.

Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and earthier.

Brunello di Montalcino

Both sit in the same style family.

Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and earthier.

Chianti Classico Gran Selezione

Both sit in the same style family.

Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and earthier.

Rioja Gran Reserva

Both are made from grenache.

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

Similar but fruitier

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

California Pinot Noir

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

Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and lighter.

McLaren Vale Shiraz

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

Expect: Expect it to be cleaner and more fruit-focused, and riper and less green.

California Rhône blend

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

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

Barossa Shiraz

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

Expect: Expect it to be cleaner and more fruit-focused, 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.

McLaren Vale Shiraz

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

Expect: Expect it to be cleaner and more fruit-focused, and riper and less green.

California Rhône blend

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

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

Barossa Shiraz

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

Expect: Expect it to be cleaner and more fruit-focused, and more oaky.

Bolgheri

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

Expect: Expect it to be cleaner and more fruit-focused, and more oaky.

Same grape, cooler climate

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

País

Both are made from cinsault, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Montsant

Both are made from grenache, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be cleaner and more fruit-focused, and more restrained in fruit.

Rioja Crianza

Both are made from grenache, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be cleaner and more fruit-focused, and more restrained in fruit.

Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon

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

Expect: Expect it to be cleaner and more fruit-focused, and more restrained in fruit.

Same grape, warmer climate

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

McLaren Vale Shiraz

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

Expect: Expect it to be cleaner and more fruit-focused, and riper and less green.

Barossa Shiraz

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

Expect: Expect it to be cleaner and more fruit-focused, and more oaky.

Shiraz

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be cleaner and more fruit-focused, and more oaky.

Bolgheri

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

Expect: Expect it to be cleaner and more fruit-focused, 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.

Southern Rhône blend

curated

The same varieties and region at village level.

Expect: Lighter and simpler, at a fraction of the price.

California Pinot Noir

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

Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and lighter.

Cabernet Sauvignon

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

Expect: Expect it to be cleaner and more fruit-focused, and more restrained in fruit.

Barossa Shiraz

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

Expect: Expect it to be cleaner and more fruit-focused, and more oaky.

Something more adventurous

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

Pinotage

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

Expect: Expect it to be more restrained in fruit, and riper and less green.

Uco Valley Malbec

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

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

Morgon

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

Expect: Expect it to be more restrained in fruit, and riper and less green.

McLaren Vale Shiraz

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

Expect: Expect it to be cleaner and more fruit-focused, 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.

Pinotage

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

Expect: Expect it to be more restrained in fruit, and riper and less green.

Uco Valley Malbec

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

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

Morgon

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

Expect: Expect it to be more restrained in fruit, and riper and less green.

McLaren Vale Shiraz

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

Expect: Expect it to be cleaner and more fruit-focused, and riper and less green.

A step up

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

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 savoury, and more restrained in fruit.

Priorat

curated

Both are concentrated old-vine Grenache expressions from hot Mediterranean sites.

Expect: More mineral and firmer, with a distinctive slate character.

Barossa Shiraz

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

Expect: Expect it to be cleaner and more fruit-focused, and more oaky.

Southern Rhône blend

curated

Both are made from grenache, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both come from the same country.

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