If you like this, try…
Wines like Chianti Classico
Sangiovese from the historic hills between Florence and Siena: sour cherry, dried herbs and firm acidity, built for the table. Below: what to try next, grouped by the direction you want to travel.
Refine
What do you like about Chianti Classico?
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.
- 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 herbal, green side
- Grass, blackcurrant leaf, green pepper, mint. It divides people more sharply than almost any other character.
- 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.
Looking for something moving away from too tart or sour-fruited, too earthy or musty, too green or grassy, too drying or too tannic and too savoury or funky.
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.
Montepulciano d’Abruzzo
curatedA far cheaper Italian red for the same food.
- A little less tart or sour-fruited.
- Substantially less earthy or musty.
- Substantially less green or grassy.
- Substantially less drying or too tannic.
- Substantially less savoury or funky.
Merlot
Both are made from merlot, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- A little less tart or sour-fruited.
- Substantially less earthy or musty.
- Substantially less green or grassy.
- Substantially less drying or too tannic.
- Substantially less savoury or funky.
Valpolicella Ripasso
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.
- About as tart or sour-fruited as the wine you started from.
- Substantially less earthy or musty.
- Substantially less green or grassy.
- Substantially less drying or too tannic.
- Substantially less savoury or funky.
Australian Grenache
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.
- About as tart or sour-fruited as the wine you started from.
- Substantially less earthy or musty.
- Substantially less green or grassy.
- Substantially less drying or too tannic.
- Substantially less savoury or funky.
Nero d’Avola
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.
- A little less tart or sour-fruited.
- Substantially less earthy or musty.
- Substantially less green or grassy.
- Substantially less drying or too tannic.
- Substantially less savoury or funky.
Super Tuscan
Both are made from cabernet sauvignon, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both come from the same country.
- A little less tart or sour-fruited.
- Substantially less earthy or musty.
- Substantially less green or grassy.
- About as drying or too tannic as the wine you started from.
- Substantially less savoury or funky.
Egri Bikavér
Both are made from merlot, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure, both sit in the same style family.
- About as tart or sour-fruited as the wine you started from.
- Substantially less earthy or musty.
- Substantially less green or grassy.
- Substantially less drying or too tannic.
- Substantially less savoury or funky.
Corvina
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
- About as tart or sour-fruited as the wine you started from.
- Substantially less earthy or musty.
- Substantially less green or grassy.
- Substantially less drying or too tannic.
- Substantially 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.
Montepulciano d’Abruzzo
curatedA far cheaper Italian red for the same food.
Expect: Much softer and plummier, with far less structure.
Merlot
Both are made from merlot, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be broader and softer, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.
Valpolicella Ripasso
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and lighter.
Australian Grenache
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be more fruit-driven, and lighter.
Different grape, similar feel
Deliberately excludes the variety you already know, to find a genuinely new wine that fills the same role.
Montepulciano d’Abruzzo
curatedA far cheaper Italian red for the same food.
Expect: Much softer and plummier, with far less structure.
Valpolicella Ripasso
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and lighter.
Australian Grenache
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be more fruit-driven, and lighter.
Nero d’Avola
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.
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.
Rondo
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and more fruit-driven.
Trousseau
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and riper and less green.
Canaiolo
Both are made from canaiolo, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and riper and less green.
Dornfelder
Dornfelder scores closest to Chianti Classico across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and riper and less green.
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.
Cerasuolo di Vittoria
Both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and riper and less green.
Lambrusco Grasparossa
Both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and riper and less green.
Gamay
Gamay scores closest to Chianti Classico across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and riper and less green.
Valpolicella
Both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and riper and less green.
Similar but fuller
Keeps the character but adds weight, concentration and mouthfeel.
Super Tuscan
Both are made from cabernet sauvignon, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be more tannic and structured, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.
Bolgheri
Both are made from cabernet sauvignon, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be more tannic and structured, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.
Argentine Malbec
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
Both are made from cabernet sauvignon, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more tannic and structured, and broader and softer.
Similar but less tannic
For readers who find firm reds drying. Reduces tannic grip while holding flavour and weight roughly steady.
Montepulciano d’Abruzzo
curatedA far cheaper Italian red for the same food.
Expect: Much softer and plummier, with far less structure.
Merlot
Both are made from merlot, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be broader and softer, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.
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 riper and less green, and lighter.
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 riper and less green, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.
Similar but more structured
More tannic architecture, for food or for ageing.
Petit Verdot
Petit Verdot scores closest to Chianti Classico across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be more tannic and structured, and riper and less green.
Touriga Nacional
Touriga Nacional scores closest to Chianti Classico across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be more tannic and structured, and riper and less green.
Petite Sirah
Petite Sirah scores closest to Chianti Classico across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be more tannic and structured, and riper and less green.
Toro
Toro scores closest to Chianti Classico across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be more tannic and structured, and broader and softer.
Similar but softer
Lowers acidity and sharpness in favour of a broader, gentler feel.
Merlot
Both are made from merlot, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be broader and softer, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.
Montepulciano d’Abruzzo
curatedA far cheaper Italian red for the same food.
Expect: Much softer and plummier, with far less structure.
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 riper and less green, and lighter.
Australian Grenache
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be more fruit-driven, and lighter.
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 riper and less green, and more fruit-driven.
Lambrusco
Both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and riper and less green.
Lambrusco Grasparossa
Both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and riper and less green.
English sparkling rosé
English sparkling rosé scores closest to Chianti Classico across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and riper and less green.
Similar but sweeter
Adds perceptible sweetness, which also softens acidity and chilli heat.
Valpolicella Ripasso
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and lighter.
Late Bottled Vintage Port
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and broader and softer.
Vin Doux Naturel
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and broader and softer.
Corvina
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.
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.
Trincadeira
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more fruit-driven, and broader and softer.
Rondo
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and more fruit-driven.
Corvinone
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and more fruit-driven.
Castelão
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and riper and less green.
Similar but more oaky
Adds barrel character, toast and a creamier texture.
Super Tuscan
Both are made from cabernet sauvignon, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be more tannic and structured, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.
Bolgheri
Both are made from cabernet sauvignon, 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 cleaner and more fruit-focused.
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
Both are made from cabernet sauvignon, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more tannic and structured, and broader and softer.
California Cabernet Sauvignon
Both are made from cabernet sauvignon.
Expect: Expect it to be broader and softer, and riper and less green.
Similar but more aromatic
More to smell before you taste — floral, fruity or spiced aromatics.
Cabernet Sauvignon
Both are made from cabernet sauvignon, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more tannic and structured, and broader and softer.
Malbec
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and more tannic and structured.
Morgon
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and lighter.
Gamay
Gamay scores closest to Chianti Classico across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and riper and less green.
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.
Merlot
Both are made from merlot, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be broader and softer, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.
Montepulciano d’Abruzzo
curatedA far cheaper Italian red for the same food.
Expect: Much softer and plummier, with far less structure.
Valpolicella Ripasso
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and lighter.
Nero d’Avola
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.
Similar but more floral
Pushes specifically towards rose, violet, blossom and elderflower character.
Australian Grenache
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be more fruit-driven, and lighter.
Argentine Malbec
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.
Malbec
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and more tannic and structured.
Gamay
Gamay scores closest to Chianti Classico across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and riper and less green.
Similar but more savoury
Moves away from primary fruit towards earth, herb, meat and umami character.
Chianti Classico Riserva
Both are made from sangiovese, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and earthier.
Rioja Gran Reserva
Both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and earthier.
Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
Both are made from sangiovese, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and earthier.
Brunello di Montalcino
curatedThe same grape from a warmer, drier hill town, with far longer ageing.
Expect: Denser, more powerful and considerably more expensive.
Similar but fruitier
More obvious, generous fruit flavour, usually from a warmer climate.
Merlot
Both are made from merlot, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be broader and softer, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.
Montepulciano d’Abruzzo
curatedA far cheaper Italian red for the same food.
Expect: Much softer and plummier, with far less structure.
Barbera d’Alba
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and fruitier.
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 riper and less green, and lighter.
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.
Merlot
Both are made from merlot, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be broader and softer, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.
Egri Bikavér
Both are made from merlot, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure, both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and riper and less green.
Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon
Both are made from cabernet sauvignon, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more tannic and structured, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.
Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon
Both are made from cabernet sauvignon, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more tannic and structured, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.
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.
Chianti
Both are made from sangiovese, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure, both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and fresher.
Egri Bikavér
Both are made from merlot, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure, both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and riper and less green.
Rosso di Montalcino
Both are made from sangiovese, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure, both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be more tannic and structured, and lighter.
Merlot
Both are made from merlot, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be broader and softer, and lighter.
Same grape, warmer climate
Typically riper, fuller and more generous in fruit, with higher alcohol.
Super Tuscan
Both are made from cabernet sauvignon, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be more tannic and structured, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.
Bolgheri
Both are made from cabernet sauvignon, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be more tannic and structured, and fruitier.
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
Both are made from cabernet sauvignon, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more tannic and structured, and broader and softer.
Washington Cabernet Sauvignon
Both are made from cabernet sauvignon, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and more tannic and structured.
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.
Merlot
Both are made from merlot, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be broader and softer, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.
Montepulciano d’Abruzzo
curatedA far cheaper Italian red for the same food.
Expect: Much softer and plummier, with far less structure.
Super Tuscan
Both are made from cabernet sauvignon, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be more tannic and structured, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.
Grenache
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be broader and softer, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.
Something more adventurous
Less familiar wines that occupy similar territory — the interesting end of the shelf.
Valpolicella Ripasso
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and lighter.
Australian Grenache
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be more fruit-driven, and lighter.
Nero d’Avola
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.
Egri Bikavér
Both are made from merlot, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure, both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, 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.
Valpolicella Ripasso
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and lighter.
Australian Grenache
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be more fruit-driven, and lighter.
Nero d’Avola
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.
Egri Bikavér
Both are made from merlot, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure, both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and riper and less green.
A step up
The benchmark expressions of the same territory, usually with more concentration, structure and ageing potential.
Amarone della Valpolicella
Both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and more tannic and structured.
Ribera del Duero
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and more tannic and structured.
Priorat
Both are made from cabernet sauvignon.
Expect: Expect it to be more tannic and structured, and riper and less green.
Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Châteauneuf-du-Pape scores closest to Chianti Classico across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be earthier, and more tannic and structured.
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.