If you like this, try…
Wines like Chianti
The broad Tuscan Sangiovese appellation surrounding Chianti Classico — lighter, cheaper and much more variable. Below: what to try next, grouped by the direction you want to travel.
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What do you like about Chianti?
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.
- 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 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 keeping the fresh, crisp acidity, while moving away from too earthy or musty and too tart or sour-fruited.
- You said you like the fresh, crisp acidity and that it is too tart or sour-fruited. Both are about perceived freshness, 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.
Chianti Classico
curatedThe historic heartland zone, with stricter rules and higher altitude.
- Keeps the fresh, crisp acidity.
- About as earthy or musty as the wine you started from.
- About as tart or sour-fruited as the wine you started from.
Vino Nobile di Montepulciano
Both are made from sangiovese, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both sit in the same style family.
- Keeps the fresh, crisp acidity.
- About as earthy or musty as the wine you started from.
- A little less tart or sour-fruited.
Rosso di Montalcino
Both are made from sangiovese, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure, both sit in the same style family.
- Keeps the fresh, crisp acidity.
- Substantially less earthy or musty.
- About as tart or sour-fruited as the wine you started from.
Refosco
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
- Keeps the fresh, crisp acidity.
- Substantially less earthy or musty.
- A little less tart or sour-fruited.
Sangiovese
Both are made from sangiovese, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both come from the same country.
- Keeps the fresh, crisp acidity.
- About as earthy or musty as the wine you started from.
- A little less tart or sour-fruited.
Barbera d’Alba
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.
- Keeps the fresh, crisp acidity.
- Substantially less earthy or musty.
- About as tart or sour-fruited as the wine you started from.
Barbera d’Asti
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.
- Keeps the fresh, crisp acidity.
- Substantially less earthy or musty.
- About as tart or sour-fruited as the wine you started from.
Valpolicella Ripasso
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.
- Has some of the fresh, crisp acidity, though less of it.
- Substantially less earthy or musty.
- A little less tart or sour-fruited.
Closest overall
Nearest neighbours, no change of direction.
Closest matches
The nearest overall neighbours across structure and flavour, with no deliberate change of direction.
Chianti Classico
curatedThe historic heartland zone, with stricter rules and higher altitude.
Expect: More structure, more concentration and a higher price.
Vino Nobile di Montepulciano
Both are made from sangiovese, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be earthier, and fruitier.
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 fruitier, and fresher.
Refosco
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.
Different grape, similar feel
Deliberately excludes the variety you already know, to find a genuinely new wine that fills the same role.
Refosco
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.
Barbera d’Alba
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.
Barbera d’Asti
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and fresher.
Valpolicella Ripasso
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and softer and rounder.
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.
Molinara
Both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and fresher.
Tibouren
Tibouren scores closest to Chianti across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and softer and rounder.
Grolleau
Grolleau scores closest to Chianti across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and softer and rounder.
Valpolicella
Both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and fruitier.
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.
Molinara
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and fresher.
Mondeuse Noire
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and fresher.
Valpolicella
Both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and fruitier.
Grolleau
Grolleau scores closest to Chianti across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and softer and rounder.
Similar but fuller
Keeps the character but adds weight, concentration and mouthfeel.
Barbera d’Alba
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, 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 fruitier, and softer and rounder.
Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon
Both are made from cabernet sauvignon, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and softer and rounder.
Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon
Both are made from cabernet sauvignon, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and softer and rounder.
Similar but less tannic
For readers who find firm reds drying. Reduces tannic grip while holding flavour and weight roughly steady.
Barbera d’Alba
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.
Barbera d’Asti
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and fresher.
Barbera
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and fresher.
Molinara
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and fresher.
Similar but more structured
More tannic architecture, for food or for ageing.
Vino Nobile di Montepulciano
Both are made from sangiovese, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be earthier, and fruitier.
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 fruitier, and fresher.
Refosco
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.
Sangiovese
Both are made from sangiovese, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be earthier, and fruitier.
Similar but softer
Lowers acidity and sharpness in favour of a broader, gentler feel.
Valpolicella Ripasso
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and fruitier.
Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon
Both are made from cabernet sauvignon, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and fruitier.
Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon
Both are made from cabernet sauvignon, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and fruitier.
Hawke’s Bay Bordeaux blend
Both are made from merlot, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and fruitier.
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 Chianti across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and softer and rounder.
Lambrusco
Both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and fresher.
Lambrusco Grasparossa
Both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and fresher.
Champagne
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.
Similar but sweeter
Adds perceptible sweetness, which also softens acidity and chilli heat.
Tinto Cão
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, 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 fruitier, and softer and rounder.
Corvina
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and softer and rounder.
Touriga Franca
Touriga Franca scores closest to Chianti across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and softer and rounder.
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.
Refosco
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.
Bobal
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and softer and rounder.
Tinto Cão
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.
Graciano
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and fresher.
Similar but more oaky
Adds barrel character, toast and a creamier texture.
Super Tuscan
Both are made from cabernet sauvignon, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and softer and rounder.
Barbera d’Alba
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.
Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon
Both are made from cabernet sauvignon, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and softer and rounder.
Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon
Both are made from cabernet sauvignon, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and softer and rounder.
Similar but more aromatic
More to smell before you taste — floral, fruity or spiced aromatics.
Barbaresco
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be earthier, and fruitier.
Nebbiolo
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be earthier, and fruitier.
Barolo
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be earthier, and fruitier.
Cabernet Franc
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and earthier.
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.
Vino Nobile di Montepulciano
Both are made from sangiovese, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be earthier, and fruitier.
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 fruitier, and fresher.
Refosco
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.
Sangiovese
Both are made from sangiovese, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be earthier, and fruitier.
Similar but more floral
Pushes specifically towards rose, violet, blossom and elderflower character.
Australian Grenache
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and softer and rounder.
Cabernet Franc
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and earthier.
Barbaresco
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be earthier, and fruitier.
Hawke’s Bay Syrah
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and softer and rounder.
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 the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be earthier, and fruitier.
Taurasi
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be earthier, and fruitier.
Barolo
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be earthier, and fruitier.
Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
Both are made from sangiovese, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure, both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be earthier, and fruitier.
Similar but fruitier
More obvious, generous fruit flavour, usually from a warmer climate.
Refosco
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.
Barbera d’Alba
Both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.
Barbera d’Asti
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and fresher.
Valpolicella Ripasso
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and softer and rounder.
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.
Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon
Both are made from cabernet sauvignon, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and softer and rounder.
Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon
Both are made from cabernet sauvignon, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and softer and rounder.
Hawke’s Bay Bordeaux blend
Both are made from merlot, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and softer and rounder.
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 fruitier, and softer and rounder.
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.
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 fruitier, and fresher.
Vino Nobile di Montepulciano
Both are made from sangiovese, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be earthier, and fruitier.
Chianti Classico
curatedThe historic heartland zone, with stricter rules and higher altitude.
Expect: More structure, more concentration and a higher price.
Sangiovese
Both are made from sangiovese, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be earthier, and fruitier.
Same grape, warmer climate
Typically riper, fuller and more generous in fruit, with higher alcohol.
Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon
Both are made from cabernet sauvignon, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and softer and rounder.
Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon
Both are made from cabernet sauvignon, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and softer and rounder.
Hawke’s Bay Bordeaux blend
Both are made from merlot, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and softer and rounder.
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 fruitier, and fresher.
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.
Sangiovese
Both are made from sangiovese, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be earthier, and fruitier.
Chianti Classico
curatedThe historic heartland zone, with stricter rules and higher altitude.
Expect: More structure, more concentration and a higher price.
Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon
Both are made from cabernet sauvignon, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and softer and rounder.
Cabernet Sauvignon
Both are made from cabernet sauvignon, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and softer and rounder.
Something more adventurous
Less familiar wines that occupy similar territory — the interesting end of the shelf.
Vino Nobile di Montepulciano
Both are made from sangiovese, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be earthier, and fruitier.
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 fruitier, and fresher.
Refosco
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.
Barbera d’Alba
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.
A better-value alternative
Wines that occupy similar sensory territory from regions carrying less price premium. WineHQ does not hold live prices, so this reasons from regional reputation and demand rather than from a price feed — treat it as a lead, not a quote.
Vino Nobile di Montepulciano
Both are made from sangiovese, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be earthier, and fruitier.
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 fruitier, and fresher.
Refosco
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.
Barbera d’Alba
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.
A step up
The benchmark expressions of the same territory, usually with more concentration, structure and ageing potential.
Chianti Classico
curatedThe historic heartland zone, with stricter rules and higher altitude.
Expect: More structure, more concentration and a higher price.
Sangiovese
Both are made from sangiovese, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be earthier, and fruitier.
Barolo
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be earthier, and fruitier.
Brunello di Montalcino
Both are made from sangiovese, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure, both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be earthier, and fruitier.
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.