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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.

I like…

The bright red fruit How fresh and crisp it is The savoury, meaty side

But it’s a bit…

too tart or sour-fruited too sharp or acidic too light or thin too green or grassy too earthy or musty too savoury or funky

Clear all

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 moving away from too green or grassy, too earthy or musty, too savoury or funky, too tart or sour-fruited and too light or thin.

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.

Sonoma Cabernet Sauvignon

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

Substantially less green or grassy.
Substantially less earthy or musty.
Substantially less savoury or funky.
A little less tart or sour-fruited.
Substantially less light or thin.

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

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

Substantially less green or grassy.
Substantially less earthy or musty.
Substantially less savoury or funky.
A little less tart or sour-fruited.
Substantially less light or thin.

Washington Cabernet Sauvignon

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

Substantially less green or grassy.
Substantially less earthy or musty.
Substantially less savoury or funky.
A little less tart or sour-fruited.
Substantially less light or thin.

McLaren Vale Shiraz

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Substantially less green or grassy.
Substantially less earthy or musty.
Substantially less savoury or funky.
A little less tart or sour-fruited.
Substantially less light or thin.

Super Tuscan

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

About as green or grassy as the wine you started from.
Substantially less earthy or musty.
Substantially less savoury or funky.
A little less tart or sour-fruited.
Substantially less light or thin.

Shiraz

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Substantially less green or grassy.
Substantially less earthy or musty.
Substantially less savoury or funky.
A little less tart or sour-fruited.
Substantially less light or thin.

Nero d’Avola

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

Substantially less green or grassy.
Substantially less earthy or musty.
Substantially less savoury or funky.
A little less tart or sour-fruited.
A little less light or thin.

Valpolicella Ripasso

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

Substantially less green or grassy.
Substantially less earthy or musty.
Substantially less savoury or funky.
A little less tart or sour-fruited.
A little less light or thin.

Closest overall

Nearest neighbours, no change of direction.

Closest matches

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

Sonoma Cabernet Sauvignon

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

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

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

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

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

McLaren Vale Shiraz

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Different grape, similar feel

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

McLaren Vale Shiraz

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Shiraz

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and broader and softer.

Nero d’Avola

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

Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and lighter.

Valpolicella Ripasso

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

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and fruitier.

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.

Portugieser

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

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

Cinsault

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

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

Molinara

Both come from the same country.

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

Grolleau

Grolleau scores closest to Chianti across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

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

Similar but lower in alcohol

Holds the character and the weight where it can, and moves specifically on strength. Note that below about 11% the choices narrow sharply, and below 5% they are mostly a different category rather than a lighter version of the same one.

Cerasuolo di Vittoria

Both come from the same country.

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

Gamay

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

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

Lambrusco Grasparossa

Both come from the same country.

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

Pinot Meunier

Pinot Meunier scores closest to Chianti across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

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

Similar but fuller

Keeps the character but adds weight, concentration and mouthfeel.

Sonoma Cabernet Sauvignon

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

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

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

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

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

McLaren Vale Shiraz

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

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 lighter.

Barbera d’Asti

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

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and fruitier.

Barbera

Both sit in the same style family.

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and fruitier.

Muscat Bailey A

Muscat Bailey A scores closest to Chianti across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and fruitier.

Similar but more structured

More tannic architecture, for food or for ageing.

Sonoma Cabernet Sauvignon

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

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

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

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

Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and broader and softer.

Petit Verdot

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Similar but softer

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

Sonoma Cabernet Sauvignon

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

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

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

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

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

McLaren Vale Shiraz

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

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 lighter.

Lambrusco

Both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and fruitier.

Lambrusco Grasparossa

Both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and fruitier.

Sonoma Cabernet Sauvignon

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

Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and stiller.

Similar but sweeter

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

Port

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and broader and softer.

Late Bottled Vintage Port

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and broader and softer.

Vintage Port

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and broader and softer.

Vin Doux Naturel

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and broader and softer.

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

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

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and fruitier.

Bobal

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and fruitier.

Nero di Troia

Both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and fruitier.

Corvinone

Both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and fruitier.

Similar but more oaky

Adds barrel character, toast and a creamier texture.

Sonoma Cabernet Sauvignon

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

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

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

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

Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and broader and softer.

Super Tuscan

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 fruitier, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.

Shiraz

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and broader and softer.

Similar but more aromatic

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

Malbec

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and lighter.

Cabernet Sauvignon

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

Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and lighter.

Nebbiolo

Both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be earthier, and lighter.

Barbaresco

Both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be earthier, and lighter.

Similar but more restrained

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

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.

Sonoma Cabernet Sauvignon

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

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

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

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

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

McLaren Vale Shiraz

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Similar but more floral

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

Malbec

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and lighter.

Petit Verdot

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and broader and softer.

Argentine Malbec

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Touriga Nacional

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Similar but more savoury

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

Taurasi

Both come from the same country.

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

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.

Barolo

Both come from the same country.

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.

Similar but fruitier

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

Sonoma Cabernet Sauvignon

Both are made from cabernet sauvignon.

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

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Both are made from cabernet sauvignon.

Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and broader and softer.

Washington Cabernet Sauvignon

Both are made from cabernet sauvignon.

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

McLaren Vale Shiraz

McLaren Vale Shiraz scores closest to Chianti across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

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

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.

Sonoma Cabernet Sauvignon

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

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

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

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

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

Merlot

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

Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and lighter.

Same grape, cooler climate

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

Vino Nobile di Montepulciano

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 more savoury.

Sonoma Cabernet Sauvignon

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

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

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

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

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

Same grape, warmer climate

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

Sonoma Cabernet Sauvignon

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

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

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

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

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

Super Tuscan

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 fruitier, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.

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.

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

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

Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and broader and softer.

Super Tuscan

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 fruitier, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.

Shiraz

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and broader and softer.

Merlot

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

Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and lighter.

Something more adventurous

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

Sonoma Cabernet Sauvignon

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

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

Washington Cabernet Sauvignon

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

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

McLaren Vale Shiraz

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Nero d’Avola

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

Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and lighter.

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.

Sonoma Cabernet Sauvignon

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

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

Washington Cabernet Sauvignon

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

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

McLaren Vale Shiraz

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Nero d’Avola

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

Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and lighter.

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 fruitier, and more savoury.

Brunello di Montalcino

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

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

Ribera del Duero

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Chianti Classico

curated

The historic heartland zone, with stricter rules and higher altitude.

Expect: More structure, more concentration and a higher price.

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.