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Wines like Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon
Cassis, mint and eucalyptus from a narrow strip of red terra rossa soil — Australia’s most distinctive Cabernet. Below: what to try next, grouped by the direction you want to travel.
Refine
What do you like about Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon?
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.
- 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.
- 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 vanilla and oak
- Vanilla, toast, coconut, sweet spice, sometimes smoke. It comes from the barrel rather than the grape, which is why the same grape can taste completely different with and without it.
- The herbal, green side
- Grass, blackcurrant leaf, green pepper, mint. It divides people more sharply than almost any other character.
- That it is properly dry
- No perceptible sugar at all. Almost all red wine is dry and a good deal of white wine is not, which is why this is a more useful thing to say about a white than about a red.
Looking for something moving away from too austere, too heavy and too tart or sour-fruited.
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.
Touriga Franca
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Substantially less austere.
- About as heavy as the wine you started from.
- A little less tart or sour-fruited.
Tinta Barroca
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
- Substantially less austere.
- About as heavy as the wine you started from.
- A little less tart or sour-fruited.
Sagrantino
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Substantially less austere.
- More heavy, not less.
- A little less tart or sour-fruited.
Touriga Nacional
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Substantially less austere.
- More heavy, not less.
- A little less tart or sour-fruited.
Rondinella
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
- Substantially less austere.
- Substantially less heavy.
- A little less tart or sour-fruited.
Pinotage
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.
- Substantially less austere.
- About as heavy as the wine you started from.
- A little less tart or sour-fruited.
Tinto Cão
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
- Substantially less austere.
- A little less heavy.
- About as tart or sour-fruited as the wine you started from.
California Cabernet Sauvignon
Both are made from cabernet sauvignon, and both sit in the same style family.
- Substantially less austere.
- About as heavy as the wine you started from.
- 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.
Touriga Franca
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and stronger and warmer.
Tinta Barroca
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and stronger and warmer.
Sagrantino
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be stronger and warmer, and fruitier.
Touriga Nacional
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and stronger and warmer.
Different grape, similar feel
Deliberately excludes the variety you already know, to find a genuinely new wine that fills the same role.
Touriga Franca
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and stronger and warmer.
Tinta Barroca
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and stronger and warmer.
Sagrantino
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be stronger and warmer, and fruitier.
Touriga Nacional
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and stronger and warmer.
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.
Rondinella
Rondinella scores closest to Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and drier.
Lambrusco Grasparossa
Lambrusco Grasparossa scores closest to Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and fresher.
Rondo
Rondo scores closest to Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and drier.
Dornfelder
Dornfelder scores closest to Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and drier.
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.
Lambrusco Grasparossa
Lambrusco Grasparossa scores closest to Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and fresher.
Grolleau
Grolleau scores closest to Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and drier.
Rondo
Rondo scores closest to Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and drier.
Dornfelder
Dornfelder scores closest to Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and drier.
Similar but fuller
Keeps the character but adds weight, concentration and mouthfeel.
Amarone della Valpolicella
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and drier.
Touriga Nacional
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and stronger and warmer.
Primitivo di Manduria
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and drier.
Priorat
Both are made from cabernet sauvignon, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure, both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and stronger and warmer.
Similar but less tannic
For readers who find firm reds drying. Reduces tannic grip while holding flavour and weight roughly steady.
Tinta Barroca
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and stronger and warmer.
California Cabernet Sauvignon
Both are made from cabernet sauvignon, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and drier.
Tinta Negra
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and stronger and warmer.
Argentine Malbec
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and fruitier.
Similar but more structured
More tannic architecture, for food or for ageing.
Sagrantino
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be stronger and warmer, and fruitier.
Touriga Nacional
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and stronger and warmer.
Montefalco Sagrantino
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and stronger and warmer.
Madiran
Both are made from cabernet sauvignon, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure, both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and stronger and warmer.
Similar but fresher
Raises acidity and overall lift, usually by moving to a cooler-climate expression.
Saperavi
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher, and drier.
Chianti Classico
Both are made from cabernet sauvignon.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher, and drier.
Chianti Classico Riserva
Both are made from cabernet sauvignon.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and fresher.
Bairrada Baga
Both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher, and drier.
Similar but softer
Lowers acidity and sharpness in favour of a broader, gentler feel.
Tinta Barroca
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and stronger and warmer.
Primitivo di Manduria
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and drier.
California Cabernet Sauvignon
Both are made from cabernet sauvignon, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and drier.
McLaren Vale Shiraz
Both are made from shiraz, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and fruitier.
The sparkling version
Moves to a sparkling expression while holding the flavour and weight as close as possible.
Sparkling Shiraz
Both are made from shiraz, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure, both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and lighter.
Lambrusco Grasparossa
Lambrusco Grasparossa scores closest to Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and fresher.
Lambrusco
Lambrusco scores closest to Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and fresher.
Touriga Franca
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and stiller.
Similar but sweeter
Adds perceptible sweetness, which also softens acidity and chilli heat.
Sparkling Shiraz
Both are made from shiraz, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and lighter.
Touriga Franca
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and stronger and warmer.
Tinta Barroca
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and stronger and warmer.
Sagrantino
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be stronger and warmer, and fruitier.
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.
Tinta Barroca
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and stronger and warmer.
Rondinella
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and drier.
Tinto Cão
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and fresher.
Tinta Negra
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and stronger and warmer.
Similar but more oaky
Adds barrel character, toast and a creamier texture.
Pinotage
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and lighter.
California Cabernet Sauvignon
Both are made from cabernet sauvignon, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and drier.
Super Tuscan
Both are made from cabernet sauvignon, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure, both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and stronger and warmer.
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
Both are made from cabernet sauvignon, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and fruitier.
Similar but more aromatic
More to smell before you taste — floral, fruity or spiced aromatics.
Barbaresco
Both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and lighter.
Malbec
Malbec scores closest to Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and lighter.
Barolo
Both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and lighter.
Syrah
Syrah scores closest to Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, 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.
Sémillon
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and less tannic and softer.
Tinta Barroca
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and stronger and warmer.
Sagrantino
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be stronger and warmer, and fruitier.
Rondinella
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and drier.
Similar but more floral
Pushes specifically towards rose, violet, blossom and elderflower character.
Touriga Franca
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and stronger and warmer.
Touriga Nacional
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and stronger and warmer.
Malbec
Malbec scores closest to Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and lighter.
Cabernet Franc
Cabernet Franc scores closest to Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and drier.
Similar but more savoury
Moves away from primary fruit towards earth, herb, meat and umami character.
Sagrantino
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be stronger and warmer, and fruitier.
Rioja Gran Reserva
Rioja Gran Reserva scores closest to Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and lighter.
Montefalco Sagrantino
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and stronger and warmer.
Mourvèdre
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and lighter.
Similar but fruitier
More obvious, generous fruit flavour, usually from a warmer climate.
California Cabernet Sauvignon
Both are made from cabernet sauvignon, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and drier.
Touriga Nacional
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and stronger and warmer.
Zinfandel
Both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and drier.
Primitivo
Both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and drier.
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.
California Cabernet Sauvignon
Both are made from cabernet sauvignon, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and drier.
Super Tuscan
Both are made from cabernet sauvignon, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure, both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and stronger and warmer.
Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon
Both are made from cabernet sauvignon, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure, both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and lighter.
Madiran
Both are made from cabernet sauvignon, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure, both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and stronger and warmer.
Same grape, cooler climate
Typically fresher, lighter and more herbal, with lower alcohol.
Chianti Classico Riserva
Both are made from cabernet sauvignon.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and lighter.
Chianti
Both are made from cabernet sauvignon.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and drier.
Chianti Classico
Both are made from cabernet sauvignon.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and fresher.
Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon
Both are made from cabernet sauvignon, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure, both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and lighter.
Same grape, warmer climate
Typically riper, fuller and more generous in fruit, with higher alcohol.
McLaren Vale Shiraz
Both are made from shiraz, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and fruitier.
Barossa Shiraz
Both are made from shiraz, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and fruitier.
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
Both are made from cabernet sauvignon, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and fruitier.
Sonoma Cabernet Sauvignon
Both are made from cabernet sauvignon, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and fruitier.
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.
California Cabernet Sauvignon
Both are made from cabernet sauvignon, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and drier.
Super Tuscan
Both are made from cabernet sauvignon, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure, both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and stronger and warmer.
Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon
Both are made from cabernet sauvignon, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure, both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and lighter.
Amarone della Valpolicella
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and drier.
Something more adventurous
Less familiar wines that occupy similar territory — the interesting end of the shelf.
Touriga Franca
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and stronger and warmer.
Tinta Barroca
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and stronger and warmer.
Sagrantino
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be stronger and warmer, and fruitier.
Touriga Nacional
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and stronger and warmer.
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.
Touriga Franca
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and stronger and warmer.
Tinta Barroca
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and stronger and warmer.
Sagrantino
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be stronger and warmer, and fruitier.
Touriga Nacional
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and stronger and warmer.
A step up
The benchmark expressions of the same territory, usually with more concentration, structure and ageing potential.
Amarone della Valpolicella
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and drier.
Ribera del Duero
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and stronger and warmer.
Priorat
Both are made from cabernet sauvignon, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure, both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and stronger and warmer.
Super Tuscan
Both are made from cabernet sauvignon, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure, both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and stronger and warmer.
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.