If you like this, try…
Wines like Montsant
The DO encircling Priorat, producing similar old-vine Garnacha and Cariñena at far lower prices. Below: what to try next, grouped by the direction you want to travel.
Refine
What do you like about Montsant?
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 rich dark fruit
- Blackberry, plum, black cherry — fruit that tastes ripe and generous rather than tart. It comes from warm-climate ripening and it is what most people mean when they call a red "fruity".
- 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.
- That it is not oaky
- No barrel character — just the fruit and the acidity. Chablis and Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc are the reference points.
- 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 drying or too tannic, too green or grassy and too jammy or sweet-tasting.
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.
Rioja Gran Reserva
Both are made from grenache, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both sit in the same style family.
- Substantially less drying or too tannic.
- Substantially less green or grassy.
- Substantially less jammy or sweet-tasting.
Areni
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Substantially less drying or too tannic.
- Substantially less green or grassy.
- Substantially less jammy or sweet-tasting.
Pinot Noir
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Substantially less drying or too tannic.
- Substantially less green or grassy.
- Substantially less jammy or sweet-tasting.
Red Burgundy
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Substantially less drying or too tannic.
- Substantially less green or grassy.
- Substantially less jammy or sweet-tasting.
Rioja
Both are made from grenache, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure, both sit in the same style family.
- About as drying or too tannic as the wine you started from.
- Substantially less green or grassy.
- Substantially less jammy or sweet-tasting.
Rioja Reserva
Both are made from grenache, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure, both sit in the same style family.
- About as drying or too tannic as the wine you started from.
- Substantially less green or grassy.
- Substantially less jammy or sweet-tasting.
Rioja Crianza
Both are made from grenache, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure, both sit in the same style family.
- Substantially less drying or too tannic.
- Substantially less green or grassy.
- About as jammy or sweet-tasting as the wine you started from.
Chianti
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.
- Substantially less drying or too tannic.
- About as green or grassy as the wine you started from.
- Substantially less jammy or sweet-tasting.
Closest overall
Nearest neighbours, no change of direction.
Closest matches
The nearest overall neighbours across structure and flavour, with no deliberate change of direction.
Rioja Gran Reserva
Both are made from grenache, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and more savoury.
Areni
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and spicier.
Pinot Noir
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and earthier.
Red Burgundy
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and earthier.
Different grape, similar feel
Deliberately excludes the variety you already know, to find a genuinely new wine that fills the same role.
Areni
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and spicier.
Pinot Noir
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and earthier.
Red Burgundy
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and earthier.
Chianti
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be more herbal and green, and fresher.
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.
Pinot Noir
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and earthier.
Red Burgundy
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and earthier.
País
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be less tannic and softer, and riper and less green.
English still Pinot Noir
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be less tannic and softer, 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.
Pinot Noir
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and earthier.
Red Burgundy
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and earthier.
English still Pinot Noir
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be less tannic and softer, and riper and less green.
País
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be less tannic and softer, and riper and less green.
Similar but fuller
Keeps the character but adds weight, concentration and mouthfeel.
Argentine Malbec
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and riper and less green.
Ribera del Duero
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be more tannic and structured, and fruitier.
Priorat
Both are made from grenache, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be more tannic and structured, and fruitier.
Uruguayan Tannat
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more tannic and structured, and fruitier.
Similar but less tannic
For readers who find firm reds drying. Reduces tannic grip while holding flavour and weight roughly steady.
Rioja Gran Reserva
Both are made from grenache, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and more savoury.
Rioja Crianza
Both are made from grenache, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and riper and less green.
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 fruitier, and riper and less green.
Montepulciano d’Abruzzo
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and riper and less green.
Similar but more structured
More tannic architecture, for food or for ageing.
Naoussa Xinomavro
Both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be more tannic and structured, and riper and less green.
Baga
Baga scores closest to Montsant across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be more tannic and structured, and riper and less green.
Bairrada Baga
Bairrada Baga scores closest to Montsant across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be more tannic and structured, and riper and less green.
Aglianico
Aglianico scores closest to Montsant across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be more tannic and structured, and riper and less green.
Similar but fresher
Raises acidity and overall lift, usually by moving to a cooler-climate expression.
Areni
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and spicier.
Red Burgundy
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and earthier.
Chianti
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be more herbal and green, and earthier.
Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.
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.
Montepulciano d’Abruzzo
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and riper and less green.
Tempranillo
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be more tannic and structured, and riper and less green.
Alentejo red
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and riper and less green.
Nemea Agiorgitiko
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.
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 Montsant across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and more fruit-driven.
Lambrusco
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more fruit-driven, and fruitier.
Lambrusco Grasparossa
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more fruit-driven, and fruitier.
Corpinnat
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be less tannic and softer, and riper and less green.
Similar but sweeter
Adds perceptible sweetness, which also softens acidity and chilli heat.
Tinta Negra
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and less tannic and softer.
Tawny Port
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and less tannic and softer.
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 riper and less green.
Rondinella
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more fruit-driven, and riper and less green.
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.
País
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be less tannic and softer, and riper and less green.
Poulsard
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be less tannic and softer, and riper and less green.
Rondinella
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more fruit-driven, and riper and less green.
Tinta Negra
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and less tannic and softer.
Similar but more oaky
Adds barrel character, toast and a creamier texture.
Rioja Gran Reserva
Both are made from grenache, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and more savoury.
Rioja
Both are made from grenache, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be more tannic and structured, and riper and less green.
Rioja Reserva
Both are made from grenache, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be more tannic and structured, and riper and less green.
Tempranillo
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be more tannic and structured, and riper and less green.
Similar but more aromatic
More to smell before you taste — floral, fruity or spiced aromatics.
Pinot Noir
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and earthier.
Syrah
Both are made from syrah, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more tannic and structured, and fruitier.
Morgon
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and riper and less green.
Gamay
Gamay scores closest to Montsant across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be more fruit-driven, and fruitier.
Similar but more restrained
For readers who find intensely aromatic wines tiring over a whole glass. Keeps the structure, turns the volume down.
Palomino Fino
Both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be less tannic and softer, and riper and less green.
Rioja Gran Reserva
Both are made from grenache, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and more savoury.
Areni
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and more aromatic.
Rioja
Both are made from grenache, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure, both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be more tannic and structured, and riper and less green.
Similar but more floral
Pushes specifically towards rose, violet, blossom and elderflower character.
Pinot Noir
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and earthier.
Red Burgundy
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and earthier.
Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and riper and less green.
English still Pinot Noir
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be less tannic and softer, and riper and less green.
Similar but more savoury
Moves away from primary fruit towards earth, herb, meat and umami character.
Rioja Gran Reserva
Both are made from grenache, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and riper and less green.
Areni
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and spicier.
Pinot Noir
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and earthier.
Red Burgundy
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and earthier.
Similar but fruitier
More obvious, generous fruit flavour, usually from a warmer climate.
Zinfandel
Both are made from carignan.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and more fruit-driven.
California Pinot Noir
Both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and riper and less green.
California Cabernet Sauvignon
California Cabernet Sauvignon scores closest to Montsant across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and more fruit-driven.
Primitivo
Primitivo scores closest to Montsant across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and more fruit-driven.
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.
Carignan
Both are made from carignan, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more tannic and structured, and riper and less green.
Hawke’s Bay Syrah
Both are made from syrah, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure, both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be more tannic and structured, and fruitier.
Grenache
Both are made from grenache, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and more herbal and green.
Bekaa Valley Red
Both are made from syrah, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more tannic and structured, and fruitier.
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.
Rioja Gran Reserva
Both are made from grenache, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and more savoury.
Rioja
Both are made from grenache, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure, both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be more tannic and structured, and riper and less green.
Rioja Reserva
Both are made from grenache, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure, both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be more tannic and structured, and riper and less green.
Rioja Crianza
Both are made from grenache, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure, both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and riper and less green.
Same grape, warmer climate
Typically riper, fuller and more generous in fruit, with higher alcohol.
McLaren Vale Shiraz
Both are made from grenache.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and more tannic and structured.
Barossa Shiraz
Both are made from grenache.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and more tannic and structured.
Shiraz
Shiraz scores closest to Montsant across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and more tannic and structured.
Washington Cabernet Sauvignon
Both are made from syrah.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, 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.
Rioja Gran Reserva
Both are made from grenache, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and more savoury.
Pinot Noir
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and earthier.
Red Burgundy
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and earthier.
Rioja
Both are made from grenache, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure, both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be more tannic and structured, and riper and less green.
Something more adventurous
Less familiar wines that occupy similar territory — the interesting end of the shelf.
Areni
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and spicier.
País
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be less tannic and softer, and riper and less green.
Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and riper and less green.
Carignan
Both are made from carignan, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more tannic and structured, 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.
Areni
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be riper and less green, and spicier.
País
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be less tannic and softer, and riper and less green.
Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and riper and less green.
Carignan
Both are made from carignan, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more tannic and structured, and riper and less green.
A step up
The benchmark expressions of the same territory, usually with more concentration, structure and ageing potential.
Ribera del Duero
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be more tannic and structured, and fruitier.
Priorat
Both are made from grenache, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be more tannic and structured, and fruitier.
Amarone della Valpolicella
Amarone della Valpolicella scores closest to Montsant across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and more tannic and structured.
Argentine Malbec
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and riper and less green.
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.