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Wines like Hawke’s Bay Syrah

Peppery, floral, medium-bodied Syrah made deliberately in the northern Rhône idiom — one of New Zealand’s best-kept secrets. Below: what to try next, grouped by the direction you want to travel.

← Back to Hawke’s Bay Syrah

Refine

What do you like about Hawke’s Bay Syrah?

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 firm, grippy structure The floral character The spice The savoury, meaty side

But it’s a bit…

too drying or too tannic too oaky or woody too floral or soapy too peppery too savoury or funky too austere

Clear all

What these words mean

The firm, grippy structure: High tannin — the drying grip on your gums, like over-brewed tea. It gives a red something to hold on to with rich food, and it is what lets a wine age.
The 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 floral character: Rose, violet, elderflower, orange blossom.
The spice: Black pepper, clove, cinnamon. Some of it is the grape — the pepper in Syrah is a measured compound called rotundone — and some is the barrel.
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.
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 keeping the firm tannic structure and the peppery, spicy character, while moving away from too floral or soapy, too savoury or funky and too austere.

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.

Primitivo di Manduria

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Keeps the firm tannic structure.
Has some of the peppery, spicy character, though less of it.
Substantially less floral or soapy.
Substantially less savoury or funky.
Substantially less austere.

Zinfandel

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Has some of the firm tannic structure, though less of it.
Has some of the peppery, spicy character, though less of it.
Substantially less floral or soapy.
Substantially less savoury or funky.
Substantially less austere.

Northern Rhône Syrah

curated

The model this style follows closely.

Keeps the firm tannic structure.
Keeps the peppery, spicy character.
Substantially less floral or soapy.
More savoury or funky, not less.
About as austere as the wine you started from.

Amarone della Valpolicella

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Keeps the firm tannic structure.
Has some of the peppery, spicy character, though less of it.
Substantially less floral or soapy.
About as savoury or funky as the wine you started from.
Substantially less austere.

Pinotage

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Keeps the firm tannic structure.
Has noticeably less of the peppery, spicy character.
Substantially less floral or soapy.
A little less savoury or funky.
Substantially less austere.

Washington Cabernet Sauvignon

Both are made from syrah.

Keeps the firm tannic structure.
Has noticeably less of the peppery, spicy character.
Substantially less floral or soapy.
Substantially less savoury or funky.
About as austere as the wine you started from.

Valpolicella Ripasso

Both sit in the same style family.

Has some of the firm tannic structure, though less of it.
Has noticeably less of the peppery, spicy character.
Substantially less floral or soapy.
A little less savoury or funky.
Substantially less austere.

Syrah

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

Keeps the firm tannic structure.
Has some of the peppery, spicy character, though less of it.
Substantially less floral or soapy.
About as savoury or funky as the wine you started from.
About as austere as the wine you started from.

Closest overall

Nearest neighbours, no change of direction.

Closest matches

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

Primitivo di Manduria

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and less floral.

Zinfandel

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and less floral.

Northern Rhône Syrah

curated

The model this style follows closely.

Expect: More savoury and mineral, with a longer track record.

Amarone della Valpolicella

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and less floral.

Different grape, similar feel

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

Primitivo di Manduria

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and less floral.

Zinfandel

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and less floral.

Amarone della Valpolicella

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and less floral.

Pinotage

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be less spicy, and drier.

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.

Mondeuse Noire

Mondeuse Noire scores closest to Hawke’s Bay Syrah across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and less floral.

Lambrusco Grasparossa

Lambrusco Grasparossa scores closest to Hawke’s Bay Syrah across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be less spicy, and less floral.

Blaufränkisch

Both sit in the same style family.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and less floral.

Dornfelder

Dornfelder scores closest to Hawke’s Bay Syrah across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be less spicy, 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.

Mondeuse Noire

Mondeuse Noire scores closest to Hawke’s Bay Syrah across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and less floral.

Lambrusco Grasparossa

Lambrusco Grasparossa scores closest to Hawke’s Bay Syrah across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be less spicy, and less floral.

Dornfelder

Dornfelder scores closest to Hawke’s Bay Syrah across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be less spicy, and drier.

Loire Cabernet Franc

Loire Cabernet Franc scores closest to Hawke’s Bay Syrah across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be less spicy, and drier.

Similar but fuller

Keeps the character but adds weight, concentration and mouthfeel.

Primitivo di Manduria

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and less floral.

Amarone della Valpolicella

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and less floral.

Châteauneuf-du-Pape

Both are made from syrah.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and less floral.

McLaren Vale Shiraz

McLaren Vale Shiraz scores closest to Hawke’s Bay Syrah across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and less spicy.

Similar but less tannic

For readers who find firm reds drying. Reduces tannic grip while holding flavour and weight roughly steady.

Zinfandel

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be less tannic and softer, and drier.

Valpolicella Ripasso

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

Expect: Expect it to be less tannic and softer, and less spicy.

California Rhône blend

Both are made from syrah.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and less tannic and softer.

Primitivo

Primitivo scores closest to Hawke’s Bay Syrah across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be less tannic and softer, and less spicy.

Similar but more structured

More tannic architecture, for food or for ageing.

Touriga Nacional

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be more tannic and structured, and less spicy.

Petite Sirah

Petite Sirah scores closest to Hawke’s Bay Syrah across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be more tannic and structured, and drier.

Sagrantino

Sagrantino scores closest to Hawke’s Bay Syrah across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be less spicy, and more tannic and structured.

Mavrud

Mavrud scores closest to Hawke’s Bay Syrah across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be more tannic and structured, and drier.

Similar but fresher

Raises acidity and overall lift, usually by moving to a cooler-climate expression.

Mondeuse Noire

Mondeuse Noire scores closest to Hawke’s Bay Syrah across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and less floral.

Blaufränkisch

Both sit in the same style family.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and less floral.

Saperavi

Saperavi scores closest to Hawke’s Bay Syrah across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be less spicy, and drier.

Loire Cabernet Franc

Loire Cabernet Franc scores closest to Hawke’s Bay Syrah across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be less spicy, and drier.

Similar but softer

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

Primitivo di Manduria

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and less floral.

Châteauneuf-du-Pape

Both are made from syrah.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and less floral.

McLaren Vale Shiraz

McLaren Vale Shiraz scores closest to Hawke’s Bay Syrah across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and less spicy.

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon scores closest to Hawke’s Bay Syrah across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and less spicy.

The sparkling version

Moves to a sparkling expression while holding the flavour and weight as close as possible.

Sparkling Shiraz

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be less spicy, and less floral.

Lambrusco Grasparossa

Lambrusco Grasparossa scores closest to Hawke’s Bay Syrah across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be less spicy, and less floral.

Lambrusco

Lambrusco scores closest to Hawke’s Bay Syrah across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be less spicy, and drier.

Vintage Port

Vintage Port scores closest to Hawke’s Bay Syrah across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and less floral.

Similar but sweeter

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

Sparkling Shiraz

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be less spicy, and less floral.

Vintage Port

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and less floral.

Port

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and less spicy.

Touriga Nacional

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be less spicy, and more floral.

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.

Nero di Troia

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and less floral.

Mondeuse Noire

Mondeuse Noire scores closest to Hawke’s Bay Syrah across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and less floral.

Tinto Cão

Tinto Cão scores closest to Hawke’s Bay Syrah across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be less spicy, and less floral.

Lambrusco Grasparossa

Lambrusco Grasparossa scores closest to Hawke’s Bay Syrah across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be less spicy, and less floral.

Similar but more oaky

Adds barrel character, toast and a creamier texture.

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon scores closest to Hawke’s Bay Syrah across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and less spicy.

Barossa Shiraz

Barossa Shiraz scores closest to Hawke’s Bay Syrah across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and less spicy.

Pinotage

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be less spicy, and drier.

Bolgheri

Both are made from syrah.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and less spicy.

Similar but more aromatic

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

Nebbiolo

Nebbiolo scores closest to Hawke’s Bay Syrah across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and less spicy.

Barolo

Barolo scores closest to Hawke’s Bay Syrah across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

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

Barbaresco

Barbaresco scores closest to Hawke’s Bay Syrah across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be less spicy, and drier.

Touriga Nacional

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be more floral, and less spicy.

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.

Primitivo di Manduria

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and drier.

Zinfandel

Zinfandel scores closest to Hawke’s Bay Syrah across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and drier.

Amarone della Valpolicella

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and drier.

Pinotage

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and less spicy.

Similar but more floral

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

Touriga Nacional

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be more floral, and less spicy.

Uco Valley Malbec

Uco Valley Malbec scores closest to Hawke’s Bay Syrah across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be more floral, and less spicy.

Malbec

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and less spicy.

Touriga Franca

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be less spicy, and more floral.

Similar but less floral

Some drinkers read floral aromatics as soapy or perfumed. This holds the structure and removes them.

Primitivo di Manduria

Primitivo di Manduria scores closest to Hawke’s Bay Syrah across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and drier.

Zinfandel

Zinfandel scores closest to Hawke’s Bay Syrah across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and drier.

Amarone della Valpolicella

Amarone della Valpolicella scores closest to Hawke’s Bay Syrah across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and drier.

Syrah

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

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and less floral.

Similar but more savoury

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

Northern Rhône Syrah

curated

The model this style follows closely.

Expect: More savoury and mineral, with a longer track record.

Rioja Gran Reserva

Both sit in the same style family.

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

Taurasi

Taurasi scores closest to Hawke’s Bay Syrah across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

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

Brunello di Montalcino

Brunello di Montalcino scores closest to Hawke’s Bay Syrah across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

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

Similar but fruitier

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

Primitivo di Manduria

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and less floral.

Zinfandel

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and less floral.

Washington Cabernet Sauvignon

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

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and less spicy.

Bolgheri

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

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and less spicy.

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.

Washington Cabernet Sauvignon

Both are made from syrah.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and less spicy.

Syrah

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

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

Bolgheri

Both are made from syrah.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and less spicy.

Northern Rhône Syrah

curated

The model this style follows closely.

Expect: More savoury and mineral, with a longer track record.

Same grape, cooler climate

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

Northern Rhône Syrah

curated

The model this style follows closely.

Expect: More savoury and mineral, with a longer track record.

Washington Syrah

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

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

Swartland Syrah and Rhône blends

Both are made from syrah, and both sit in the same style family.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and less floral.

Bekaa Valley Red

Both are made from syrah.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and less floral.

Same grape, warmer climate

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

Châteauneuf-du-Pape

Both are made from syrah.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and less floral.

Shiraz

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and less spicy.

McLaren Vale Shiraz

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and less spicy.

Barossa Shiraz

Barossa Shiraz scores closest to Hawke’s Bay Syrah across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and less spicy.

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.

Zinfandel

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and less floral.

Amarone della Valpolicella

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and less floral.

Syrah

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

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

Northern Rhône Syrah

curated

The model this style follows closely.

Expect: More savoury and mineral, with a longer track record.

Something more adventurous

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

Primitivo di Manduria

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and less floral.

Pinotage

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be less spicy, and drier.

Washington Cabernet Sauvignon

Both are made from syrah.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and less spicy.

Valpolicella Ripasso

Both sit in the same style family.

Expect: Expect it to be less spicy, and drier.

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.

Primitivo di Manduria

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and less floral.

Pinotage

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be less spicy, and drier.

Washington Cabernet Sauvignon

Both are made from syrah.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and less spicy.

Valpolicella Ripasso

Both sit in the same style family.

Expect: Expect it to be less spicy, and drier.

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.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and less floral.

Châteauneuf-du-Pape

Both are made from syrah.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and less floral.

Ribera del Duero

Ribera del Duero scores closest to Hawke’s Bay Syrah across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and less spicy.

Priorat

Both are made from syrah.

Expect: Expect it to be drier, and less spicy.

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.