If you like this, try…
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.
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.
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 floral, perfumed side, while moving away from too savoury or funky, too drying or too tannic 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.
Touriga Franca
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
- Keeps the floral, perfumed side.
- Substantially less savoury or funky.
- About as drying or too tannic as the wine you started from.
- Substantially less austere.
Argentine Malbec
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
- Keeps the floral, perfumed side.
- Substantially less savoury or funky.
- Substantially less drying or too tannic.
- About as austere as the wine you started from.
Dornfelder
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
- Has some of the floral, perfumed side, though less of it.
- Substantially less savoury or funky.
- Substantially less drying or too tannic.
- Substantially less austere.
Cru Beaujolais
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.
- Keeps the floral, perfumed side.
- A little less savoury or funky.
- Substantially less drying or too tannic.
- About as austere as the wine you started from.
Australian Grenache
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.
- Keeps the floral, perfumed side.
- Substantially less savoury or funky.
- Substantially less drying or too tannic.
- About as austere as the wine you started from.
Touriga Nacional
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
- Keeps the floral, perfumed side.
- Substantially less savoury or funky.
- More drying or too tannic, not less.
- Substantially less austere.
Tinta Barroca
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
- Has noticeably less of the floral, perfumed side.
- Substantially less savoury or funky.
- Substantially less drying or too tannic.
- Substantially less austere.
Lambrusco Grasparossa
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
- Has noticeably less of the floral, perfumed side.
- Substantially less savoury or funky.
- Substantially less drying or too tannic.
- Substantially less austere.
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
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more tannic and structured, and more fruit-driven.
Argentine Malbec
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and less spicy.
Dornfelder
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and more fruit-driven.
Cru Beaujolais
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and more restrained in fruit.
Different grape, similar feel
Deliberately excludes the variety you already know, to find a genuinely new wine that fills the same role.
Touriga Franca
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more tannic and structured, and more fruit-driven.
Argentine Malbec
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and less spicy.
Dornfelder
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and more fruit-driven.
Cru Beaujolais
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and more restrained in fruit.
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.
Dornfelder
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and more fruit-driven.
Cru Beaujolais
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and more restrained in fruit.
Lambrusco Grasparossa
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and more fruit-driven.
Cerasuolo di Vittoria
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and more fruit-driven.
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.
Cru Beaujolais
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and more restrained in fruit.
Lambrusco Grasparossa
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and more fruit-driven.
Cerasuolo di Vittoria
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and more fruit-driven.
Dornfelder
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and more fruit-driven.
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 drier, and less spicy.
Touriga Nacional
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more tannic and structured, and more floral.
Primitivo
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and drier.
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.
Similar but less tannic
For readers who find firm reds drying. Reduces tannic grip while holding flavour and weight roughly steady.
Argentine Malbec
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and less spicy.
Australian Grenache
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and more fruit-driven.
Tinta Barroca
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and more fruit-driven.
Zinfandel
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and drier.
Similar but more structured
More tannic architecture, for food or for ageing.
Touriga Nacional
Touriga Nacional scores closest to Hawke’s Bay Syrah across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be more tannic and structured, and more floral.
Petit Verdot
Petit Verdot 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 more tannic and structured, and less floral.
Nebbiolo
Nebbiolo 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.
Loire Cabernet Franc
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and more restrained in fruit.
Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
Both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and more savoury.
English still Pinot Noir
English still Pinot Noir scores closest to Hawke’s Bay Syrah across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and more restrained in fruit.
Oregon Pinot Noir
Oregon Pinot Noir scores closest to Hawke’s Bay Syrah across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and more savoury.
Similar but softer
Lowers acidity and sharpness in favour of a broader, gentler feel.
Argentine Malbec
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and less spicy.
Tinta Barroca
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and more fruit-driven.
Zinfandel
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and drier.
California Cabernet Sauvignon
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and drier.
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 floral, and more fruit-driven.
Lambrusco
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and more fruit-driven.
Lambrusco Grasparossa
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and more fruit-driven.
Asti
Asti scores closest to Hawke’s Bay Syrah across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be less tannic and softer, and sweeter.
Similar but sweeter
Adds perceptible sweetness, which also softens acidity and chilli heat.
Touriga Franca
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more tannic and structured, and more fruit-driven.
Sparkling Shiraz
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and more fruit-driven.
Tinta Barroca
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and more fruit-driven.
Touriga Nacional
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more tannic and structured, 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.
Dornfelder
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and more fruit-driven.
Tinta Barroca
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and more fruit-driven.
Lambrusco Grasparossa
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and more fruit-driven.
Négrette
Négrette scores closest to Hawke’s Bay Syrah across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and more fruit-driven.
Similar but more oaky
Adds barrel character, toast and a creamier texture.
California Cabernet Sauvignon
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and drier.
Pinotage
Pinotage scores closest to Hawke’s Bay Syrah across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and drier.
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 floral.
Barossa Shiraz
Barossa Shiraz scores closest to Hawke’s Bay Syrah across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and less floral.
Similar but more aromatic
More to smell before you taste — floral, fruity or spiced aromatics.
Gewürztraminer
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be less tannic and softer, and more fruit-driven.
Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains
Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains scores closest to Hawke’s Bay Syrah across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be less tannic and softer, and more fruit-driven.
Muscat of Alexandria
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be less tannic and softer, and more fruit-driven.
Nebbiolo
Nebbiolo scores closest to Hawke’s Bay Syrah across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and more tannic and structured.
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.
Dornfelder
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and more fruit-driven.
Touriga Franca
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more tannic and structured, and more fruit-driven.
Tinta Barroca
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and more fruit-driven.
Lambrusco Grasparossa
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and more fruit-driven.
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 tannic and structured, and more floral.
Négrette
Négrette scores closest to Hawke’s Bay Syrah across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and more floral.
Frappato
Frappato scores closest to Hawke’s Bay Syrah across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and more floral.
Uco Valley Malbec
Uco Valley Malbec scores closest to Hawke’s Bay Syrah across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and more floral.
Similar but less floral
Some drinkers read floral aromatics as soapy or perfumed. This holds the structure and removes them.
Dornfelder
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and drier.
Tinta Barroca
Tinta Barroca scores closest to Hawke’s Bay Syrah across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and more fruit-driven.
Lambrusco Grasparossa
Lambrusco Grasparossa scores closest to Hawke’s Bay Syrah across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and more fruit-driven.
Zinfandel
Zinfandel scores closest to Hawke’s Bay Syrah across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and drier.
Similar but more savoury
Moves away from primary fruit towards earth, herb, meat and umami character.
Northern Rhône Syrah
curatedThe 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.
Barolo
Barolo scores closest to Hawke’s Bay Syrah across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and drier.
Cru Beaujolais
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and more restrained in fruit.
Similar but fruitier
More obvious, generous fruit flavour, usually from a warmer climate.
Argentine Malbec
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and less spicy.
Touriga Nacional
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more tannic and structured, and more floral.
Zinfandel
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and drier.
California Cabernet Sauvignon
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, 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.
Australian Grenache
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and more fruit-driven.
California Rhône blend
Both are made from syrah.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and less floral.
Southern Rhône blend
Both are made from syrah, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and less floral.
Washington Syrah
Both are made from syrah.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and more tannic and structured.
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.
Australian Grenache
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and more fruit-driven.
Washington Syrah
Both are made from syrah.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and more tannic and structured.
Montsant
Both are made from syrah, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and less floral.
Northern Rhône Syrah
curatedThe model this style follows closely.
Expect: More savoury and mineral, with a longer track record.
Same grape, warmer climate
Typically riper, fuller and more generous in fruit, with higher alcohol.
Shiraz
Shiraz scores closest to Hawke’s Bay Syrah across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
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 floral.
Barossa Shiraz
Barossa Shiraz scores closest to Hawke’s Bay Syrah across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and less floral.
Washington Cabernet Sauvignon
Both are made from syrah.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and less floral.
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.
Argentine Malbec
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and less spicy.
Cru Beaujolais
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and more restrained in fruit.
Zinfandel
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and drier.
California Cabernet Sauvignon
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and drier.
Something more adventurous
Less familiar wines that occupy similar territory — the interesting end of the shelf.
Touriga Franca
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more tannic and structured, and more fruit-driven.
Dornfelder
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and more fruit-driven.
Australian Grenache
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and more fruit-driven.
Touriga Nacional
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more tannic and structured, and more floral.
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
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more tannic and structured, and more fruit-driven.
Dornfelder
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and more fruit-driven.
Australian Grenache
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and more fruit-driven.
Touriga Nacional
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more tannic and structured, and more floral.
A step up
The benchmark expressions of the same territory, usually with more concentration, structure and ageing potential.
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.
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 floral.
Argentine Malbec
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and fuller and richer.
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.