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Wines like Rioja

Spain’s most famous red: Tempranillo-led, defined as much by its oak-ageing classification as by the grape. Below: what to try next, grouped by the direction you want to travel.

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What do you like about Rioja?

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 vanilla and oak The savoury, meaty side

But it’s a bit…

too drying or too tannic too oaky or woody too peppery too earthy or musty 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 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.
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.
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 vanilla, toast and oak character and the firm tannic structure, while moving away from too earthy or musty and too peppery.

You said you like the vanilla, toast and oak character and that it is too peppery. Both are about spice, so they pull the same axis in opposite directions — the dislike is applied and the like is set aside.

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.

Ribera del Duero

curated

The same grape on a high, extreme plateau a short distance away.

Keeps the vanilla, toast and oak character.
Keeps the firm tannic structure.
About as earthy or musty as the wine you started from.
About as peppery as the wine you started from.

Sonoma Cabernet Sauvignon

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

Has some of the vanilla, toast and oak character, though less of it.
Keeps the firm tannic structure.
Substantially less earthy or musty.
Substantially less peppery.

Barossa Shiraz

Both are made from grenache, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Keeps the vanilla, toast and oak character.
Keeps the firm tannic structure.
Substantially less earthy or musty.
About as peppery as the wine you started from.

Chianti Classico

curated

Both are savoury, medium-bodied, cherry-fruited food reds.

Has noticeably less of the vanilla, toast and oak character.
Keeps the firm tannic structure.
About as earthy or musty as the wine you started from.
Substantially less peppery.

Rioja Reserva

Both are made from tempranillo, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both sit in the same style family.

Keeps the vanilla, toast and oak character.
Keeps the firm tannic structure.
About as earthy or musty as the wine you started from.
About as peppery as the wine you started from.

Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Has noticeably less of the vanilla, toast and oak character.
Keeps the firm tannic structure.
Substantially less earthy or musty.
Substantially less peppery.

Super Tuscan

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

Keeps the vanilla, toast and oak character.
Keeps the firm tannic structure.
Substantially less earthy or musty.
About as peppery as the wine you started from.

Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Has noticeably less of the vanilla, toast and oak character.
Keeps the firm tannic structure.
Substantially less earthy or musty.
Substantially less peppery.

Closest overall

Nearest neighbours, no change of direction.

Closest matches

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

Ribera del Duero

curated

The same grape on a high, extreme plateau a short distance away.

Expect: Denser, darker and more structured, with black fruit rather than red.

Sonoma Cabernet Sauvignon

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

Expect: Expect it to be less spicy, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.

Barossa Shiraz

Both are made from grenache, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be cleaner and more fruit-focused, and spicier.

Chianti Classico

curated

Both are savoury, medium-bodied, cherry-fruited food reds.

Expect: Much higher acidity and firmer tannin, with tomato leaf in place of vanilla.

Different grape, similar feel

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

Sonoma Cabernet Sauvignon

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

Expect: Expect it to be less spicy, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.

Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be less spicy, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.

Super Tuscan

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

Expect: Expect it to be cleaner and more fruit-focused, and spicier.

Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be less spicy, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.

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.

Dolcetto

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

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

Spätburgunder (German Pinot Noir)

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Colorino

Colorino scores closest to Rioja across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

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

Fer Servadou

Fer Servadou scores closest to Rioja across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

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

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.

Dolcetto

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

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

Spätburgunder (German Pinot Noir)

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Fer Servadou

Fer Servadou scores closest to Rioja across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

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

Cerasuolo di Vittoria

Cerasuolo di Vittoria scores closest to Rioja across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

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

Similar but fuller

Keeps the character but adds weight, concentration and mouthfeel.

Barossa Shiraz

Both are made from grenache, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be cleaner and more fruit-focused, and spicier.

Ribera del Duero

curated

The same grape on a high, extreme plateau a short distance away.

Expect: Denser, darker and more structured, with black fruit rather than red.

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

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

Expect: Expect it to be cleaner and more fruit-focused, and spicier.

Toro

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

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

Similar but less tannic

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

California Cabernet Sauvignon

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Rioja Crianza

Both are made from tempranillo, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure, both sit in the same style family.

Expect: Expect it to be less tannic and softer, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.

Merlot

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be less tannic and softer, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.

Argentine Malbec

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be less tannic and softer, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.

Similar but more structured

More tannic architecture, for food or for ageing.

Toro

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

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

Petit Verdot

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be more tannic and structured, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.

Touriga Nacional

Touriga Nacional scores closest to Rioja across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be more tannic and structured, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.

Tannat

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Similar but fresher

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

Chianti Classico

curated

Both are savoury, medium-bodied, cherry-fruited food reds.

Expect: Much higher acidity and firmer tannin, with tomato leaf in place of vanilla.

Vino Nobile di Montepulciano

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.

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

Rosso di Montalcino

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

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

Sangiovese

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

Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and spicier.

Similar but softer

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

Barossa Shiraz

Both are made from grenache, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be cleaner and more fruit-focused, and spicier.

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

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

Expect: Expect it to be cleaner and more fruit-focused, and spicier.

Toro

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

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

McLaren Vale Shiraz

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

Expect: Expect it to be cleaner and more fruit-focused, and less oaky.

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 tannic and softer, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.

Lambrusco

Lambrusco scores closest to Rioja across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

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

Lambrusco Grasparossa

Lambrusco Grasparossa scores closest to Rioja across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

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

Sonoma Cabernet Sauvignon

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Similar but sweeter

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

Touriga Franca

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be less spicy, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.

Port

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

Expect: Expect it to be cleaner and more fruit-focused, and less oaky.

California Cabernet Sauvignon

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Pinotage

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

Expect: Expect it to be spicier, and earthier.

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.

Chianti Classico

curated

Both are savoury, medium-bodied, cherry-fruited food reds.

Expect: Much higher acidity and firmer tannin, with tomato leaf in place of vanilla.

Montsant

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

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

Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Similar but more oaky

Adds barrel character, toast and a creamier texture.

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.

Barossa Shiraz

Both are made from grenache, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be cleaner and more fruit-focused, and spicier.

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

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

Expect: Expect it to be cleaner and more fruit-focused, and spicier.

Sonoma Cabernet Sauvignon

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

Expect: Expect it to be less spicy, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.

Ribera del Duero

curated

The same grape on a high, extreme plateau a short distance away.

Expect: Denser, darker and more structured, with black fruit rather than red.

Similar but more aromatic

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

Malbec

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

Expect: Expect it to be cleaner and more fruit-focused, and less oaky.

Cabernet Sauvignon

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

Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and spicier.

Barbaresco

Barbaresco scores closest to Rioja across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

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

Syrah

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be spicier, and less oaky.

Similar but more restrained

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

Sonoma Cabernet Sauvignon

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

Expect: Expect it to be less spicy, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.

Barossa Shiraz

Both are made from grenache, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be cleaner and more fruit-focused, and spicier.

Ribera del Duero

curated

The same grape on a high, extreme plateau a short distance away.

Expect: Denser, darker and more structured, with black fruit rather than red.

Rioja Reserva

Both are made from tempranillo, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both sit in the same style family.

Expect: Expect it to be spicier, and earthier.

Similar but more floral

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

Malbec

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

Expect: Expect it to be cleaner and more fruit-focused, and less oaky.

Argentine Cabernet Franc

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be less spicy, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.

Touriga Franca

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be less spicy, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.

Uco Valley Malbec

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Similar but more savoury

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

Chianti Classico Riserva

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

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

Naoussa Xinomavro

Both sit in the same style family.

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

Chianti Classico Gran Selezione

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Xinomavro

Xinomavro scores closest to Rioja across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

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

Similar but fruitier

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

Barossa Shiraz

Both are made from grenache, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be cleaner and more fruit-focused, and spicier.

Sonoma Cabernet Sauvignon

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

Expect: Expect it to be less spicy, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.

Shiraz

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

Expect: Expect it to be cleaner and more fruit-focused, and spicier.

Bolgheri

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

Expect: Expect it to be cleaner and more fruit-focused, and spicier.

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.

Barossa Shiraz

Both are made from grenache, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be cleaner and more fruit-focused, and spicier.

McLaren Vale Shiraz

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

Expect: Expect it to be cleaner and more fruit-focused, and less oaky.

Alentejo red

Both are made from tempranillo, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure, both sit in the same style family.

Expect: Expect it to be less tannic and softer, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.

Dão

Both are made from tempranillo, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure, both sit in the same style family.

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

Same grape, cooler climate

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

Graciano

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

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

Dão

Both are made from tempranillo, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure, both sit in the same style family.

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

Rioja Reserva

Both are made from tempranillo, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both sit in the same style family.

Expect: Expect it to be spicier, and earthier.

Montsant

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 less oaky, and less spicy.

Same grape, warmer climate

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

Barossa Shiraz

Both are made from grenache, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be cleaner and more fruit-focused, and spicier.

Toro

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

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

McLaren Vale Shiraz

Both are made from grenache, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be cleaner and more fruit-focused, and less oaky.

Ribera del Duero

curated

The same grape on a high, extreme plateau a short distance away.

Expect: Denser, darker and more structured, with black fruit rather than red.

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.

Barossa Shiraz

Both are made from grenache, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.

Expect: Expect it to be cleaner and more fruit-focused, and spicier.

Ribera del Duero

curated

The same grape on a high, extreme plateau a short distance away.

Expect: Denser, darker and more structured, with black fruit rather than red.

Rioja Reserva

Both are made from tempranillo, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both sit in the same style family.

Expect: Expect it to be spicier, and earthier.

Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be less spicy, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.

Something more adventurous

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

Sonoma Cabernet Sauvignon

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

Expect: Expect it to be less spicy, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.

Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be less spicy, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.

Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be less spicy, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.

Hawke’s Bay Bordeaux blend

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be less spicy, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.

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

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

Expect: Expect it to be less spicy, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.

Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be less spicy, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.

Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be less spicy, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.

Hawke’s Bay Bordeaux blend

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be less spicy, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.

A step up

The benchmark expressions of the same territory, usually with more concentration, structure and ageing potential.

Ribera del Duero

curated

The same grape on a high, extreme plateau a short distance away.

Expect: Denser, darker and more structured, with black fruit rather than red.

Amarone della Valpolicella

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be spicier, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.

Priorat

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

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

Châteauneuf-du-Pape

Both are made from grenache.

Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and spicier.

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.