If you like this, try…
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.
Refine
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.
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 moving away from too drying or too tannic, too austere, too peppery and too earthy or musty.
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.
Tinta Barroca
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Substantially less drying or too tannic.
- Substantially less austere.
- Substantially less peppery.
- Substantially less earthy or musty.
Lambrusco Grasparossa
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Substantially less drying or too tannic.
- Substantially less austere.
- Substantially less peppery.
- Substantially less earthy or musty.
Tinta Negra
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
- Substantially less drying or too tannic.
- Substantially less austere.
- Substantially less peppery.
- Substantially less earthy or musty.
California Cabernet Sauvignon
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
- Substantially less drying or too tannic.
- Substantially less austere.
- Substantially less peppery.
- Substantially less earthy or musty.
Corvinone
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
- Substantially less drying or too tannic.
- Substantially less austere.
- Substantially less peppery.
- Substantially less earthy or musty.
Rondinella
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
- Substantially less drying or too tannic.
- Substantially less austere.
- Substantially less peppery.
- Substantially less earthy or musty.
Dornfelder
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
- Substantially less drying or too tannic.
- Substantially less austere.
- Substantially less peppery.
- Substantially less earthy or musty.
Touriga Franca
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
- About as drying or too tannic as the wine you started from.
- Substantially less austere.
- Substantially less peppery.
- Substantially less earthy or musty.
Closest overall
Nearest neighbours, no change of direction.
Closest matches
The nearest overall neighbours across structure and flavour, with no deliberate change of direction.
Tinta Barroca
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less spicy, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.
Lambrusco Grasparossa
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less spicy, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.
Tinta Negra
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be less tannic and softer, and less spicy.
California Cabernet Sauvignon
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and less spicy.
Different grape, similar feel
Deliberately excludes the variety you already know, to find a genuinely new wine that fills the same role.
Tinta Barroca
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less spicy, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.
Lambrusco Grasparossa
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less spicy, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.
Tinta Negra
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be less tannic and softer, and less spicy.
California Cabernet Sauvignon
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and less spicy.
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.
Lambrusco Grasparossa
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less spicy, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.
Rondinella
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 less spicy.
Rondo
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, 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.
Lambrusco Grasparossa
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less spicy, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.
Grolleau
Grolleau scores closest to Rioja across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and less tannic and softer.
Dornfelder
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and less spicy.
Rondo
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and less spicy.
Similar but fuller
Keeps the character but adds weight, concentration and mouthfeel.
Primitivo
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.
Argentine Malbec
Argentine Malbec scores closest to Rioja across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.
Barossa Shiraz
Both are made from grenache.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and more tannic and structured.
McLaren Vale Shiraz
Both are made from grenache.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and more tannic and structured.
Similar but less tannic
For readers who find firm reds drying. Reduces tannic grip while holding flavour and weight roughly steady.
Tinta Barroca
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less spicy, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.
California Cabernet Sauvignon
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and less spicy.
Tinta Negra
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be less tannic and softer, and less spicy.
Valpolicella Ripasso
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.
Similar but more structured
More tannic architecture, for food or for ageing.
Sagrantino
Sagrantino scores closest to Rioja across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be more tannic and structured, and less spicy.
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.
Toro
Both are made from tempranillo, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be more tannic and structured, and drier.
Montefalco Sagrantino
Montefalco Sagrantino scores closest to Rioja 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.
Barbera d’Alba
Both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and less tannic and softer.
Barbera d’Asti
Both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and less tannic and softer.
Barbera
Both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and less tannic and softer.
Chianti Classico
curatedBoth are savoury, medium-bodied, cherry-fruited food reds.
Expect: Much higher acidity and firmer tannin, with tomato leaf in place of vanilla.
Similar but softer
Lowers acidity and sharpness in favour of a broader, gentler feel.
Tinta Barroca
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less spicy, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.
California Cabernet Sauvignon
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and less spicy.
Primitivo
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.
Montepulciano d’Abruzzo
Both sit in the same style family.
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
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be cleaner and more fruit-focused, and spicier.
Lambrusco Grasparossa
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less spicy, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.
Lambrusco
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and less spicy.
English sparkling rosé
English sparkling rosé scores closest to Rioja across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and less tannic and softer.
Similar but sweeter
Adds perceptible sweetness, which also softens acidity and chilli heat.
Lambrusco Grasparossa
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less spicy, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.
Tinta Barroca
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less spicy, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.
Tinta Negra
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less tannic and softer, and less spicy.
Sparkling Shiraz
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be cleaner and more fruit-focused, and spicier.
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.
Lambrusco Grasparossa
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less spicy, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.
Tinta Barroca
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less spicy, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.
Tinta Negra
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be less tannic and softer, and less spicy.
Corvinone
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, 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.
California Cabernet Sauvignon
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 spicy, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.
Touriga Franca
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more tannic and structured, and less spicy.
Barossa Shiraz
Both are made from grenache.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and more tannic and structured.
Similar but more aromatic
More to smell before you taste — floral, fruity or spiced aromatics.
Muscat Bailey A
Muscat Bailey A scores closest to Rioja across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and less tannic and softer.
Gamay
Gamay scores closest to Rioja across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and less tannic and softer.
Cabernet Franc
Cabernet Franc scores closest to Rioja across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and less spicy.
Morgon
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, 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.
Sémillon
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be less tannic and softer, and less spicy.
Trebbiano Toscano
Trebbiano Toscano scores closest to Rioja across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be less tannic and softer, and less spicy.
Tinta Barroca
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less spicy, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.
Lambrusco Grasparossa
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be less spicy, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.
Similar but more floral
Pushes specifically towards rose, violet, blossom and elderflower character.
Dornfelder
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 more tannic and structured, and less spicy.
Gamay
Gamay scores closest to Rioja across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and less tannic and softer.
Cabernet Franc
Cabernet Franc scores closest to Rioja across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and less spicy.
Similar but more savoury
Moves away from primary fruit towards earth, herb, meat and umami character.
Rioja Gran Reserva
Both are made from tempranillo, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and earthier.
Chianti Classico Riserva
Both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and earthier.
Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
Chianti Classico Gran Selezione scores closest to Rioja across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and earthier.
Naoussa Xinomavro
Both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and more tannic and structured.
Similar but fruitier
More obvious, generous fruit flavour, usually from a warmer climate.
Tinta Barroca
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less spicy, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.
Lambrusco Grasparossa
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less spicy, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.
California Cabernet Sauvignon
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and less spicy.
Corvinone
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.
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 drier, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.
Zinfandel
Both are made from carignan, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be spicier, and drier.
Australian Grenache
Both are made from grenache, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.
Grenache
Both are made from grenache.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.
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 drier, and more tannic and structured.
Rioja Crianza
Both are made from tempranillo, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.
Dão
Both are made from tempranillo, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and more tannic and structured.
Australian Grenache
Both are made from grenache, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.
Same grape, warmer climate
Typically riper, fuller and more generous in fruit, with higher alcohol.
Barossa Shiraz
Both are made from grenache.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and more tannic and structured.
McLaren Vale Shiraz
Both are made from grenache.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and more tannic and structured.
Toro
Both are made from tempranillo, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and more tannic and structured.
Ribera del Duero
curatedThe 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.
California Cabernet Sauvignon
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and less spicy.
Primitivo
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.
Montepulciano d’Abruzzo
Both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and less spicy.
Merlot
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.
Something more adventurous
Less familiar wines that occupy similar territory — the interesting end of the shelf.
Tinta Barroca
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less spicy, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.
Lambrusco Grasparossa
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less spicy, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.
Tinta Negra
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be less tannic and softer, and less spicy.
Corvinone
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and less spicy.
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.
Tinta Barroca
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less spicy, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.
Lambrusco Grasparossa
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less spicy, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.
Tinta Negra
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be less tannic and softer, and less spicy.
Corvinone
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and less spicy.
A step up
The benchmark expressions of the same territory, usually with more concentration, structure and ageing potential.
Ribera del Duero
curatedThe 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
Amarone della Valpolicella scores closest to Rioja across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be spicier, and drier.
Primitivo
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.
California Cabernet Sauvignon
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and less spicy.
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.