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Wines like Valpolicella

Light, high-acid, sour-cherry red from the hills north of Verona — the fresh counterpart to Amarone. Below: what to try next, grouped by the direction you want to travel.

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Refine

What do you like about Valpolicella?

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 bright red fruit How light it is How fresh and crisp it is How smooth and soft it is

But it’s a bit…

too tart or sour-fruited too light or thin too sharp or acidic too soft or too easy too alcoholic or warming too plain or too simple

Clear all

What these words mean

The bright red fruit: Raspberry, redcurrant, sour cherry — lighter and sharper than dark fruit, usually from a cooler place or an earlier picking.
How light it is: A wine you can drink without it feeling like a commitment. Usually lower in alcohol as well as lighter in the mouth.
How fresh and crisp it is: Acidity is what makes your mouth water and makes a wine feel refreshing rather than heavy. It is the single most useful thing to know about your own taste.
How smooth and soft it is: Low tannin. Tannin is the drying, gum-gripping sensation in red wine — like strong tea. A smooth red has little of it.
That it is not too strong: Alcohol you notice as warmth at the back of the throat. Some people find it a pleasant part of a big red and some find it tiring.
That it is not oaky: No barrel character — just the fruit and the acidity. Chablis and Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc are the reference points.

Looking for something keeping how smooth and easy it is to drink, while moving away from too light or thin and too alcoholic or warming.

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.

Barbera d’Asti

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.

Keeps how smooth and easy it is to drink.
Substantially less light or thin.
Substantially less alcoholic or warming.

Tinta Negra

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

Keeps how smooth and easy it is to drink.
Substantially less light or thin.
Substantially less alcoholic or warming.

Corvina

Both are made from corvina, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both come from the same country.

Has some of how smooth and easy it is to drink, though less of it.
Substantially less light or thin.
Substantially less alcoholic or warming.

Barbera d’Alba

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.

Keeps how smooth and easy it is to drink.
Substantially less light or thin.
Substantially less alcoholic or warming.

Grenache

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Has some of how smooth and easy it is to drink, though less of it.
Substantially less light or thin.
Substantially less alcoholic or warming.

Corvinone

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

Has some of how smooth and easy it is to drink, though less of it.
Substantially less light or thin.
Substantially less alcoholic or warming.

Zinfandel

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Has some of how smooth and easy it is to drink, though less of it.
Substantially less light or thin.
Substantially less alcoholic or warming.

California Rhône blend

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Has some of how smooth and easy it is to drink, though less of it.
Substantially less light or thin.
Substantially less alcoholic or warming.

Closest overall

Nearest neighbours, no change of direction.

Closest matches

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

Barbera d’Asti

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, and rounder and creamier in texture.

Tinta Negra

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

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and rounder and creamier in texture.

Corvina

Both are made from corvina, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be more tannic and structured, and lighter in alcohol.

Barbera d’Alba

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be rounder and creamier in texture, and lighter in alcohol.

Different grape, similar feel

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

Barbera d’Asti

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, and rounder and creamier in texture.

Tinta Negra

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

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and rounder and creamier in texture.

Barbera d’Alba

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be rounder and creamier in texture, and lighter in alcohol.

Grenache

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be rounder and creamier in texture, and more tannic and structured.

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.

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.

Barbera d’Asti

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, and rounder and creamier in texture.

Grenache

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

Expect: Expect it to be rounder and creamier in texture, and more tannic and structured.

Corvina

Both are made from corvina, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, and more tannic and structured.

Zinfandel

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

Expect: Expect it to be rounder and creamier in texture, and more tannic and structured.

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.

Barbera d’Asti

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, and rounder and creamier in texture.

Barbera

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, and lighter.

Tinta Negra

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

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and rounder and creamier in texture.

Corvina

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

Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, and more tannic and structured.

Similar but fuller

Keeps the character but adds weight, concentration and mouthfeel.

Amarone della Valpolicella

curated

The same grapes from the same hills, dried before fermentation.

Expect: Enormously more concentrated, at 15–16% alcohol.

Barbera d’Alba

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be rounder and creamier in texture, and lighter in alcohol.

Barbera d’Asti

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, and rounder and creamier in texture.

California Rhône blend

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

Expect: Expect it to be rounder and creamier in texture, 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.

Bual

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be less tannic and softer, and rounder and creamier in texture.

Sercial

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Greco di Tufo

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 rounder and creamier in texture.

Soave Classico

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 rounder and creamier in texture.

Similar but more structured

More tannic architecture, for food or for ageing.

Corvina

Both are made from corvina, 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 lighter in alcohol.

Grenache

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be more tannic and structured, and rounder and creamier in texture.

Corvinone

Both are made from corvinone, 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 lighter in alcohol.

Zinfandel

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be more tannic and structured, and rounder and creamier in texture.

Similar but softer

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

Tinta Negra

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

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and rounder and creamier in texture.

Corvina

Both are made from corvina, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be more tannic and structured, and lighter in alcohol.

Grenache

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be rounder and creamier in texture, and more tannic and structured.

Corvinone

Both are made from corvinone, 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 rounder and creamier in texture.

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 rounder and creamier in texture, and more tannic and structured.

Lambrusco

Both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, and lighter.

Lambrusco Grasparossa

Both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, and lighter.

Barbera d’Asti

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be stiller, and lighter in alcohol.

Similar but sweeter

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

Tawny Port

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be rounder and creamier in texture, and sweeter.

Tinta Negra

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

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and rounder and creamier in texture.

Ruby Port

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be rounder and creamier in texture, and more tannic and structured.

Corvina

Both are made from corvina, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be more tannic and structured, and lighter in alcohol.

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.

Tinta Negra

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

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and rounder and creamier in texture.

Corvinone

Both are made from corvinone, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be more tannic and structured, and lighter in alcohol.

Trincadeira

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be more tannic and structured, and lighter in alcohol.

Tinta Barroca

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be rounder and creamier in texture, and more tannic and structured.

Similar but more oaky

Adds barrel character, toast and a creamier texture.

Barbera d’Asti

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, and rounder and creamier in texture.

Corvina

Both are made from corvina, 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 lighter in alcohol.

Barbera d’Alba

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be rounder and creamier in texture, and lighter in alcohol.

Zinfandel

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be rounder and creamier in texture, and more tannic and structured.

Similar but more aromatic

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

Morgon

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

Expect: Expect it to be more tannic and structured, and lighter in alcohol.

Nebbiolo

Both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be more tannic and structured, and lighter in alcohol.

Barolo

Both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be more tannic and structured, and lighter in alcohol.

Malbec

Malbec scores closest to Valpolicella across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be more tannic and structured, and rounder and creamier in texture.

Similar but more restrained

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

Barbera d’Asti

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, and rounder and creamier in texture.

Tinta Negra

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

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and rounder and creamier in texture.

Corvina

Both are made from corvina, 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 lighter in alcohol.

Barbera d’Alba

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be rounder and creamier in texture, and lighter in alcohol.

Similar but more floral

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

Grenache

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be rounder and creamier in texture, and more tannic and structured.

Australian Grenache

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be rounder and creamier in texture, and more tannic and structured.

Malbec

Malbec scores closest to Valpolicella across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be more tannic and structured, and rounder and creamier in texture.

Oregon Pinot Noir

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

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

Similar but more savoury

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

Rioja Gran Reserva

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be rounder and creamier in texture, and more tannic and structured.

Chianti

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.

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

Chianti Classico Riserva

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 lighter in alcohol.

Tinta Negra

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

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and rounder and creamier in texture.

Similar but fruitier

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

Zinfandel

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be rounder and creamier in texture, and more tannic and structured.

Primitivo

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be rounder and creamier in texture, and fuller and richer.

Barbera d’Alba

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be rounder and creamier in texture, and lighter in alcohol.

California Cabernet Sauvignon

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be rounder and creamier in texture, and more tannic and structured.

Change the place

Keep the grape, move it somewhere else.

Same grape, cooler climate

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

Corvina

Both are made from corvina, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be more tannic and structured, and lighter in alcohol.

Corvinone

Both are made from corvinone, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be more tannic and structured, and lighter in alcohol.

Valpolicella Ripasso

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

Expect: Expect it to be rounder and creamier in texture, and more tannic and structured.

Molinara

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

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and lighter in alcohol.

Same grape, warmer climate

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

Corvina

Both are made from corvina, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be more tannic and structured, and lighter in alcohol.

Corvinone

Both are made from corvinone, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be more tannic and structured, and lighter in alcohol.

Amarone della Valpolicella

curated

The same grapes from the same hills, dried before fermentation.

Expect: Enormously more concentrated, at 15–16% alcohol.

Valpolicella Ripasso

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

Expect: Expect it to be rounder and creamier in texture, 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.

Grenache

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be rounder and creamier in texture, and more tannic and structured.

Zinfandel

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be rounder and creamier in texture, and more tannic and structured.

Barbera

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and lighter in alcohol.

Primitivo

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be rounder and creamier in texture, and fuller and richer.

Something more adventurous

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

Barbera d’Asti

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, and rounder and creamier in texture.

Tinta Negra

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

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and rounder and creamier in texture.

Corvina

Both are made from corvina, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be more tannic and structured, and lighter in alcohol.

Barbera d’Alba

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be rounder and creamier in texture, and lighter in alcohol.

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.

Barbera d’Asti

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, and rounder and creamier in texture.

Tinta Negra

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

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and rounder and creamier in texture.

Corvina

Both are made from corvina, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be more tannic and structured, and lighter in alcohol.

Barbera d’Alba

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be rounder and creamier in texture, and lighter in alcohol.

A step up

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

Amarone della Valpolicella

curated

The same grapes from the same hills, dried before fermentation.

Expect: Enormously more concentrated, at 15–16% alcohol.

New Zealand Pinot Noir

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be rounder and creamier in texture, and more tannic and structured.

Oregon Pinot Noir

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

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

Rioja Gran Reserva

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be rounder and creamier in texture, and more tannic and structured.

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.