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Wines like Vino Nobile di Montepulciano
Sangiovese from the Tuscan town of Montepulciano — and, confusingly, nothing to do with the Montepulciano grape. Below: what to try next, grouped by the direction you want to travel.
Refine
What do you like about Vino Nobile di Montepulciano?
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
- 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.
- 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 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 fresh, crisp acidity, while moving away from too oaky or woody, too savoury or funky and too drying or too tannic.
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.
Valpolicella
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
- Keeps the fresh, crisp acidity.
- A little less oaky or woody.
- Substantially less savoury or funky.
- Substantially less drying or too tannic.
Morgon
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.
- Has some of the fresh, crisp acidity, though less of it.
- A little less oaky or woody.
- Substantially less savoury or funky.
- Substantially less drying or too tannic.
Loire Cabernet Franc
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Keeps the fresh, crisp acidity.
- A little less oaky or woody.
- Substantially less savoury or funky.
- Substantially less drying or too tannic.
Cru Beaujolais
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.
- Has some of the fresh, crisp acidity, though less of it.
- A little less oaky or woody.
- Substantially less savoury or funky.
- Substantially less drying or too tannic.
Chianti
Both are made from sangiovese, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both sit in the same style family.
- Keeps the fresh, crisp acidity.
- A little less oaky or woody.
- About as savoury or funky as the wine you started from.
- Substantially less drying or too tannic.
Chilean Pinot Noir
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Has some of the fresh, crisp acidity, though less of it.
- A little less oaky or woody.
- Substantially less savoury or funky.
- Substantially less drying or too tannic.
Barbera d’Alba
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.
- Keeps the fresh, crisp acidity.
- About as oaky or woody as the wine you started from.
- Substantially less savoury or funky.
- Substantially less drying or too tannic.
Barbera d’Asti
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.
- Keeps the fresh, crisp acidity.
- About as oaky or woody as the wine you started from.
- Substantially less savoury or funky.
- Substantially less drying or too tannic.
Closest overall
Nearest neighbours, no change of direction.
Closest matches
The nearest overall neighbours across structure and flavour, with no deliberate change of direction.
Valpolicella
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be less tannic and softer, and fresher.
Morgon
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and more aromatic.
Loire Cabernet Franc
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher, and more herbal and green.
Cru Beaujolais
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and fresher.
Different grape, similar feel
Deliberately excludes the variety you already know, to find a genuinely new wine that fills the same role.
Valpolicella
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be less tannic and softer, and fresher.
Morgon
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and more aromatic.
Loire Cabernet Franc
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher, and more herbal and green.
Cru Beaujolais
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and fresher.
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.
Loire Cabernet Franc
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher, and more herbal and green.
Valpolicella
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be less tannic and softer, and fresher.
Cru Beaujolais
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and fresher.
English still Pinot Noir
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less tannic and softer, and fresher.
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.
Valpolicella
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be less tannic and softer, and fresher.
English still Pinot Noir
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less tannic and softer, and fresher.
Loire Cabernet Franc
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher, and more herbal and green.
Cru Beaujolais
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and fresher.
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 softer and rounder, and spicier.
Washington Cabernet Sauvignon
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more tannic and structured, and softer and rounder.
Primitivo
Both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and broader and softer.
Alicante Bouschet
Alicante Bouschet scores closest to Vino Nobile di Montepulciano across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, 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.
Barbera d’Alba
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be less tannic and softer, and more oaky.
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 spicier, and softer and rounder.
Bonarda
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and more fruit-driven.
Morgon
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and more aromatic.
Similar but more structured
More tannic architecture, for food or for ageing.
Barbaresco
Both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be more tannic and structured, and more savoury.
Baga
Baga scores closest to Vino Nobile di Montepulciano across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be more tannic and structured, and more savoury.
Bairrada Baga
Bairrada Baga scores closest to Vino Nobile di Montepulciano across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be more tannic and structured, and more savoury.
Brunello di Montalcino
Both are made from sangiovese, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be more tannic and structured, and more savoury.
Similar but fresher
Raises acidity and overall lift, usually by moving to a cooler-climate expression.
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.
Valpolicella
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher, and less tannic and softer.
Loire Cabernet Franc
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher, and more herbal and green.
Chianti
Both are made from sangiovese, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher, and more savoury.
Barbera d’Asti
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher, and less tannic and softer.
Similar but softer
Lowers acidity and sharpness in favour of a broader, gentler feel.
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 softer and rounder, and spicier.
Bonarda
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, 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 softer and rounder, and more fruit-driven.
Morgon
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and more aromatic.
The sparkling version
Moves to a sparkling expression while holding the flavour and weight as close as possible.
Lambrusco
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and more fruit-driven.
Lambrusco Grasparossa
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and more fruit-driven.
Sparkling Shiraz
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and more fruit-driven.
English sparkling rosé
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less tannic and softer, and fresher.
Similar but sweeter
Adds perceptible sweetness, which also softens acidity and chilli heat.
Lambrusco Grasparossa
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and more fruit-driven.
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 spicier, and softer and rounder.
Rondo
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and more fruit-driven.
Muscat Bailey A
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be less tannic and softer, and softer and rounder.
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.
Valpolicella
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be less tannic and softer, and fresher.
Morgon
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and more aromatic.
Piedirosso
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be less oaky, and softer and rounder.
Loire Cabernet Franc
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher, and more herbal and green.
Similar but more oaky
Adds barrel character, toast and a creamier texture.
Super Tuscan
Both are made from sangiovese, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and more tannic and structured.
California Cabernet Sauvignon
California Cabernet Sauvignon scores closest to Vino Nobile di Montepulciano across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and softer and rounder.
Bolgheri
Both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and more tannic and structured.
Pinotage
Pinotage scores closest to Vino Nobile di Montepulciano across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and more tannic and structured.
Similar but more aromatic
More to smell before you taste — floral, fruity or spiced aromatics.
Cabernet Franc
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and more restrained in fruit.
Gamay
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more fruit-driven, and less tannic and softer.
Morgon
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and less floral.
Muscat Bailey A
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be less tannic and softer, and softer and rounder.
Similar but more restrained
For readers who find intensely aromatic wines tiring over a whole glass. Keeps the structure, turns the volume down.
Gavi
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 more restrained in fruit.
Valpolicella
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be less tannic and softer, and fresher.
Chianti
Both are made from sangiovese, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and fresher.
Barbera d’Alba
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be less tannic and softer, and more oaky.
Similar but more floral
Pushes specifically towards rose, violet, blossom and elderflower character.
Cabernet Franc
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and more restrained in fruit.
Gamay
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more fruit-driven, and less tannic and softer.
Loire Cabernet Franc
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher, and more herbal and green.
Cru Beaujolais
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and fresher.
Similar but more savoury
Moves away from primary fruit towards earth, herb, meat and umami character.
Chianti Classico Riserva
Both are made from sangiovese, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and more tannic and structured.
Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
Both are made from sangiovese, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure, both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and more tannic and structured.
Naoussa Xinomavro
Both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and more tannic and structured.
Xinomavro
Xinomavro scores closest to Vino Nobile di Montepulciano across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and more tannic and structured.
Similar but fruitier
More obvious, generous fruit flavour, usually from a warmer climate.
Valpolicella
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be less tannic and softer, and fresher.
Barbera d’Alba
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be fruitier, and less tannic and softer.
Morgon
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and more aromatic.
Loire Cabernet Franc
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher, and more herbal and green.
Change the place
Keep the grape, move it somewhere else.
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.
Chianti
Both are made from sangiovese, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and fresher.
Rosso di Montalcino
Both are made from sangiovese, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be more tannic and structured, and more savoury.
Chianti Classico
Both are made from sangiovese, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure, both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be more tannic and structured, and more savoury.
Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
Both are made from sangiovese, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure, both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and more tannic and structured.
Same grape, warmer climate
Typically riper, fuller and more generous in fruit, with higher alcohol.
Super Tuscan
Both are made from sangiovese, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure, both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and more tannic and structured.
Rosso di Montalcino
Both are made from sangiovese, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be more tannic and structured, and more savoury.
Chianti
Both are made from sangiovese, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and more restrained in fruit.
Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
Both are made from sangiovese, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure, both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, 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.
Cru Beaujolais
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and fresher.
Chianti
Both are made from sangiovese, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and fresher.
Barbera
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be less tannic and softer, and more oaky.
Cabernet Franc
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and more restrained in fruit.
Something more adventurous
Less familiar wines that occupy similar territory — the interesting end of the shelf.
Valpolicella
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be less tannic and softer, and fresher.
Morgon
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and more aromatic.
Loire Cabernet Franc
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher, and more herbal and green.
Chilean Pinot Noir
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and lighter.
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.
Valpolicella
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be less tannic and softer, and fresher.
Morgon
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and more aromatic.
Loire Cabernet Franc
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher, and more herbal and green.
Chilean Pinot Noir
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and lighter.
A step up
The benchmark expressions of the same territory, usually with more concentration, structure and ageing potential.
Amarone della Valpolicella
Both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be spicier, and more tannic and structured.
Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Châteauneuf-du-Pape scores closest to Vino Nobile di Montepulciano across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and spicier.
Ribera del Duero
Ribera del Duero scores closest to Vino Nobile di Montepulciano across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and more tannic and structured.
Priorat
Priorat scores closest to Vino Nobile di Montepulciano across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be more tannic and structured, and softer and rounder.
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.