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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 and the firm tannic structure, while moving away from too savoury or funky, too drying or too tannic and too austere.
- You said you like the firm tannic structure and that it is too drying or too tannic. Both are about tannin, 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.
Lambrusco Grasparossa
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
- Has some of the fresh, crisp acidity, though less of it.
- Has some of the firm tannic structure, though less of it.
- Substantially less savoury or funky.
- Substantially less drying or too tannic.
- Substantially less austere.
Valpolicella Ripasso
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.
- Has some of the firm tannic structure, though less of it.
- Substantially less savoury or funky.
- Substantially less drying or too tannic.
- Substantially less austere.
Corvina
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
- Has some of the fresh, crisp acidity, though less of it.
- Has some of the firm tannic structure, though less of it.
- Substantially less savoury or funky.
- Substantially less drying or too tannic.
- Substantially less austere.
Rondo
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
- Has some of the fresh, crisp acidity, though less of it.
- Has some of the firm tannic structure, though less of it.
- Substantially less savoury or funky.
- Substantially less drying or too tannic.
- Substantially less austere.
Dornfelder
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
- Has some of the fresh, crisp acidity, though less of it.
- Has some of the firm tannic structure, though less of it.
- Substantially less savoury or funky.
- Substantially less drying or too tannic.
- Substantially less austere.
Areni
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Keeps the fresh, crisp acidity.
- Has some of the firm tannic structure, though less of it.
- Substantially less savoury or funky.
- Substantially less drying or too tannic.
- About as austere as the wine you started from.
Corvinone
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.
- Has some of the fresh, crisp acidity, though less of it.
- Has some of the firm tannic structure, though less of it.
- Substantially less savoury or funky.
- Substantially less drying or too tannic.
- Substantially less austere.
Tinta Barroca
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
- Has noticeably less of the fresh, crisp acidity.
- Has some of the firm tannic structure, though less of it.
- Substantially less savoury or funky.
- Substantially less drying or too tannic.
- Substantially less austere.
Closest overall
Nearest neighbours, no change of direction.
Closest matches
The nearest overall neighbours across structure and flavour, with no deliberate change of direction.
Lambrusco Grasparossa
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be more fruit-driven, and softer and rounder.
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 softer and rounder.
Corvina
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and softer and rounder.
Rondo
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and more fruit-driven.
Different grape, similar feel
Deliberately excludes the variety you already know, to find a genuinely new wine that fills the same role.
Lambrusco Grasparossa
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be more fruit-driven, and softer and rounder.
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 softer and rounder.
Corvina
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and softer and rounder.
Rondo
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and more fruit-driven.
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, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be more fruit-driven, and softer and rounder.
Rondo
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and more fruit-driven.
Dornfelder
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and softer and rounder.
Valpolicella
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and less tannic and softer.
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, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be more fruit-driven, and softer and rounder.
Loire Cabernet Franc
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and fresher.
Cru Beaujolais
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and softer and rounder.
English still Pinot Noir
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and less tannic and softer.
Similar but fuller
Keeps the character but adds weight, concentration and mouthfeel.
Touriga Nacional
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.
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 drier, and more tannic and structured.
Amarone della Valpolicella
Both come from the same country.
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.
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 softer and rounder.
Barbera d’Alba
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and less tannic and softer.
Lambrusco Grasparossa
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be more fruit-driven, and softer and rounder.
Tinta Barroca
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and more fruit-driven.
Similar but more structured
More tannic architecture, for food or for ageing.
Touriga Nacional
Touriga Nacional 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.
Sagrantino
Both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be more tannic and structured, and more savoury.
Montefalco Sagrantino
Both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be more tannic and structured, and drier.
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 drier.
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.
Barbera d’Asti
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and fresher.
Barbera
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and fresher.
Loire Cabernet Franc
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and fresher.
Chianti
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 drier, and fresher.
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 drier.
Touriga Franca
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and more tannic and structured.
Lambrusco Grasparossa
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and more fruit-driven.
Tinta Barroca
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and more fruit-driven.
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 softer and rounder, and more fruit-driven.
Lambrusco Grasparossa
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be more fruit-driven, and softer and rounder.
Lambrusco
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and more fruit-driven.
English sparkling rosé
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
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, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be more fruit-driven, and softer and rounder.
Sparkling Shiraz
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and more fruit-driven.
Tinta Barroca
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and more fruit-driven.
Touriga Franca
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more tannic and structured, 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.
Lambrusco Grasparossa
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be more fruit-driven, and softer and rounder.
Rondo
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and more fruit-driven.
Dornfelder
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and softer and rounder.
Corvinone
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and softer and rounder.
Similar but more oaky
Adds barrel character, toast and a creamier texture.
Pinotage
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and more tannic and structured.
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 drier, 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 softer and rounder, and broader and softer.
Bolgheri
Both come from the same country.
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.
Cabernet Franc
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and softer and rounder.
Morgon
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and softer and rounder.
Gamay
Gamay scores closest to Vino Nobile di Montepulciano across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and more fruit-driven.
Muscat Bailey A
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and less tannic and softer.
Similar but more restrained
For readers who find intensely aromatic wines tiring over a whole glass. Keeps the structure, turns the volume down.
Nothing in WineHQ's catalogue makes this move meaningfully from here. These are the closest wines otherwise, but do not expect them to deliver what you asked for — the honest answer is that this style does not have a good neighbour in that direction.
Lambrusco Grasparossa
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be more fruit-driven, and softer and rounder.
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 softer and rounder.
Corvina
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and softer and rounder.
Rondo
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and more fruit-driven.
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 softer and rounder.
Cabernet Franc
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and softer and rounder.
Touriga Franca
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more tannic and structured, and softer and rounder.
Loire Cabernet Franc
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, 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 drier.
Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
Both are made from sangiovese, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and drier.
Rioja Gran Reserva
Both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and drier.
Brunello di Montalcino
Both are made from sangiovese, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and drier.
Similar but fruitier
More obvious, generous fruit flavour, usually from a warmer climate.
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 softer and rounder.
Lambrusco Grasparossa
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be more fruit-driven, and softer and rounder.
Corvina
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and softer and rounder.
Barbera d’Alba
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and fruitier.
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 they occupy similar territory for weight and structure, both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and more savoury.
Rosso di Montalcino
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 drier, and more tannic and structured.
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 drier, and more tannic and structured.
Sangiovese
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 drier, 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 drier, and more tannic and structured.
Rosso di Montalcino
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 drier, 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 drier, and more savoury.
Chianti Classico
Both are made from sangiovese, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, 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.
Barbera
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and less tannic and softer.
Chianti
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 drier, and more savoury.
Cru Beaujolais
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and softer and rounder.
Rioja Crianza
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and softer and rounder.
Something more adventurous
Less familiar wines that occupy similar territory — the interesting end of the shelf.
Lambrusco Grasparossa
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be more fruit-driven, and softer and rounder.
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 softer and rounder.
Corvina
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and softer and rounder.
Rondo
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and more fruit-driven.
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.
Lambrusco Grasparossa
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be more fruit-driven, and softer and rounder.
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 softer and rounder.
Corvina
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and softer and rounder.
Rondo
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and more fruit-driven.
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 drier, and more tannic and structured.
Ribera del Duero
Ribera del Duero scores closest to Vino Nobile di Montepulciano across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, 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 drier, and softer and rounder.
Priorat
Priorat scores closest to Vino Nobile di Montepulciano across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and more tannic and structured.
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.