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Wines like Naoussa Xinomavro

Pale, austere, ferociously tannic northern Greek red scented of dried tomato and olive — the closest thing to Barolo outside Piedmont. Below: what to try next, grouped by the direction you want to travel.

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What do you like about Naoussa Xinomavro?

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 The firm, grippy structure How fresh and crisp it is The earthy, mineral side The savoury, meaty side

But it’s a bit…

too tart or sour-fruited too drying or too tannic too sharp or acidic too floral or soapy too earthy or musty too savoury or funky

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.
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.
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 floral character: Rose, violet, elderflower, orange blossom.
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.
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.

Looking for something moving away from too floral or soapy, too earthy or musty, too drying or too tannic and too sharp or acidic.

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.

Lagrein

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

Substantially less floral or soapy.
Substantially less earthy or musty.
Substantially less drying or too tannic.
Substantially less sharp or acidic.

Carignan

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

Substantially less floral or soapy.
Substantially less earthy or musty.
Substantially less drying or too tannic.
Substantially less sharp or acidic.

Morgon

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

Substantially less floral or soapy.
Substantially less earthy or musty.
Substantially less drying or too tannic.
Substantially less sharp or acidic.

Rioja

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

Substantially less floral or soapy.
Substantially less earthy or musty.
Substantially less drying or too tannic.
Substantially less sharp or acidic.

Red Bordeaux

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

Substantially less floral or soapy.
Substantially less earthy or musty.
Substantially less drying or too tannic.
Substantially less sharp or acidic.

Rioja Reserva

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

Substantially less floral or soapy.
Substantially less earthy or musty.
Substantially less drying or too tannic.
Substantially less sharp or acidic.

Stellenbosch Cabernet and Cape Bordeaux blends

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

Substantially less floral or soapy.
Substantially less earthy or musty.
Substantially less drying or too tannic.
Substantially less sharp or acidic.

New Zealand Pinot Noir

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

Substantially less floral or soapy.
Substantially less earthy or musty.
Substantially less drying or too tannic.
Substantially less sharp or acidic.

Closest overall

Nearest neighbours, no change of direction.

Closest matches

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

Lagrein

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

Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and fuller and richer.

Carignan

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

Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and fuller and richer.

Morgon

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 less floral.

Rioja

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

Expect: Expect it to be broader and softer, and less floral.

Different grape, similar feel

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

Lagrein

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

Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and fuller and richer.

Carignan

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

Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and fuller and richer.

Morgon

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 less floral.

Rioja

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

Expect: Expect it to be broader and softer, and less floral.

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.

Poulsard

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

País

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Tibouren

Tibouren scores closest to Naoussa Xinomavro across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

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

Grolleau

Grolleau scores closest to Naoussa Xinomavro across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

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

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

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Grolleau

Grolleau scores closest to Naoussa Xinomavro across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

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

Mondeuse Noire

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Cru Beaujolais

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

Expect: Expect it to be more floral, and less tannic and softer.

Similar but fuller

Keeps the character but adds weight, concentration and mouthfeel.

California Pinot Noir

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 less floral.

New Zealand Pinot Noir

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 less floral.

Ribera del Duero

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

Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and broader and softer.

Rioja

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

Expect: Expect it to be broader and softer, and less floral.

Similar but less tannic

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

California Pinot Noir

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

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

New Zealand Pinot Noir

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 less floral.

Rioja

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

Expect: Expect it to be broader and softer, and less floral.

Rioja Reserva

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

Expect: Expect it to be broader and softer, and less floral.

Similar but softer

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

California Pinot Noir

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 less floral.

Fetească Neagră

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

Expect: Expect it to be broader and softer, and less floral.

Mavrud

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

Expect: Expect it to be broader and softer, and less floral.

Montsant

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

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

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

Lambrusco Grasparossa

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Lambrusco

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Franciacorta

Franciacorta scores closest to Naoussa Xinomavro across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

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

Similar but sweeter

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

Tinto Cão

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Pinotage

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

Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and broader and softer.

Valpolicella Ripasso

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

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

Port

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

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.

Frühburgunder

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

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

Piedirosso

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

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

Bobal

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

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

Cornalin

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

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

Similar but more oaky

Adds barrel character, toast and a creamier texture.

Rioja

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

Expect: Expect it to be broader and softer, and less floral.

Rioja Reserva

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

Expect: Expect it to be broader and softer, and less floral.

Ribera del Duero

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

Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and broader and softer.

Pinotage

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

Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and broader and softer.

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 less tannic and softer, and more floral.

Malbec

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Pinot Noir

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

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

Barolo

curated

The comparison Xinomavro is always measured against, and structurally accurate.

Expect: Rose and tar in place of tomato and olive, at several times the price.

Similar but more restrained

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

Koshu

Koshu scores closest to Naoussa Xinomavro across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

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

Franken Silvaner

Franken Silvaner scores closest to Naoussa Xinomavro across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

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

Silvaner

Silvaner scores closest to Naoussa Xinomavro across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

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

Pinot Grigio

Pinot Grigio scores closest to Naoussa Xinomavro across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

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

Similar but more floral

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

Dão

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

Expect: Expect it to be more floral, and more neutral and subtle.

Hawke’s Bay Syrah

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

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

Cru Beaujolais

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

Expect: Expect it to be more floral, and less tannic and softer.

Uco Valley Malbec

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be more floral, and more fruit-driven.

Similar but less floral

Some drinkers read floral aromatics as soapy or perfumed. This holds the structure and removes them.

California Pinot Noir

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

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

Carignan

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

Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and fuller and richer.

Hemel-en-Aarde Pinot Noir

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

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

Lagrein

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

Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and fuller and richer.

Similar but more savoury

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

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.

Rioja Gran Reserva

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

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

Chianti Classico Riserva

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

Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and earthier.

Rioja

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

Expect: Expect it to be broader and softer, and less floral.

Carignan

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

Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and more fruit-driven.

Similar but fruitier

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

California Pinot Noir

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 less floral.

Lagrein

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

Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and fuller and richer.

Morgon

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 less floral.

New Zealand Pinot Noir

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 less floral.

Change the place

Keep the grape, move it somewhere else.

Same grape, cooler climate

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

Xinomavro

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

Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and more tannic and structured.

Same grape, warmer climate

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

Xinomavro

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

Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, 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.

Rioja

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

Expect: Expect it to be broader and softer, and less floral.

Red Bordeaux

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

Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and more herbal and green.

Rioja Reserva

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

Expect: Expect it to be broader and softer, and less floral.

Chianti Classico

curated

Shared high acidity and savoury tomato-leaf character.

Expect: Softer, fruitier and easier to drink young.

Something more adventurous

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

Lagrein

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

Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and fuller and richer.

Carignan

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

Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and fuller and richer.

Morgon

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 less floral.

Stellenbosch Cabernet and Cape Bordeaux blends

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

Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and more herbal and green.

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.

Lagrein

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

Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and fuller and richer.

Carignan

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

Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and fuller and richer.

Morgon

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 less floral.

Stellenbosch Cabernet and Cape Bordeaux blends

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

Expect: Expect it to be less floral, and more herbal and green.

A step up

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

Rioja Gran Reserva

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

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

Northern Rhône Syrah

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

Expect: Expect it to be earthier, and more floral.

Brunello di Montalcino

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and more tannic and structured.

Barolo

curated

The comparison Xinomavro is always measured against, and structurally accurate.

Expect: Rose and tar in place of tomato and olive, at several times the price.

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.