Wines Similar to Chianti, Sorted by What You Liked

If you want a wine similar to Chianti, start with Rosso di Montalcino or Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, because both are made from Sangiovese, the same grape, a short drive south of the Chianti hills. If what you love is Chianti's bright acidity with food, Barbera d'Asti from Piedmont is the easiest step outside Tuscany. And if you want the savory, herbal side of Chianti from a different country, try Chinon, the Cabernet Franc from France's Loire Valley, or a Rioja Crianza from Spain.

Those picks don't overlap much, so it's worth thirty seconds working out which part of Chianti you actually enjoy before you spend money on the next bottle.

What are the closest wines to Chianti?

The closest wines to Chianti are Rosso di Montalcino, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, Morellino di Scansano, Brunello di Montalcino, Barbera d'Asti, Montepulciano d'Abruzzo, Chinon, Rioja Crianza and Xinomavro from northern Greece. The first four share Chianti's grape, Barbera and Montepulciano d'Abruzzo share its Italian, food-first habits, and the last three get close to its flavor from outside Italy.

Here's how they line up, so you can find your row before reading the rest.

None of these is a copy, so the useful question is which part of Chianti you want to keep.

What do you actually like about Chianti?

Most people who like Chianti like one of three things about it: the grape itself, the way it works with food, or the fact that it's a dependable, affordable red on almost every Italian menu. Those three reasons point to different bottles, which is why forum answers to this question are so scattered.

Chianti's own rules explain part of the spread. The Chianti consortium says a Chianti DOCG can be made from a minimum of 60% Sangiovese up to 100%, with other Tuscan grapes making up the rest, while Chianti Classico, the original heartland between Florence and Siena, requires at least 80% Sangiovese. The wider Chianti zone also splits into seven named sub-zones, Rufina and Colli Senesi among them. So a supermarket Chianti and a Chianti Classico from a good producer can taste like cousins rather than siblings, and our breakdown of what Chianti tastes like and why two bottles differ goes into that in detail.

So it helps to know which of three drinkers you are. The first loves Sangiovese, that sour cherry, dried herb and dusty, savory finish, and wants more of it, maybe better. The second loves what Chianti does next to a plate of pasta, the acidity that cuts through tomato sauce and cheese, and doesn't much care which grape delivers it. The third just wants a reliable dry red in the same price band and is a little tired of the same label. The sections below are built around those three people, and the answers barely overlap.

Which Tuscan reds taste most like Chianti?

Rosso di Montalcino and Vino Nobile di Montepulciano taste the most like Chianti, because they're Sangiovese grown a few dozen miles away, with Morellino di Scansano as the softer coastal cousin and Brunello di Montalcino as the serious, expensive version. If you're the first drinker, the one who loves the grape, this is where you should stay.

Rosso di Montalcino is our first pick. It comes from the same hilltop zone around the town of Montalcino as Brunello, and like Brunello it's made exclusively from Sangiovese. The difference is time: the Brunello consortium's rules let Rosso go on sale from September of the year after harvest, while Brunello must wait until January 1st of the fifth year after harvest, with at least two years in wooden barrels along the way. That makes Rosso the fresher, rounder, more affordable way to drink Montalcino Sangiovese. On Wine-Searcher in October 2026, widely stocked bottles like Castello Banfi and Il Poggione Rosso di Montalcino both averaged $27.

Vino Nobile di Montepulciano is named after a hill town in southeastern Tuscany, and its production rules call for at least 70% Sangiovese and a minimum of two years of aging counted from the January after harvest. It sits between Chianti Classico and Brunello in weight, with the same cherry and herb character and a firmer, longer finish. We think it's the best value of the Tuscan group, and it's rarely expensive, with Wine-Searcher averaging Salcheto at $23, Avignonesi at $25 and Antinori's La Braccesca at $31.

Morellino di Scansano comes from the Maremma, the warmer coastal strip of southern Tuscany, and its rules require a minimum of 85% Sangiovese. Morellino is the local name for Sangiovese there, and the extra sun shows: it's softer and riper than most Chianti, with a peppery edge, which makes it a good bottle for anyone who finds basic Chianti a bit tart on its own. Fattoria Le Pupille at $19 and Cecchi La Mora at $20 were the everyday options in Wine-Searcher's averages.

Brunello di Montalcino is Chianti's grape at full concentration and price, so we'd drink a Rosso first to see whether the Montalcino style is for you before spending on one. If you're also curious about the Tuscan reds that blend Sangiovese with Cabernet and Merlot, our explainer on what Super Tuscan means on a label covers how to spot one.

Carmignano, west of Florence, is worth grabbing if you ever see one, because it must contain at least 50% Sangiovese and between 10% and 20% Cabernet Franc or Cabernet Sauvignon, so it tastes like Chianti with a little more dark fruit.

Which Italian reds outside Tuscany are like Chianti?

Barbera d'Asti from Piedmont is the Italian red most like Chianti outside Tuscany, followed by Montepulciano d'Abruzzo for a softer everyday glass and Nero d'Avola from Sicily for a riper, warmer one. This is the section for the second drinker, the one who loves what Chianti does at the dinner table.

Barbera is the grape we'd hand most Chianti fans first. Wine Folly's profile describes it as low in tannins and high in acidity, which is Chianti's food trick with the drying grip turned down, so it tastes juicier and more forgiving. Barbera d'Asti must be at least 90% Barbera, and good bottles are easy to find at Chianti prices: Wine-Searcher listed Michele Chiarlo Le Orme at $16, Pico Maccario Lavignone at $19 and Vietti Tre Vie at $20. With pizza or a tomato-based pasta it does everything Chianti does, and some nights does it better.

Montepulciano d'Abruzzo is where the name causes trouble, so it's worth a sentence. Montepulciano is a grape grown on Italy's Adriatic coast, and Montepulciano d'Abruzzo has to be made from at least 85% of it. Montepulciano is also the Tuscan town that makes Vino Nobile from Sangiovese, and Wine Spectator puts it plainly: Montepulciano d'Abruzzo has no relation to the Tuscan town. The wine itself is darker and softer than Chianti, with plum and black cherry, gentle tannin and lower acidity, and it fills the same weeknight slot. It's also one of the cheapest good reds in any shop, with Masciarelli averaging $12 and Zaccagnini $17 on Wine-Searcher.

Nero d'Avola is Sicily's most widely planted red grape, and it's what Chianti might taste like with more sun on it: dark cherry, dried plum and a savory edge, with softer acidity. We'd point you here if you like Chianti with food but find it a bit sharp on a cold evening by itself.

Which wines like Chianti come from outside Italy?

Chinon from the Loire Valley, Rioja Crianza from Spain and Xinomavro from Naoussa in Greece are the wines most like Chianti from outside Italy. Each gets close to Chianti's savory, herbal, high-acid style rather than its exact fruit, which is the part most people miss when they leave Italy.

Chinon is our favorite of the three for Chianti drinkers. France's appellation rules make it mainly Cabernet Franc, with Cabernet Sauvignon capped at 10% of the vineyard, and Loire Cabernet Franc has the same medium body, red fruit and dried herb character that makes Chianti so good with food, plus a leafy, green pepper note of its own. If the "oregano and dusty earth" side of Chianti is what you love, Chinon gives you more of it.

Rioja Crianza is the Spanish answer and the easiest of the three to find in the US. The Rioja regulator requires a red Crianza to age at least two years, with at least one year in 225-liter oak barrels, and the result is dry, savory red cherry fruit with a layer of vanilla and sweet spice from the oak. Tempranillo, Rioja's main grape, has a little less acidity than Sangiovese, so Crianza reads as a slightly rounder, warmer Chianti Riserva.

Xinomavro is the adventurous pick of the three, and the Naoussa PDO is 100% Xinomavro, with a high level of tannins and high acidity, and Wine Folly notes that people often compare it to Nebbiolo for its high acidity, firm tannins, pale color. In the glass it has a tomato-leaf, dried-herb savoriness that's closer to Sangiovese than almost anything else outside Italy, and for some Chianti drinkers it's a genuine revelation. It's grippier than Chianti, so drink it with food.

Is Chianti similar to Pinot Noir, Cabernet or Merlot?

Chianti is closer to Pinot Noir than to Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot, because it shares Pinot's bright acidity, red fruit and medium-or-lighter body, but it's more savory and has firmer tannin than most Pinot Noir. Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot are both fuller and darker, so they make poor substitutes even though some lists recommend them.

Pinot Noir is the right comparison if what you like is Chianti's freshness and red-cherry fruit. A cool-climate Pinot from Burgundy or Oregon has the acidity and the lightness, but it's silkier and less herbal, and it rarely has Chianti's dusty, drying finish. If you drink both and prefer Pinot, our guide to wines similar to Pinot Noir is the better map for you. Gamay from Beaujolais lands in similar territory, lighter again, and our Gamay taste guide covers where it differs.

Cabernet Sauvignon shows up on some "wines like Chianti" lists, and we think that's a mistake for most readers. It's fuller, darker and more tannic, with blackcurrant rather than sour cherry, and a Chianti fan who orders a California Cabernet expecting the same thing tends to be disappointed. Its parent is the better tip: UC Davis DNA research showed Cabernet Sauvignon is the child of Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc, and it's Cabernet Franc, the lighter, more herbal parent, that shares Chianti's style. That's why Chinon made our list and Napa Cabernet didn't.

Merlot is softer and plusher than Chianti, with less acidity, so it suits a Chianti drinker who wants something gentler and disappoints one who loves the bite. Our explainer on what tannins actually do to a red wine helps you put words to where your own line sits.

Which Chianti alternatives are best with pizza and red sauce?

Barbera d'Asti is the best Chianti alternative with pizza and red-sauce pasta, because its high acidity matches the tomato and its low tannin won't clash with melted cheese. Montepulciano d'Abruzzo is the cheaper, softer choice for a crowd, and Rosso di Montalcino is the one to open when the food is meatier.

Tomato is sharp, so a wine with less acidity than the sauce tastes flat beside it, and that's the same reason Chianti works with these dishes. Where they differ is weight: a margherita or a simple marinara wants something light and juicy like Barbera, while a meat sauce, a lasagna or a sausage pizza can carry the extra structure of a Vino Nobile or a Morellino. Our full breakdown of wine for a bolognese and our best wine with pizza picks go deeper on each dish.

For grilled steak, move up to a Vino Nobile or a Xinomavro, and for a mixed Italian spread our guide to choosing wine for Italian food shows which bottle covers the most dishes at once.

How much should you pay for a wine like Chianti?

Most good wines similar to Chianti cost between $12 and $31 in the US, based on Wine-Searcher's average prices in October 2026. Montepulciano d'Abruzzo is the cheapest of the group and Brunello di Montalcino is the one exception that costs far more.

Here's the spread from the averages we found, all linked above: Montepulciano d'Abruzzo from about $12 to $17, Barbera d'Asti from $16 to $20, Morellino di Scansano from $19 to $20, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano from $23 to $31, and Rosso di Montalcino at around $27. Those are averages across many shops, so expect a few dollars either way where you live.

The best value, in our view, is a Vino Nobile around $25. It's genuinely more serious than most Chianti at that price, it's the same grape, and it's often overlooked because people mix it up with Montepulciano d'Abruzzo. The cheapest happy surprise is Barbera, which at $16 to $20 outperforms a lot of Chianti with food. And if you want to understand what you're paying for on the Italian side of the shelf, our explainer on what DOCG means on an Italian wine label helps you read the bottle before you buy it.

How do you pick the right one on a shelf or a wine list?

Look for the place name rather than the grape, because most of these wines are labeled by region: Montalcino, Montepulciano, Scansano, Asti, Abruzzo, Chinon, Rioja and Naoussa. The grape is often printed small or not at all, which is exactly why these bottles get skipped by people who would love them.

In an Italian restaurant, these wines will usually sit right next to the Chianti on the list, so the swap is low risk. Barbera and Montepulciano d'Abruzzo are the two you'll most often see by the glass, and they're a cheap way to test a direction before committing to a bottle. If you can't find any of them, a Chianti Classico Riserva from a producer you haven't tried is a smaller but still useful change.

The harder case is standing in front of a shelf of unfamiliar Italian labels, trying to work out which of them will taste like the Chianti you already know. That's the job we built Find Similar for: you name the bottle you liked, and Sommy surfaces wines that share its grape, region or character, then sorts them toward your own taste rather than an average reader's.

Frequently asked questions

What wine is most similar to Chianti?

Rosso di Montalcino is the wine most similar to Chianti, since it's made entirely from Sangiovese in Tuscany and drinks young and fresh. Vino Nobile di Montepulciano is a close second with a little more structure. Outside Tuscany, Barbera d'Asti is the closest match for food.

What are some wines similar to Chianti that aren't Italian?

The best wines similar to Chianti from outside Italy are Chinon from the Loire Valley, made mainly from Cabernet Franc, Rioja Crianza from Spain, and Xinomavro from Naoussa in Greece. All three share Chianti's savory, herbal character and food-friendly acidity.

Is Chianti similar to Pinot Noir?

Chianti is fairly similar to Pinot Noir in acidity, body and red fruit, but it's more savory and has firmer tannin. If you like both, Gamay from Beaujolais sits between the two styles.

Is Montepulciano the same as Chianti?

No, and there are two wines with that name. Vino Nobile di Montepulciano is a Tuscan Sangiovese wine and quite close to Chianti, while Montepulciano d'Abruzzo is made from a different grape called Montepulciano and is softer and darker.

Is Chianti similar to Cabernet Sauvignon?

Chianti isn't very similar to Cabernet Sauvignon, which is fuller, darker and more tannic. Cabernet Franc, one of Cabernet Sauvignon's parent grapes, is much closer to Chianti, and Chinon is the classic example.

What's a cheaper wine like Chianti?

Montepulciano d'Abruzzo is the cheapest wine like Chianti, with well-known bottles averaging $12 to $17 on Wine-Searcher in October 2026. Barbera d'Asti, from about $16, is the better match if you want Chianti's bright acidity.

Which bottle should you open first?

We'd start you with a Rosso di Montalcino if you love the grape, and a Barbera d'Asti if you love what Chianti does with dinner. Those two answer the two most common reasons people drink Chianti, and between them they'll tell you quickly whether you want more Sangiovese or simply more Italian red with good acidity.

Open the new bottle next to a Chianti you already know, on a night when there's pasta or pizza on the table, and pay attention to the moment you reach for one glass over the other. That small preference is the most useful thing you'll learn, and it's worth more than any list, ours included, because the wine that's "most similar" to Chianti is whichever one keeps the parts you liked.