At Renard Creek, we believe every wine drinker has a little explorer in them. Still, it’s easy to settle into a comfort zone, reaching for the same bottle, the same varietal, the same familiar flavor profile. Favorites are wonderful but staying inside that lane can mean missing out on wines that feel just as welcoming while offering something new.
As the Wine Explorers Online Market, our role is to make exploration feel effortless. If Cabernet Sauvignon is your go‑to, you’re already drawn to certain traits: structure, texture, richness, balance. The good news is that there’s a whole world of wines that echo those qualities while nudging you gently outside your usual picks.
Think of these varietals as your first steps into becoming a wine explorer, close enough to feel comfortable, different enough to make your next glass feel like a small adventure.
Love Cab? Try These Next
Cabernet Sauvignon fans tend to gravitate toward wines with structure, dark fruit, and a sense of power. These varietals offer similar traits with fresh perspectives, all available through Renard Creek.
Cabernet Franc
Cabernet Sauvignon’s parent grape, familiar structure with more lift. Flavor profile: Red and black currant, graphite, herbs, violets.
Why it works for Cab lovers: Cabernet Franc keeps the structure Cab drinkers love but adds aromatic lift, savory nuance, and a slightly lighter frame, making it feel both familiar and refreshing.
Renard Creek Picks:
- Trecini Cabernet Franc- Estate grown; smooth, spicy, bold.
- Pedroncelli Cabernet Franc- Medium‑bodied with spice and floral notes.
Aglianico
Italy’s structured, long‑aging classic. Flavor profile: Black cherry, tobacco leaf, dried herbs.
Why it works for Cab lovers: Aglianico mirrors Cabernet’s firm tannins and age‑worthy structure, but with deeper earth tones and savory complexity, ideal for Cab drinkers who appreciate power and longevity.
Renard Creek Pick:
- Monte Volpe Aglianico — Dark, structured, and earth‑driven.
Tempranillo
Spain’s age‑worthy red. Flavor profile: Cherry, leather, tobacco, warm spice.
Why it works for Cab lovers: Tempranillo offers the same sense of depth and seriousness as Cabernet, with a warm spice profile and a slightly softer tannin structure, approachable yet still robust.
Renard Creek Pick:
- Bergin‑Sipila Tempranillo — Organic, regenerative farming, estate grown; medium‑bodied and fruit‑forward.
Petit Verdot
A bold, deeply colored varietal that Cab drinkers often love for its intensity and structure. Flavor profile: Dark fruit, violet, cocoa, firm tannins, spice.
Why it works for Cab lovers: Petit Verdot brings the same depth and power Cabernet fans crave, but with more floral aromatics, more density, and a touch of exotic spice. It’s a natural next step for anyone who enjoys big, structured reds.
Renard Creek Picks:
- Terra Savia Petit Verdot — Organic, estate grown, dark fruit, smooth.
- Nelson Family Petit Verdot — Estate grown; dark, firm, structured.
- OVIS Petit Verdot 2019 — Estate grown, regenerative farming, organic, dark fruit, velvety, full‑bodied.
- Ettore Petit Verdot — Organic, estate grown; dark cherry, spiced, velvety.
The Takeaway
Becoming a wine explorer doesn’t require a big leap, just a willingness to step one varietal beyond your usual picks. These adjacent grapes offer familiar comfort with a spark of discovery. They’re not substitutes; they’re extensions of the same world of structure, texture, and place‑driven winemaking.
