I'm confused by the premise of this thread.
The OP wants a road bike that fits wider tires. Gravel roads are roads that are not paved with asphalt and therefore require wider tires. A gravel bike is a road bike that fits wider tires.
The solution here is extremely obvious.
A hardtail MTB or flat bar hybrid converted into a drop bar bike also works, and accomplishes the same goal, which is to have a drop bar bike that fits wider tires. Is this better for the OP than a gravel bike? I have no idea.
Of course there are bikes marketed as "proper" road bikes that fit wider tires that also might work:
Trek Domane (38mm)
Canyon Endurace (35mm)
Cervelo Caledonea (35mm)
Salsa Warroad (35mm)
Are these better options than a gravel bike that could take larger tires, provide more clearance for snow/slush, etc? I have no idea. They would all fit the 30mm winter studded tyre from Schwalbe, or a 32-33mm winter studded tire from other manufacturers.