If you like this, try…
Wines like Friulano
Friuli’s signature white: dry, nutty and savoury, formerly called Tocai Friulano. Below: what to try next, grouped by the direction you want to travel.
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What do you like about Friulano?
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 full and weighty it is
- Body is how much the wine seems to fill your mouth — the difference between skimmed and whole milk. It comes mostly from alcohol and ripeness.
- How light it is
- A wine you can drink without it feeling like a commitment. Usually lower in alcohol as well as lighter in the mouth.
- The creamy, rounded texture
- A soft, almost dairy-like roundness. In white wine it usually comes from malolactic fermentation or from time on the lees, not from the grape.
- That it is not oaky
- No barrel character — just the fruit and the acidity. Chablis and Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc are the reference points.
- 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.
- 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.
Closest overall
Nearest neighbours, no change of direction.
Closest matches
The nearest overall neighbours across structure and flavour, with no deliberate change of direction.
Grüner Veltliner
curatedThe closest comparison in Central Europe: dry, textured, faintly herbal and food-shaped.
Expect: Grüner Veltliner is peppery where Friulano is nutty.
Friuli white
Both are made from friulano, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and fuller and richer.
Catarratto
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 leaner and more cutting.
Verdicchio
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, 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.
Catarratto
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 leaner and more cutting.
Verdicchio
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and more fruit-driven.
Trebbiano Abruzzese
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 leaner and more cutting.
Vernaccia di San Gimignano
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be leaner and more cutting, 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.
Pinot Grigio
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 leaner and more cutting.
Roditis
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more fruit-driven, and leaner and more cutting.
Trebbiano Romagnolo
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 sweeter.
Cortese
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 fresher and more acidic.
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.
Carricante
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and fresher.
Etna Bianco
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and more oaky.
Trebbiano Spoletino
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and fresher.
Juhfark
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and fresher.
Similar but fuller
Keeps the character but adds weight, concentration and mouthfeel.
Friuli white
Both are made from friulano, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and leaner and more cutting.
Marsanne
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and broader and softer.
Soave Classico
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and leaner and more cutting.
Greco
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and leaner and more cutting.
Similar but less tannic
For readers who find firm reds drying. Reduces tannic grip while holding flavour and weight roughly steady.
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.
Verdicchio
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and more fruit-driven.
Soave Classico
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and fuller and richer.
Grechetto
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and more fruit-driven.
Greco
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and fuller and richer.
Similar but more structured
More tannic architecture, for food or for ageing.
Friuli white
Both are made from friulano, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and fuller and richer.
Rkatsiteli
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and lighter in alcohol.
Kisi
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and broader and softer.
Ribolla Gialla
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and more fruit-driven.
Similar but fresher
Raises acidity and overall lift, usually by moving to a cooler-climate expression.
Greco
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer.
Carricante
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be leaner and more cutting, and lighter in alcohol.
Greco di Tufo
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and fuller and richer.
Etna Bianco
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and leaner and more cutting.
Similar but softer
Lowers acidity and sharpness in favour of a broader, gentler feel.
Marsanne
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be broader and softer, and softer and rounder.
California Chardonnay
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and broader and softer.
Auxerrois
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more fruit-driven, and leaner and more cutting.
Grenache Blanc
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be broader and softer, and softer and rounder.
The sparkling version
Moves to a sparkling expression while holding the flavour and weight as close as possible.
Franciacorta
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be more sparkling, and sweeter.
Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be more floral, and more fruit-driven.
Glera
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be more floral, and more fruit-driven.
Méthode Cap Classique
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more sparkling, and sweeter.
Similar but sweeter
Adds perceptible sweetness, which also softens acidity and chilli heat.
Grechetto
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 lighter in alcohol.
Albana
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and more fruit-driven.
Garganega
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be more floral, and more oaky.
Graševina
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more fruit-driven, and leaner and more cutting.
Change the flavour
Same shape, different aromatic character.
Similar but more oaky
Adds barrel character, toast and a creamier texture.
Friuli white
Both are made from friulano, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and leaner and more cutting.
Australian Chardonnay
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and leaner and more cutting.
New Zealand Chardonnay
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and leaner and more cutting.
White Burgundy
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be spicier, and fuller and richer.
Similar but more aromatic
More to smell before you taste — floral, fruity or spiced aromatics.
Falanghina
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 more floral.
Torrontés
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more floral, and more fruit-driven.
Australian Riesling
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be leaner and more cutting, and fresher and more acidic.
Roussanne
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more fruit-driven, and more oaky.
Similar but more restrained
For readers who find intensely aromatic wines tiring over a whole glass. Keeps the structure, turns the volume down.
Trebbiano d’Abruzzo
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and more fruit-driven.
Vernaccia di San Gimignano
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and more fruit-driven.
Pinot Blanc
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more fruit-driven, and more oaky.
Palomino Fino
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and broader and softer.
Similar but more floral
Pushes specifically towards rose, violet, blossom and elderflower character.
Falanghina
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 more floral.
Australian Riesling
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be leaner and more cutting, and fresher and more acidic.
Roussanne
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more fruit-driven, and more oaky.
Albariño
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and more oaky.
Similar but more savoury
Moves away from primary fruit towards earth, herb, meat and umami character.
Vin Jaune
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be spicier, and more aromatic.
Santorini Assyrtiko
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and more oaky.
Friuli white
Both are made from friulano, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and more fruit-driven.
Savennières
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more fruit-driven, and fresher and more acidic.
Similar but fruitier
More obvious, generous fruit flavour, usually from a warmer climate.
Grillo
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be leaner and more cutting, and more aromatic.
Fiano
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be more floral, and more oaky.
Fiano di Avellino
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be more floral, and more oaky.
Godello
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and fuller and richer.
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.
Same grape, warmer climate
Typically riper, fuller and more generous in fruit, with higher alcohol.
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.
Sauvignon Blanc
curatedA useful anchor for a dry white with herbal, green-edged aromatics.
Expect: Friulano is much less pungent, with an almond-skin bitterness in place of Sauvignon’s gooseberry and cut grass.
Grüner Veltliner
curatedThe closest comparison in Central Europe: dry, textured, faintly herbal and food-shaped.
Expect: Grüner Veltliner is peppery where Friulano is nutty.
Australian Chardonnay
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and fuller and richer.
White Burgundy
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and spicier.
Something more adventurous
Less familiar wines that occupy similar territory — the interesting end of the shelf.
Friuli white
Both are made from friulano, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and fuller and richer.
Catarratto
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 leaner and more cutting.
Verdicchio
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and more fruit-driven.
Trebbiano Abruzzese
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 leaner and more cutting.
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.
Friuli white
Both are made from friulano, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and fuller and richer.
Catarratto
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 leaner and more cutting.
Verdicchio
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and more fruit-driven.
Trebbiano Abruzzese
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 leaner and more cutting.
A step up
The benchmark expressions of the same territory, usually with more concentration, structure and ageing potential.
Santorini Assyrtiko
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and fuller and richer.
Australian Chardonnay
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and fuller and richer.
White Burgundy
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and spicier.
South African Chenin Blanc
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and fresher and more acidic.
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.