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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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Refine

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.

I like…

The creamy, rounded texture That it is not oaky The savoury, meaty side That it is properly dry

But it’s a bit…

too heavy too light or thin too buttery or thick too plain or too simple too savoury or funky too austere

Clear all

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.

Looking for something keeping the savoury, non-fruity character and the creamy, rounded mouthfeel, while moving away from too buttery or thick, too heavy and too light or thin.

You said you like the creamy, rounded mouthfeel and that it is too buttery or thick. Both are about texture, so they pull the same axis in opposite directions — the dislike is applied and the like is set aside.
You said you like the creamy, rounded mouthfeel and that it is too buttery or thick. Both are about acidity, so they pull the same axis in opposite directions — the dislike is applied and the like is set aside.

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.

Grüner Veltliner

curated

The closest comparison in Central Europe: dry, textured, faintly herbal and food-shaped.

Keeps the savoury, non-fruity character.
Has some of the creamy, rounded mouthfeel, though less of it.
A little less buttery or thick.
A little less heavy.
More light or thin, not less.

Sercial

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Keeps the savoury, non-fruity character.
Has some of the creamy, rounded mouthfeel, though less of it.
Substantially less buttery or thick.
More heavy, not less.
A little less light or thin.

Greco

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.

Keeps the savoury, non-fruity character.
Keeps the creamy, rounded mouthfeel.
About as buttery or thick as the wine you started from.
More heavy, not less.
A little less light or thin.

Greco di Tufo

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.

Keeps the savoury, non-fruity character.
Keeps the creamy, rounded mouthfeel.
About as buttery or thick as the wine you started from.
More heavy, not less.
A little less light or thin.

Friuli white

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

Keeps the savoury, non-fruity character.
Keeps the creamy, rounded mouthfeel.
About as buttery or thick as the wine you started from.
More heavy, not less.
A little less light or thin.

Assyrtiko

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Keeps the savoury, non-fruity character.
Keeps the creamy, rounded mouthfeel.
About as buttery or thick as the wine you started from.
More heavy, not less.
A little less light or thin.

Savagnin

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Keeps the savoury, non-fruity character.
Keeps the creamy, rounded mouthfeel.
About as buttery or thick as the wine you started from.
More heavy, not less.
A little less light or thin.

Savennières

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Keeps the savoury, non-fruity character.
Keeps the creamy, rounded mouthfeel.
About as buttery or thick as the wine you started from.
More heavy, not less.
A little less light or thin.

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

curated

The closest comparison in Central Europe: dry, textured, faintly herbal and food-shaped.

Expect: Grüner Veltliner is peppery where Friulano is nutty.

Sercial

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and sweeter.

Greco

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and rounder and creamier in texture.

Greco di Tufo

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and rounder and creamier in texture.

Different grape, similar feel

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

Sercial

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and sweeter.

Greco

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and rounder and creamier in texture.

Greco di Tufo

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and rounder and creamier in texture.

Assyrtiko

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and rounder and creamier in texture.

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.

English still white

English still white scores closest to Friulano across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and lighter in alcohol.

Muscadet

Muscadet scores closest to Friulano across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and lighter in alcohol.

Aligoté

Aligoté scores closest to Friulano across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and lighter in alcohol.

Hunter Valley Semillon

Hunter Valley Semillon scores closest to Friulano across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and lighter in alcohol.

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

Both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, and lighter.

Etna Bianco

Both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, and lighter.

Chablis

Chablis scores closest to Friulano across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, and lighter.

Juhfark

Juhfark scores closest to Friulano across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, and lighter.

Similar but fuller

Keeps the character but adds weight, concentration and mouthfeel.

Friuli white

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

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and rounder and creamier in texture.

Greco

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and rounder and creamier in texture.

Greco di Tufo

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and rounder and creamier in texture.

Assyrtiko

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and rounder and creamier in texture.

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.

Greco

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and rounder and creamier in texture.

Greco di Tufo

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and rounder and creamier in texture.

Assyrtiko

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and rounder and creamier in texture.

Savagnin

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and rounder and creamier in texture.

Similar but more structured

More tannic architecture, for food or for ageing.

Friuli white

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

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and rounder and creamier in texture.

Kisi

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and rounder and creamier in texture.

Rkatsiteli

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and lighter in alcohol.

Trebbiano Spoletino

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and lighter in alcohol.

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 lighter, and rounder and creamier in texture.

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 lighter, and rounder and creamier in texture.

Assyrtiko

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

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and rounder and creamier in texture.

Savennières

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

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and rounder and creamier in texture.

Similar but softer

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

California Chardonnay

California Chardonnay scores closest to Friulano across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and rounder and creamier in texture.

Marsanne

Marsanne scores closest to Friulano across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and rounder and creamier in texture.

Pedro Ximénez

Pedro Ximénez scores closest to Friulano across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and rounder and creamier in texture.

Grenache Blanc

Grenache Blanc scores closest to Friulano across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and rounder and creamier in texture.

The sparkling version

Moves to a sparkling expression while holding the flavour and weight as close as possible.

English sparkling wine

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and lighter in alcohol.

Cava

Cava scores closest to Friulano across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and lighter in alcohol.

Crémant

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and lighter in alcohol.

Champagne

Champagne scores closest to Friulano across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and lighter in alcohol.

Similar but sweeter

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

Bual

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and rounder and creamier in texture.

Sercial

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

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and broader and softer.

Madeira

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and rounder and creamier in texture.

Szamorodni

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and lighter in alcohol.

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

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and rounder and creamier in texture.

South African Chenin Blanc

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and rounder and creamier in texture.

White Burgundy

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and rounder and creamier in texture.

Australian Chardonnay

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and rounder and creamier in texture.

Similar but more aromatic

More to smell before you taste — floral, fruity or spiced aromatics.

Alsace Riesling

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Pouilly-Fumé

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and lighter in alcohol.

Albariño

Albariño scores closest to Friulano across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and lighter in alcohol.

Rías Baixas Albariño

Rías Baixas Albariño scores closest to Friulano across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and lighter in alcohol.

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

Both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and lighter in alcohol.

Vernaccia di San Gimignano

Both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and lighter in alcohol.

Franken Silvaner

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

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and softer and rounder.

Muscadet

Muscadet scores closest to Friulano across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and lighter in alcohol.

Similar but more floral

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

Alsace Riesling

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Albariño

Albariño scores closest to Friulano across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and lighter in alcohol.

Rías Baixas Albariño

Rías Baixas Albariño scores closest to Friulano across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and lighter in alcohol.

Sancerre

Sancerre scores closest to Friulano across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and lighter in alcohol.

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 more savoury, and lighter.

Santorini Assyrtiko

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and lighter.

Savennières

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

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and rounder and creamier in texture.

Friuli white

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

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and rounder and creamier in texture.

Similar but fruitier

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

Verdelho

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and fruitier.

German dry Riesling (trocken)

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and fruitier.

Alsace Riesling

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and fruitier.

Fiano

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and rounder and creamier in texture.

Change the place

Keep the grape, move it somewhere else.

Same grape, cooler climate

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

Friuli white

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

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and softer and rounder.

Same grape, warmer climate

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

Friuli white

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

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and rounder and creamier in texture.

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.

South African Chenin Blanc

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and rounder and creamier in texture.

Chablis

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and lighter in alcohol.

White Burgundy

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and rounder and creamier in texture.

Santorini Assyrtiko

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and rounder and creamier in texture.

Something more adventurous

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

Sercial

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and sweeter.

Greco

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and rounder and creamier in texture.

Greco di Tufo

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and rounder and creamier in texture.

Friuli white

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

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and rounder and creamier in texture.

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.

Sercial

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and sweeter.

Greco

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and rounder and creamier in texture.

Greco di Tufo

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and rounder and creamier in texture.

Friuli white

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

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and rounder and creamier in texture.

A step up

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

Santorini Assyrtiko

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and more savoury.

South African Chenin Blanc

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and rounder and creamier in texture.

White Burgundy

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and rounder and creamier in texture.

Australian Chardonnay

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and rounder and creamier in texture.

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.