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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.
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.
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 that it is properly dry, while moving away from too buttery or thick and too heavy.
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.
Cortese
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
- Keeps that it is properly dry.
- Substantially less buttery or thick.
- Substantially less heavy.
Gavi
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
- Keeps that it is properly dry.
- Substantially less buttery or thick.
- Substantially less heavy.
Picpoul de Pinet
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Keeps that it is properly dry.
- Substantially less buttery or thick.
- Substantially less heavy.
Aligoté
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Keeps that it is properly dry.
- Substantially less buttery or thick.
- Substantially less heavy.
Picpoul
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Keeps that it is properly dry.
- Substantially less buttery or thick.
- Substantially less heavy.
Muscadet
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Keeps that it is properly dry.
- Substantially less buttery or thick.
- Substantially less heavy.
Colombard
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Keeps that it is properly dry.
- Substantially less buttery or thick.
- Substantially less heavy.
Melon de Bourgogne
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Keeps that it is properly dry.
- Substantially less buttery or thick.
- Substantially less heavy.
Closest overall
Nearest neighbours, no change of direction.
Closest matches
The nearest overall neighbours across structure and flavour, with no deliberate change of direction.
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.
Gavi
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 oaky.
Picpoul de Pinet
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be leaner and more cutting, and fresher.
Aligoté
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
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.
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.
Gavi
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 oaky.
Picpoul de Pinet
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be leaner and more cutting, and fresher.
Aligoté
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, 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.
Aligoté
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and more fruit-driven.
Alpine white
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be leaner and more cutting, and lighter in alcohol.
Colombard
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, and more fruit-driven.
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.
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.
Aligoté
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and fresher.
Alpine white
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, and leaner and more cutting.
Colombard
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, and more fruit-driven.
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.
Similar but fuller
Keeps the character but adds weight, concentration and mouthfeel.
Chardonnay
Chardonnay scores closest to Friulano across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and rounder and creamier in texture.
Dry Furmint
Dry Furmint scores closest to Friulano across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and rounder and creamier in texture.
Greco
Both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and rounder and creamier in texture.
Greco di Tufo
Both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, 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.
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.
Gavi
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 oaky.
Picpoul de Pinet
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be leaner and more cutting, and fresher.
Aligoté
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and more fruit-driven.
Similar but more structured
More tannic architecture, for food or for ageing.
Koshu
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and leaner and more cutting.
Trebbiano Spoletino
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, and fresher.
Brda Rebula
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and more oaky.
Mtsvane Kakhuri
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and softer and rounder.
Similar but fresher
Raises acidity and overall lift, usually by moving to a cooler-climate expression.
Aligoté
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and more fruit-driven.
Alpine white
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be leaner and more cutting, and lighter in alcohol.
Colombard
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, and more fruit-driven.
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 more neutral and subtle.
Similar but softer
Lowers acidity and sharpness in favour of a broader, gentler feel.
Auxerrois
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and rounder and creamier in texture.
Antão Vaz
Antão Vaz scores closest to Friulano across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and fuller and richer.
Pošip
Pošip scores closest to Friulano across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and fuller and richer.
Roussanne
Roussanne scores closest to Friulano across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and fuller and richer.
The sparkling version
Moves to a sparkling expression while holding the flavour and weight as close as possible.
English Blanc de Blancs
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and more sparkling.
English sparkling wine
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and fuller and richer.
Prosecco
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and sweeter.
Crémant
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and fuller and richer.
Similar but sweeter
Adds perceptible sweetness, which also softens acidity and chilli heat.
Vinho Verde
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and leaner and more cutting.
English still white
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and more oaky.
English Blanc de Blancs
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and more sparkling.
Trebbiano Romagnolo
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and softer and rounder.
Change the flavour
Same shape, different aromatic character.
Similar but more oaky
Adds barrel character, toast and a creamier texture.
White Bordeaux
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and rounder and creamier in texture.
Jura Savagnin and Chardonnay
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and rounder and creamier in texture.
Alvarinho (Monção e Melgaço)
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and rounder and creamier in texture.
Verdicchio
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, and rounder and creamier in texture.
Similar but more aromatic
More to smell before you taste — floral, fruity or spiced aromatics.
Loureiro
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, and more floral.
Mantinia Moschofilero
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be leaner and more cutting, and softer and rounder.
Moschofilero
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and lighter in alcohol.
Sauvignon Blanc
curatedThe structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and leaner and more cutting.
Similar but more restrained
For readers who find intensely aromatic wines tiring over a whole glass. Keeps the structure, turns the volume down.
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.
Gavi
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 oaky.
Muscadet
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, and more sparkling.
Melon de Bourgogne
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, and more sparkling.
Similar but more floral
Pushes specifically towards rose, violet, blossom and elderflower character.
Loureiro
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, and more floral.
Mantinia Moschofilero
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be leaner and more cutting, and softer and rounder.
Moschofilero
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and lighter in alcohol.
Albariño
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, 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 fuller and richer, and rounder and creamier in texture.
Santorini Assyrtiko
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and rounder and creamier in texture.
Fino and Manzanilla sherry
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be stronger and warmer, and softer and rounder.
Naoussa Xinomavro
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and stronger and warmer.
Similar but fruitier
More obvious, generous fruit flavour, usually from a warmer climate.
Loureiro
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, and more floral.
Moschofilero
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and lighter in alcohol.
Mantinia Moschofilero
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be leaner and more cutting, and softer and rounder.
Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and leaner and more cutting.
Change the place
Keep the grape, move it somewhere else.
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.
Pinot Grigio
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and leaner and more cutting.
Chablis
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and more oaky.
Albariño
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and more floral.
Something more adventurous
Less familiar wines that occupy similar territory — the interesting end of the shelf.
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.
Gavi
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 oaky.
Picpoul de Pinet
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be leaner and more cutting, and fresher.
Aligoté
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and more fruit-driven.
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.
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.
Gavi
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 oaky.
Picpoul de Pinet
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be leaner and more cutting, and fresher.
Aligoté
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and more fruit-driven.
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 fuller and richer, and rounder and creamier in texture.
South African Chenin Blanc
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and rounder and creamier in texture.
Australian Chardonnay
Australian Chardonnay scores closest to Friulano across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and rounder and creamier in texture.
White Burgundy
White Burgundy scores closest to Friulano across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and rounder and creamier in texture.
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.