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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 moving away from too buttery or thick and too savoury or funky.
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.
Sauvignon Blanc
curatedA useful anchor for a dry white with herbal, green-edged aromatics.
- Substantially less buttery or thick.
- Substantially less savoury or funky.
German dry Riesling (trocken)
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Substantially less buttery or thick.
- Substantially less savoury or funky.
Verdelho
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Substantially less buttery or thick.
- Substantially less savoury or funky.
Nahe Riesling
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Substantially less buttery or thick.
- Substantially less savoury or funky.
Albariño
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Substantially less buttery or thick.
- Substantially less savoury or funky.
Rías Baixas Albariño
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Substantially less buttery or thick.
- Substantially less savoury or funky.
Rheingau Riesling
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Substantially less buttery or thick.
- Substantially less savoury or funky.
Alsace Riesling
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Substantially less buttery or thick.
- Substantially less savoury or funky.
Closest overall
Nearest neighbours, no change of direction.
Closest matches
The nearest overall neighbours across structure and flavour, with no deliberate change of direction.
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.
German dry Riesling (trocken)
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and fresher.
Verdelho
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and broader and softer.
Nahe Riesling
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and fresher.
Different grape, similar feel
Deliberately excludes the variety you already know, to find a genuinely new wine that fills the same role.
German dry Riesling (trocken)
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and fresher.
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.
Verdelho
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and broader and softer.
Nahe Riesling
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and fresher.
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.
Finger Lakes Riesling
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be leaner and more cutting, and sweeter.
Mosel Riesling
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be leaner and more cutting, and sweeter.
Riesling
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more fruit-driven, and leaner and more cutting.
Loureiro
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more fruit-driven, and more floral.
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.
Loureiro
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more fruit-driven, and more floral.
Riesling
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more fruit-driven, and leaner and more cutting.
Mosel Riesling
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be leaner and more cutting, and lighter in alcohol.
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.
Similar but fuller
Keeps the character but adds weight, concentration and mouthfeel.
Dry Furmint
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be rounder and creamier in texture, and more oaky.
Furmint
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be rounder and creamier in texture, and sweeter.
Coteaux du Layon
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be rounder and creamier in texture, and fruitier.
Petit Manseng
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be rounder and creamier in texture, and more fruit-driven.
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.
German dry Riesling (trocken)
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and fresher.
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.
Verdelho
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and broader and softer.
Nahe Riesling
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and fresher.
Similar but more structured
More tannic architecture, for food or for ageing.
Trebbiano Spoletino
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be more restrained in fruit, and fresher.
Mtsvane Kakhuri
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more fruit-driven, and softer and rounder.
Brda Rebula
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more restrained in fruit, and more oaky.
Istrian Malvazija
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and more restrained in fruit.
Similar but fresher
Raises acidity and overall lift, usually by moving to a cooler-climate expression.
Albariño
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more floral, and more oaky.
Alsace Riesling
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more floral, and sweeter.
Australian Riesling
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be leaner and more cutting, and more floral.
Chilean Sauvignon Blanc
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be leaner and more cutting, and more herbal and green.
Similar but softer
Lowers acidity and sharpness in favour of a broader, gentler feel.
Antão Vaz
Antão Vaz scores closest to Friulano across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and rounder and creamier in texture.
Pošip
Pošip scores closest to Friulano across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and rounder and creamier in texture.
Malagousia
Malagousia scores closest to Friulano across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and rounder and creamier in texture.
Malvasia
Malvasia 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.
Austrian Sekt
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more sparkling, and sweeter.
Sekt
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more sparkling, and sweeter.
Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore
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 more fruit-driven.
Crémant
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more restrained in fruit, and more sparkling.
Similar but sweeter
Adds perceptible sweetness, which also softens acidity and chilli heat.
Finger Lakes Riesling
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be leaner and more cutting, and sweeter.
Mosel Riesling
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be leaner and more cutting, and sweeter.
Petite Arvine
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more fruit-driven, and sweeter.
Riesling
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
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.
Dry Furmint
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be rounder and creamier in texture, and fuller and richer.
Furmint
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be rounder and creamier in texture, and sweeter.
Chenin Blanc
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be rounder and creamier in texture, and more restrained in fruit.
Chilean Chardonnay
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be rounder and creamier in texture, and softer and rounder.
Similar but more aromatic
More to smell before you taste — floral, fruity or spiced aromatics.
Sauvignon Blanc
curatedThe structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more fruit-driven, and leaner and more cutting.
Albariño
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and fresher.
Rías Baixas Albariño
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and fresher.
Australian Riesling
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be leaner and more cutting, and fresher.
Similar but more restrained
For readers who find intensely aromatic wines tiring over a whole glass. Keeps the structure, turns the volume down.
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 restrained in fruit.
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 restrained in fruit.
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 softer and rounder, and more restrained in fruit.
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 softer and rounder, and more restrained in fruit.
Similar but more floral
Pushes specifically towards rose, violet, blossom and elderflower character.
Albariño
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and fresher.
Alsace Riesling
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more floral, and sweeter.
Australian Riesling
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be leaner and more cutting, and fresher.
Finger Lakes Riesling
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be leaner and more cutting, and sweeter.
Similar but more savoury
Moves away from primary fruit towards earth, herb, meat and umami character.
Santorini Assyrtiko
Santorini Assyrtiko scores closest to Friulano across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and rounder and creamier in texture.
Vin Jaune
Vin Jaune scores closest to Friulano across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and more restrained in fruit.
Pouilly-Fumé
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more restrained in fruit, and more herbal and green.
Trebbiano Spoletino
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be more restrained in fruit, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.
Similar but fruitier
More obvious, generous fruit flavour, usually from a warmer climate.
Albariño
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more floral, and more oaky.
Alsace Riesling
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more floral, and sweeter.
Australian Riesling
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be leaner and more cutting, and more floral.
German dry Riesling (trocken)
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and fresher.
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.
German dry Riesling (trocken)
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and fresher.
Albariño
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more floral, and more oaky.
Rías Baixas Albariño
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more floral, and more oaky.
Something more adventurous
Less familiar wines that occupy similar territory — the interesting end of the shelf.
Verdelho
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and broader and softer.
Nahe Riesling
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and fresher.
Rheingau Riesling
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and more oaky.
Alsace Riesling
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more floral, and sweeter.
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.
Verdelho
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and broader and softer.
Nahe Riesling
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and fresher.
Rheingau Riesling
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and more oaky.
Alsace Riesling
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more floral, and sweeter.
A step up
The benchmark expressions of the same territory, usually with more concentration, structure and ageing potential.
South African Chenin Blanc
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and rounder and creamier in texture.
Santorini Assyrtiko
Santorini Assyrtiko scores closest to Friulano across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and rounder and creamier in texture.
Australian Chardonnay
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and rounder and creamier in texture.
White Burgundy
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, 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.