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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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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 creamy, rounded mouthfeel, that it is properly dry and the savoury, non-fruity character, while moving away from too buttery or thick.

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.

Has some of the creamy, rounded mouthfeel, though less of it.
Keeps that it is properly dry.
Keeps the savoury, non-fruity character.
A little less buttery or thick.

Carricante

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.

Has some of the creamy, rounded mouthfeel, though less of it.
Keeps that it is properly dry.
Keeps the savoury, non-fruity character.
Substantially less buttery or thick.

Etna Bianco

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.

Has some of the creamy, rounded mouthfeel, though less of it.
Keeps that it is properly dry.
Keeps the savoury, non-fruity character.
Substantially less buttery or thick.

Chablis

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

Has some of the creamy, rounded mouthfeel, though less of it.
Keeps that it is properly dry.
Keeps the savoury, non-fruity character.
Substantially less buttery or thick.

Juhfark

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

Has some of the creamy, rounded mouthfeel, though less of it.
Keeps that it is properly dry.
Keeps the savoury, non-fruity character.
Substantially less buttery or thick.

Hunter Valley Semillon

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

Has some of the creamy, rounded mouthfeel, though less of it.
Keeps that it is properly dry.
Keeps the savoury, non-fruity character.
Substantially less buttery or thick.

Muscadet

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

Has some of the creamy, rounded mouthfeel, though less of it.
Keeps that it is properly dry.
Keeps the savoury, non-fruity character.
Substantially less buttery or thick.

Trebbiano Spoletino

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.

Has some of the creamy, rounded mouthfeel, though less of it.
Keeps that it is properly dry.
Has some of the savoury, non-fruity character, though less of it.
Substantially less buttery or thick.

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.

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 lighter in alcohol.

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 fresher.

Chablis

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

Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and fresher.

Different grape, similar feel

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

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 lighter in alcohol.

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 fresher.

Chablis

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

Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and fresher.

Juhfark

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

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

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.

Hondarrabi Zuri

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

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

Hunter Valley Semillon

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

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

Muscadet

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

Expect: Expect it to be more restrained in fruit, and more sparkling.

Aligoté

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

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

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.

Chablis

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

Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, 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 more oaky, and fresher.

Hondarrabi Zuri

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

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

Similar but fuller

Keeps the character but adds weight, concentration and mouthfeel.

Greco

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.

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

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 rounder and creamier in texture, 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 rounder and creamier in texture, and softer and rounder.

Assyrtiko

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

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

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

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be rounder and creamier in texture, and 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 fresher, 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 rounder and creamier in texture, and more oaky.

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 fresher.

Similar but more structured

More tannic architecture, for food or for ageing.

Rkatsiteli

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

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

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 fruit-driven, and fresher.

Brda Rebula

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

Expect: Expect it to be more fruit-driven, 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 rounder and creamier in texture, and softer and rounder.

Similar but fresher

Raises acidity and overall lift, usually by moving to a cooler-climate expression.

Arinto

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

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

Assyrtiko

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

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

Carricante

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol.

Chablis

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

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

Similar but softer

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

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.

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.

Auxerrois

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

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

Roussanne

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

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

The sparkling version

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

English sparkling wine

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

Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and more sparkling.

English Blanc de Blancs

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

Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and more sparkling.

Cava

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

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

Crémant

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

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

Similar but sweeter

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

Sercial

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

English sparkling wine

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and more sparkling.

English Blanc de Blancs

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and more sparkling.

Valais Petite Arvine

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and fruitier.

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 rounder and creamier in texture, and softer and rounder.

South African Chenin Blanc

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

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

White Burgundy

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

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

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 rounder and creamier in texture, and less oaky.

Similar but more aromatic

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

Pouilly-Fumé

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

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

Albariño

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

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

Rías Baixas Albariño

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

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

Sancerre

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

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

Similar but more restrained

For readers who find intensely aromatic wines tiring over a whole glass. Keeps the structure, turns the volume down.

Muscadet

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

Expect: Expect it to be more restrained in fruit, and lighter in alcohol.

Melon de Bourgogne

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

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 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 softer and rounder, and more fruit-driven.

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 fruit-driven, and fruitier.

Rías Baixas Albariño

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

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

Sancerre

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

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

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 rounder and creamier in texture.

Santorini Assyrtiko

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Chianti Classico Riserva

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.

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

Taurasi

The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.

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

Similar but fruitier

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

German dry Riesling (trocken)

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

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

Albariño

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

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

Rías Baixas Albariño

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

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

South African Sauvignon Blanc

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

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

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 the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both come from the same country.

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

Same grape, warmer climate

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

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 rounder and creamier in texture, and softer and rounder.

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.

Chablis

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

Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and fresher.

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.

Pouilly-Fumé

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

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

German dry Riesling (trocken)

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

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

Something more adventurous

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

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 lighter in alcohol.

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 fresher.

Juhfark

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

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

Hunter Valley Semillon

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

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

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.

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 lighter in alcohol.

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 fresher.

Juhfark

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

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

Hunter Valley Semillon

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

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

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 more savoury, and rounder and creamier in texture.

South African Chenin Blanc

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

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

White Burgundy

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

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

Australian 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.

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.