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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 that the fruit is not covered in oak and the savoury, non-fruity character, while moving away from too heavy, too buttery or thick and too savoury or funky.

You said you like the savoury, non-fruity character and that it is too savoury or funky. Both are about savoury character, so they pull the same axis in opposite directions — the dislike is applied and the like is set aside.
You said you like the savoury, non-fruity character and that it is too savoury or funky. Both are about fruit intensity, 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.

Finger Lakes Riesling

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

Keeps that the fruit is not covered in oak.
Has some of the savoury, non-fruity character, though less of it.
Substantially less heavy.
Substantially less buttery or thick.
Substantially less savoury or funky.

Picpoul de Pinet

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

Keeps that the fruit is not covered in oak.
Has some of the savoury, non-fruity character, though less of it.
Substantially less heavy.
Substantially less buttery or thick.
A little less savoury or funky.

Picpoul

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

Keeps that the fruit is not covered in oak.
Has some of the savoury, non-fruity character, though less of it.
Substantially less heavy.
Substantially less buttery or thick.
A little less savoury or funky.

Riesling

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

Keeps that the fruit is not covered in oak.
Has noticeably less of the savoury, non-fruity character.
Substantially less heavy.
Substantially less buttery or thick.
Substantially less savoury or funky.

Loureiro

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

Keeps that the fruit is not covered in oak.
Has noticeably less of the savoury, non-fruity character.
Substantially less heavy.
Substantially less buttery or thick.
Substantially less savoury or funky.

Cortese

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

Keeps that the fruit is not covered in oak.
Has noticeably less of the savoury, non-fruity character.
Substantially less heavy.
Substantially less buttery or thick.
Substantially less savoury or funky.

Colombard

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

Keeps that the fruit is not covered in oak.
Has noticeably less of the savoury, non-fruity character.
Substantially less heavy.
Substantially less buttery or thick.
Substantially less savoury or funky.

Hondarrabi Zuri

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

Keeps that the fruit is not covered in oak.
Has some of the savoury, non-fruity character, though less of it.
Substantially less heavy.
Substantially less buttery or thick.
A little 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.

Finger Lakes Riesling

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

Expect: Expect it to be leaner and more cutting, and sweeter.

Picpoul de Pinet

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

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

Picpoul

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

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

Riesling

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

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

Different grape, similar feel

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

Finger Lakes Riesling

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

Expect: Expect it to be leaner and more cutting, and sweeter.

Picpoul de Pinet

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

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

Picpoul

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

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

Riesling

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 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.

Picpoul

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

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

Picpoul de Pinet

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

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

Riesling

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

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

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.

Riesling

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

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

Loureiro

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

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

Finger Lakes Riesling

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

Expect: Expect it to be leaner and more cutting, and sweeter.

Picpoul de Pinet

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

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

Similar but fuller

Keeps the character but adds weight, concentration and mouthfeel.

Vidal

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

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

Austrian Riesling

Austrian Riesling scores closest to Friulano across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

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

Coteaux du Layon

Coteaux du Layon 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.

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.

Finger Lakes Riesling

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

Expect: Expect it to be leaner and more cutting, and sweeter.

Picpoul de Pinet

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

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

Picpoul

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

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

Riesling

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

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

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 fuller and richer, and more restrained in fruit.

Mtsvane Kakhuri

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

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

Tsolikouri

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

Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and softer and rounder.

Rkatsiteli

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

Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and more savoury.

Similar but fresher

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

Finger Lakes Riesling

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

Expect: Expect it to be leaner and more cutting, and sweeter.

Picpoul

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

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

Picpoul de Pinet

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

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

Riesling

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

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

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.

Malagousia

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

Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and fuller and richer.

Malvasia

Malvasia 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.

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 fuller and richer, and softer and rounder.

Glera

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

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

Austrian Sekt

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

Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and more oaky.

Sekt

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

Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and more oaky.

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.

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 lighter in alcohol, and lighter.

Nahe Riesling

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

Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and fresher.

Change the flavour

Same shape, different aromatic character.

Similar but more oaky

Adds barrel character, toast and a creamier texture.

Alvarinho (Monção e Melgaço)

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and fuller and richer.

Verdicchio

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

Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and fuller and richer.

Chenin Blanc

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

Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and fuller and richer.

Jura Savagnin and Chardonnay

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be more oaky, and fuller and richer.

Similar but more aromatic

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

Finger Lakes Riesling

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

Expect: Expect it to be leaner and more cutting, and sweeter.

Moschofilero

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

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

Mantinia Moschofilero

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

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

Riesling

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

Expect: Expect it to be more fruit-driven, 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 more restrained in fruit.

Melon de Bourgogne

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

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

Gavi

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.

Seyval Blanc

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

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

Similar but more floral

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

Finger Lakes Riesling

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

Expect: Expect it to be leaner and more cutting, and sweeter.

Loureiro

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

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

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 lighter in alcohol, and lighter.

Similar but more savoury

Moves away from primary fruit towards earth, herb, meat and umami character.

Vin Jaune

Vin Jaune scores closest to Friulano across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and fuller and richer.

Santorini Assyrtiko

Santorini Assyrtiko scores closest to Friulano across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be more savoury, and fuller and richer.

Muscadet

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Melon de Bourgogne

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

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

Similar but fruitier

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

Finger Lakes 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 lighter in alcohol.

Mosel Riesling

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

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

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.

Friuli white

Both are made from friulano, and both come from the same country.

Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and more oaky.

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.

Riesling

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

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

Sauvignon Blanc

curated

A 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.

Mosel Riesling

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

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

Australian Riesling

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

Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and leaner and more cutting.

Something more adventurous

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

Finger Lakes Riesling

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

Expect: Expect it to be leaner and more cutting, and sweeter.

Picpoul de Pinet

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

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

Picpoul

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

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

Loureiro

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

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

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.

Finger Lakes Riesling

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

Expect: Expect it to be leaner and more cutting, and sweeter.

Picpoul de Pinet

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

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

Picpoul

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

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

Loureiro

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

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

A step up

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

Santorini Assyrtiko

Santorini Assyrtiko scores closest to Friulano across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and more savoury.

South African Chenin Blanc

South African Chenin Blanc scores closest to Friulano across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and more oaky.

Australian Chardonnay

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

Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and more oaky.

White Burgundy

White Burgundy scores closest to Friulano across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.

Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and more oaky.

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.