If you like this, try…
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 the savoury, non-fruity character, while moving away from too heavy 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.
- Has some of the savoury, non-fruity character, though less of it.
- Substantially less heavy.
- Substantially less savoury or funky.
Picpoul de Pinet
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Has some of the savoury, non-fruity character, though less of it.
- Substantially less heavy.
- A little less savoury or funky.
Gavi
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
- Has some of the savoury, non-fruity character, though less of it.
- Substantially less heavy.
- A little less savoury or funky.
Picpoul
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Has some of the savoury, non-fruity character, though less of it.
- Substantially less heavy.
- A little less savoury or funky.
English still white
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Has some of the savoury, non-fruity character, though less of it.
- Substantially less heavy.
- A little less savoury or funky.
Aligoté
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Has some of the savoury, non-fruity character, though less of it.
- Substantially less heavy.
- A little less savoury or funky.
Alpine white
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Has some of the savoury, non-fruity character, though less of it.
- Substantially less heavy.
- A little less savoury or funky.
Phoenix
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Has noticeably less of the savoury, non-fruity character.
- Substantially less heavy.
- 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.
Finger Lakes Riesling
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and leaner and more cutting.
Picpoul de Pinet
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more restrained in fruit, and leaner and more cutting.
Gavi
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 leaner and more cutting.
Picpoul
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more restrained in fruit, 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 sweeter, and leaner and more cutting.
Picpoul de Pinet
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more restrained in fruit, and leaner and more cutting.
Gavi
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 leaner and more cutting.
Picpoul
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more restrained in fruit, 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 sweeter, and leaner and more cutting.
Gavi
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 leaner and more cutting.
Picpoul de Pinet
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more restrained in fruit, and leaner and more cutting.
Picpoul
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more restrained in fruit, 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.
Finger Lakes Riesling
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and leaner and more cutting.
Gavi
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 leaner and more cutting.
Picpoul de Pinet
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more restrained in fruit, and leaner and more cutting.
Alpine white
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, and more restrained in fruit.
Similar but fuller
Keeps the character but adds weight, concentration and mouthfeel.
California Chardonnay
California Chardonnay scores closest to Friulano across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and stronger and warmer.
Chardonnay
Chardonnay scores closest to Friulano across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and more restrained in fruit.
Marsanne
Marsanne scores closest to Friulano across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and stronger and warmer.
Dry Furmint
Dry Furmint scores closest to Friulano across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, 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.
Finger Lakes Riesling
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and leaner and more cutting.
Picpoul de Pinet
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more restrained in fruit, and leaner and more cutting.
Gavi
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 leaner and more cutting.
Picpoul
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more restrained in fruit, and leaner and more cutting.
Similar but more structured
More tannic architecture, for food or for ageing.
Mtsvane Kakhuri
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and more fruit-driven.
Ribolla Gialla
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.
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.
Istrian Malvazija
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and more restrained in fruit.
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 sweeter, and leaner and more cutting.
Picpoul de Pinet
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more restrained in fruit, and leaner and more cutting.
Gavi
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 leaner and more cutting.
Picpoul
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more restrained in fruit, 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 fuller and richer, and more fruit-driven.
California Chardonnay
California Chardonnay scores closest to Friulano across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and stronger and warmer.
Marsanne
Marsanne scores closest to Friulano across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and stronger and warmer.
Alsace Pinot Gris
Alsace Pinot Gris scores closest to Friulano across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and more fruit-driven.
The sparkling version
Moves to a sparkling expression while holding the flavour and weight as close as possible.
Glera
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.
Asti
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be more fruit-driven, and lighter in alcohol.
Prosecco
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be more fruit-driven, and more floral.
Austrian Sekt
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, 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 sweeter, 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 lighter in alcohol.
Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains
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 fruitier.
English still white
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more restrained in fruit, and fresher and more acidic.
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 more restrained in fruit.
Chenin Blanc
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and more restrained in fruit.
Sémillon
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and more restrained in fruit.
Alvarinho (Monção e Melgaço)
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and less oaky.
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 sweeter, and leaner and more cutting.
Moschofilero
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more fruit-driven, and lighter in alcohol.
Mantinia Moschofilero
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more fruit-driven, and lighter in alcohol.
Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains
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 fruitier.
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 more restrained in fruit, and leaner and more cutting.
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.
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.
Koshu
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 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 sweeter, and leaner and more cutting.
Phoenix
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 lighter in alcohol.
English Bacchus
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more fruit-driven, and more herbal and green.
Similar but more savoury
Moves away from primary fruit towards earth, herb, meat and umami character.
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.
Gavi
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 leaner and more cutting.
Picpoul de Pinet
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more restrained in fruit, and leaner and more cutting.
Picpoul
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more restrained in fruit, and leaner and more cutting.
English still white
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more restrained in fruit, and sweeter.
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 sweeter, and leaner and more cutting.
Phoenix
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 lighter in alcohol.
Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be more fruit-driven, and fruitier.
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 more fruit-driven, 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 lighter in alcohol.
English Bacchus
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more fruit-driven, and more herbal and green.
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 sweeter, and leaner and more cutting.
Picpoul de Pinet
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more restrained in fruit, and leaner and more cutting.
Gavi
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 leaner and more cutting.
Picpoul
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more restrained in fruit, and leaner and more cutting.
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 sweeter, and leaner and more cutting.
Picpoul de Pinet
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more restrained in fruit, and leaner and more cutting.
Gavi
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 leaner and more cutting.
Picpoul
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more restrained in fruit, and leaner and more cutting.
A step up
The benchmark expressions of the same territory, usually with more concentration, structure and ageing potential.
Australian Chardonnay
Australian Chardonnay 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 savoury.
Santorini Assyrtiko
Santorini Assyrtiko scores closest to Friulano across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and more savoury.
White Burgundy
White Burgundy scores closest to Friulano across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and more savoury.
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.