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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 light or thin, too heavy, too austere and too buttery or thick.
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.
- More light or thin, not less.
- Substantially less heavy.
- Substantially less austere.
- Substantially less buttery or thick.
Riesling
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- More light or thin, not less.
- Substantially less heavy.
- Substantially less austere.
- Substantially less buttery or thick.
Trebbiano Toscano
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
- More light or thin, not less.
- Substantially less heavy.
- Substantially less austere.
- A little less buttery or thick.
Vouvray
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- More light or thin, not less.
- A little less heavy.
- Substantially less austere.
- Substantially less buttery or thick.
Petite Arvine
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- About as light or thin as the wine you started from.
- About as heavy as the wine you started from.
- Substantially less austere.
- Substantially less buttery or thick.
Spätlese
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- More light or thin, not less.
- A little less heavy.
- Substantially less austere.
- Substantially less buttery or thick.
Albana
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
- More light or thin, not less.
- A little less heavy.
- Substantially less austere.
- A little less buttery or thick.
English still white
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- More light or thin, not less.
- Substantially less heavy.
- Substantially less austere.
- 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.
Finger Lakes Riesling
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be leaner and more cutting, and more floral.
Riesling
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be leaner and more cutting, and lighter in alcohol.
Trebbiano Toscano
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 lighter in alcohol.
Vouvray
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and more sparkling.
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 more floral.
Riesling
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be leaner and more cutting, and lighter in alcohol.
Trebbiano Toscano
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 lighter in alcohol.
Vouvray
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and more sparkling.
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 more floral.
Riesling
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be leaner and more cutting, and lighter in alcohol.
Trebbiano Toscano
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, and softer and rounder.
English still white
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, 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.
Riesling
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, and leaner and more cutting.
Finger Lakes Riesling
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be leaner and more cutting, and more floral.
Spätlese
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, and fuller and richer.
Vouvray
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and more sparkling.
Similar but fuller
Keeps the character but adds weight, concentration and mouthfeel.
Furmint
Furmint scores closest to Friulano across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and rounder and creamier in texture.
Vidal
Vidal scores closest to Friulano across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and rounder and creamier in texture.
Petit Manseng
Petit Manseng scores closest to Friulano across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and rounder and creamier in texture.
Bual
Bual scores closest to Friulano across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and sweeter.
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 more floral.
Riesling
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be leaner and more cutting, and lighter in alcohol.
Chenin Blanc
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and rounder and creamier in texture.
Trebbiano Toscano
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 lighter in alcohol.
Similar but more structured
More tannic architecture, for food or for ageing.
Albana
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.
Trebbiano Spoletino
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and fuller and richer.
Brda Rebula
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and fuller and richer.
Mtsvane Kakhuri
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and fuller and richer.
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 more floral.
Riesling
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be leaner and more cutting, and lighter in alcohol.
Vouvray
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and more sparkling.
Petite Arvine
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and stronger and warmer.
Similar but softer
Lowers acidity and sharpness in favour of a broader, gentler feel.
Alsace Pinot Gris
Alsace Pinot Gris 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.
Muscat of Alexandria
Muscat of Alexandria scores closest to Friulano across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and fuller and richer.
California Chardonnay
California Chardonnay 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 drier, and more sparkling.
English sparkling wine
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and fuller and richer.
Crémant
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and fuller and richer.
Austrian Sekt
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and fuller and richer.
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 more floral.
Riesling
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be leaner and more cutting, and lighter in alcohol.
Trebbiano Toscano
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 lighter in alcohol.
Vouvray
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and more sparkling.
Change the flavour
Same shape, different aromatic character.
Similar but more oaky
Adds barrel character, toast and a creamier texture.
Chenin Blanc
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and rounder and creamier in texture.
Sémillon
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and rounder and creamier in texture.
Furmint
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and rounder and creamier in texture.
White Bordeaux
White Bordeaux scores closest to Friulano across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, 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 more fruit-driven.
Riesling
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be leaner and more cutting, 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 softer and rounder, and more floral.
Scheurebe
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and softer and rounder.
Similar but more restrained
For readers who find intensely aromatic wines tiring over a whole glass. Keeps the structure, turns the volume down.
Trebbiano Toscano
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 lighter in alcohol.
Seyval Blanc
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and softer and rounder.
Sémillon
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and rounder and creamier in texture.
Cortese
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and more fruit-driven.
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 more fruit-driven.
Riesling
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be leaner and more cutting, and lighter in alcohol.
Spätlese
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, 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 softer and rounder, and more floral.
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 fuller and richer, and drier.
Santorini Assyrtiko
Santorini Assyrtiko scores closest to Friulano across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and drier.
Trebbiano Toscano
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.
Muscadet
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, 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 more floral.
Riesling
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be leaner and more cutting, and lighter in alcohol.
Spätlese
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, 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 softer and rounder, and more floral.
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.
Riesling
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be leaner and more cutting, and lighter in alcohol.
Mosel Riesling
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter in alcohol, and lighter.
Chenin Blanc
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and rounder and creamier in texture.
Vinho Verde
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, 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 more floral.
Trebbiano Toscano
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 lighter in alcohol.
Vouvray
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and more sparkling.
Petite Arvine
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and stronger and warmer.
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 more floral.
Trebbiano Toscano
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 lighter in alcohol.
Vouvray
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and more sparkling.
Petite Arvine
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and stronger and warmer.
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 drier.
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 drier.
Australian Chardonnay
Australian Chardonnay scores closest to Friulano across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and drier.
White Burgundy
White Burgundy scores closest to Friulano across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and drier.
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.