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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 savoury, non-fruity character, while moving away from too light or thin, too savoury or funky and too heavy.

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.
More light or thin, not less.
Substantially less savoury or funky.
Substantially less heavy.

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.
More light or thin, not less.
A little less savoury or funky.
Substantially less heavy.

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.
More light or thin, not less.
A little less savoury or funky.
Substantially less heavy.

Picpoul

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

Has some of the savoury, non-fruity character, though less of it.
More light or thin, not less.
A little less savoury or funky.
Substantially less heavy.

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.
More light or thin, not less.
A little less savoury or funky.
Substantially less heavy.

Aligoté

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

Has some of the savoury, non-fruity character, though less of it.
More light or thin, not less.
A little less savoury or funky.
Substantially less heavy.

Sauvignon Blanc

curated

A useful anchor for a dry white with herbal, green-edged aromatics.

Has noticeably less of the savoury, non-fruity character.
More light or thin, not less.
Substantially less savoury or funky.
A little less heavy.

Grüner Veltliner

curated

The closest comparison in Central Europe: dry, textured, faintly herbal and food-shaped.

Keeps the savoury, non-fruity character.
More light or thin, not less.
About as savoury or funky as the wine you started from.
A little less heavy.

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.

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 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.

Marsanne

Marsanne 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.

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.

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.

Alvarinho (Monção e Melgaço)

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

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

Verdicchio

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.

Grechetto

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.

Xarel·lo

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 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.

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.

Auxerrois

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

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.

Austrian Sekt

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

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

Sekt

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

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

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 more fruit-driven.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 fuller and richer, 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 fuller and richer, 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.

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.

Albariño

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

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

Rías Baixas Albariño

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

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

Phoenix

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

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

Similar but more savoury

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

Silvaner

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

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

Pouilly-Fumé

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

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

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.

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.

Alvarinho (Monção e Melgaço)

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

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

Rheinhessen Riesling

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

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

Rueda Verdejo

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

Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and more herbal and green.

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 savoury.

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

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.

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.

Albariño

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

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

Rías Baixas Albariño

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

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

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.

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 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.

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.