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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 it is properly dry and the creamy, rounded mouthfeel, while moving away from too savoury or funky and 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.

Sauvignon Blanc

curated

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

Keeps that it is properly dry.
Has noticeably less of the creamy, rounded mouthfeel.
Substantially less savoury or funky.
Substantially less buttery or thick.

German dry Riesling (trocken)

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

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

Albariño

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

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

Rías Baixas Albariño

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

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

South African Sauvignon Blanc

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

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

Trebbiano Spoletino

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

Keeps that it is properly dry.
Has some of the creamy, rounded mouthfeel, though less of it.
A little less savoury or funky.
Substantially less buttery or thick.

Grillo

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

Keeps that it is properly dry.
Has some of the creamy, rounded mouthfeel, though less of it.
Substantially less savoury or funky.
A little less buttery or thick.

Arinto

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

Keeps that it is properly dry.
Has some of the creamy, rounded mouthfeel, though less of it.
A little less savoury or funky.
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.

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.

German dry Riesling (trocken)

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

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

Albariño

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

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

Rías Baixas Albariño

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

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

Different grape, similar feel

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

German dry Riesling (trocken)

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

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

Albariño

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

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

Rías Baixas Albariño

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

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

South African Sauvignon Blanc

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

Expect: Expect it to be more herbal and green, and more oaky.

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 restrained in fruit, and lighter.

Loureiro

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

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

Aligoté

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

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

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 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.

Albariño

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

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

Loureiro

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

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

Rías Baixas Albariño

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

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

South African Sauvignon Blanc

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

Expect: Expect it to be more herbal and green, and more oaky.

Similar but fuller

Keeps the character but adds weight, concentration and mouthfeel.

Dry Furmint

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

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

Fiano

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 softer and rounder.

Fiano di Avellino

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 softer and rounder.

Chilean 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.

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 rounder and creamier in texture, and more oaky.

German dry Riesling (trocken)

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

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

Dry Furmint

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

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

Albariño

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

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

Similar but more structured

More tannic architecture, for food or for ageing.

Mtsvane Kakhuri

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

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

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 restrained in fruit, and fresher.

Brda Rebula

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

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

Ribolla Gialla

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 restrained in fruit.

Similar but fresher

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

Albariño

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

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

Arinto

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

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

Australian Riesling

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

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

German dry Riesling (trocken)

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

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

Similar but softer

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

Antão Vaz

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Pošip

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

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

Malagousia

Malagousia 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 rounder and creamier in texture.

The sparkling version

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

Austrian Sekt

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

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

Sekt

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

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

Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore

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

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 restrained in fruit.

Similar but sweeter

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

Verdelho

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

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

Nahe Riesling

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

Expect: Expect it to be sweeter, and fresher.

Rheingau Riesling

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Alsace Riesling

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

Change the flavour

Same shape, different aromatic character.

Similar but more oaky

Adds barrel character, toast and a creamier texture.

Dry Furmint

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

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

Chilean 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.

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.

Alvarinho (Monção e Melgaço)

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

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.

Albariño

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

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

Rías Baixas Albariño

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

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

Sauvignon Blanc

curated

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

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

Torrontés

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

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

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.

Gavi

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

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

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 oaky, and fresher.

Australian Riesling

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

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

Falanghina

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 softer and rounder.

Loureiro

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.

Vin Jaune

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

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

Santorini Assyrtiko

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

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

Pouilly-Fumé

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

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

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 restrained in fruit, and cleaner and more fruit-focused.

Similar but fruitier

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

Albariño

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

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

German dry Riesling (trocken)

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

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

Rías Baixas Albariño

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

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

South African Sauvignon Blanc

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

Expect: Expect it to be more herbal and green, and more oaky.

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

Expect: Expect it to be softer and rounder, and more savoury.

Same grape, warmer climate

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

Friuli white

Both are made from friulano, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure, both come from the same country.

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

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.

German dry Riesling (trocken)

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

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

Albariño

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

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

Rías Baixas Albariño

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

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

Something more adventurous

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

South African Sauvignon Blanc

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

Expect: Expect it to be more herbal and green, and more oaky.

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 restrained in fruit, and fresher.

Grillo

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 aromatic.

Arinto

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

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

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.

South African Sauvignon Blanc

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

Expect: Expect it to be more herbal and green, and more oaky.

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 restrained in fruit, and fresher.

Grillo

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 aromatic.

Arinto

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

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

A step up

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

South African Chenin Blanc

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

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.

Australian Chardonnay

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

White Burgundy

They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.

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

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.