If you like this, try…
Wines like Friuli white
Italy’s most textural dry whites, from Collio and Colli Orientali — more weight and structure than the Italian norm. Below: what to try next, grouped by the direction you want to travel.
Refine
What do you like about Friuli white?
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
- The citrus and orchard fruit
- Lemon, lime, green apple, pear. The signature of a cool-climate white — quieter and less perfumed than tropical fruit, and a different thing from the acidity it usually travels with.
- 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.
- 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.
- The vanilla and oak
- Vanilla, toast, coconut, sweet spice, sometimes smoke. It comes from the barrel rather than the grape, which is why the same grape can taste completely different with and without it.
- 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 and the creamy, rounded mouthfeel, while moving away from too austere and too heavy.
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.
Sémillon
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Has some of the savoury, non-fruity character, though less of it.
- Keeps the creamy, rounded mouthfeel.
- Substantially less austere.
- Substantially less heavy.
Chenin Blanc
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Has some of the savoury, non-fruity character, though less of it.
- Keeps the creamy, rounded mouthfeel.
- Substantially less austere.
- Substantially less heavy.
Grechetto
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.
- Keeps the creamy, rounded mouthfeel.
- Substantially less austere.
- Substantially less heavy.
Vouvray
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Has some of the savoury, non-fruity character, though less of it.
- Has some of the creamy, rounded mouthfeel, though less of it.
- Substantially less austere.
- Substantially less heavy.
Albana
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, and both come from the same country.
- Has noticeably less of the savoury, non-fruity character.
- Has some of the creamy, rounded mouthfeel, though less of it.
- Substantially less austere.
- Substantially less heavy.
Hárslevelű
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
- Has noticeably less of the savoury, non-fruity character.
- Keeps the creamy, rounded mouthfeel.
- Substantially less austere.
- Substantially less heavy.
Garganega
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.
- Has some of the creamy, rounded mouthfeel, though less of it.
- Substantially less austere.
- Substantially less heavy.
Jura Savagnin and Chardonnay
Both are made from chardonnay, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure, both sit in the same style family.
- Keeps the savoury, non-fruity character.
- Keeps the creamy, rounded mouthfeel.
- About as austere as the wine you started from.
- Substantially 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.
Sémillon
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more fruit-driven, and more neutral and subtle.
Chenin Blanc
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more fruit-driven, and fresher and more acidic.
Grechetto
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.
Vouvray
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and more fruit-driven.
Different grape, similar feel
Deliberately excludes the variety you already know, to find a genuinely new wine that fills the same role.
Sémillon
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more fruit-driven, and more neutral and subtle.
Chenin Blanc
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more fruit-driven, and fresher and more acidic.
Grechetto
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.
Vouvray
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and more fruit-driven.
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.
Chenin Blanc
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more fruit-driven, and fresher and more acidic.
Grechetto
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.
Sémillon
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more fruit-driven, and more neutral and subtle.
Vouvray
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and more fruit-driven.
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.
Vouvray
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and more fruit-driven.
Chenin Blanc
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more fruit-driven, and fresher and more acidic.
English still white
Both are made from chardonnay, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and lighter.
Grechetto
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 fuller
Keeps the character but adds weight, concentration and mouthfeel.
Condrieu
Both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and more fruit-driven.
Pedro Ximénez
Pedro Ximénez scores closest to Friuli white across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and sweeter.
Viognier
Viognier scores closest to Friuli white across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and more fruit-driven.
Vin Santo
Both are made from malvasia, and both come from the same country.
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.
Sémillon
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more fruit-driven, and more neutral and subtle.
Chenin Blanc
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more fruit-driven, and fresher and more acidic.
Grechetto
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.
Hárslevelű
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more fruit-driven, and fruitier.
Similar but more structured
More tannic architecture, for food or for ageing.
Rkatsiteli
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and fresher and more acidic.
Kisi
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 more fruit-driven.
Tinto Cão
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 fresher
Raises acidity and overall lift, usually by moving to a cooler-climate expression.
Vouvray
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and more fruit-driven.
English still white
Both are made from chardonnay, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and drier.
Furmint
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and fuller and richer.
Chenin Blanc
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and more fruit-driven.
Similar but softer
Lowers acidity and sharpness in favour of a broader, gentler feel.
Alsace Pinot Gris
Both are made from pinot gris, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure, both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be more fruit-driven, and fuller and richer.
California Chardonnay
Both are made from chardonnay, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and drier.
Malvasia
Both are made from malvasia, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more fruit-driven, and fuller and richer.
Auxerrois
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and more fruit-driven.
The sparkling version
Moves to a sparkling expression while holding the flavour and weight as close as possible.
Australian traditional-method sparkling
Both are made from chardonnay, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and fresher and more acidic.
California traditional-method sparkling
Both are made from chardonnay, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and fruitier.
Cava
Both are made from chardonnay, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and leaner and more cutting.
Champagne
Both are made from chardonnay, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and fresher and more acidic.
Similar but sweeter
Adds perceptible sweetness, which also softens acidity and chilli heat.
Albana
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 leaner and more cutting.
Chenin Blanc
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more fruit-driven, and fresher and more acidic.
Hárslevelű
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more fruit-driven, and fruitier.
Sémillon
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more fruit-driven, and more neutral and subtle.
Change the flavour
Same shape, different aromatic character.
Similar but less oaky
One of the commonest requests in wine. Strips oak influence while holding grape character and weight.
Grechetto
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.
Albana
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 leaner and more cutting.
Hárslevelű
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more fruit-driven, and fruitier.
Welschriesling
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 oaky
Adds barrel character, toast and a creamier texture.
California Chardonnay
Both are made from chardonnay, and both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and drier.
Sémillon
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more fruit-driven, and less oaky.
Chenin Blanc
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more fruit-driven, and fresher and more acidic.
White Bordeaux
Both are made from sauvignon blanc, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure, both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and more fruit-driven.
Similar but more aromatic
More to smell before you taste — floral, fruity or spiced aromatics.
Hárslevelű
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more fruit-driven, and fruitier.
Scheurebe
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more fruit-driven, and leaner and more cutting.
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.
Aidani
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more fruit-driven, and lighter.
Similar but more restrained
For readers who find intensely aromatic wines tiring over a whole glass. Keeps the structure, turns the volume down.
Sémillon
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more fruit-driven, and broader and softer.
Trebbiano Toscano
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.
Silvaner
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and more fruit-driven.
Franken Silvaner
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and leaner and more cutting.
Similar but more floral
Pushes specifically towards rose, violet, blossom and elderflower character.
Hárslevelű
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more fruit-driven, and fruitier.
Scheurebe
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more fruit-driven, and leaner and more cutting.
Aidani
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more fruit-driven, and lighter.
Ortega
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more fruit-driven, and leaner and more cutting.
Similar but more savoury
Moves away from primary fruit towards earth, herb, meat and umami character.
Vin Jaune
Vin Jaune scores closest to Friuli white across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and more savoury.
Santorini Assyrtiko
Santorini Assyrtiko scores closest to Friuli white across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and more savoury.
Jura Savagnin and Chardonnay
Both are made from chardonnay, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and fresher and more acidic.
Friulano
Both are made from friulano, and the structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin, both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and stronger and warmer.
Similar but fruitier
More obvious, generous fruit flavour, usually from a warmer climate.
Hárslevelű
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more fruit-driven, and fruitier.
Furmint
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and fruitier.
Rheinhessen Riesling
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and fruitier.
Scheurebe
They occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be more fruit-driven, and fruitier.
Change the place
Keep the grape, move it somewhere else.
Same grape, somewhere else
Holds the variety constant and changes the place, which is often a bigger change than swapping the grape.
Jura Savagnin and Chardonnay
Both are made from chardonnay, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure, both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and fresher and more acidic.
White Bordeaux
Both are made from sauvignon blanc, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure, both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and more fruit-driven.
English still white
Both are made from chardonnay, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and lighter.
Chablis
Both are made from chardonnay, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and leaner and more cutting.
Same grape, cooler climate
Typically fresher, lighter and more herbal, with lower alcohol.
Jura Savagnin and Chardonnay
Both are made from chardonnay, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure, both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and fresher and more acidic.
English still white
Both are made from chardonnay, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be lighter, and drier.
Ribolla Gialla
Both are made from ribolla gialla, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure, both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and fresher and more acidic.
Chablis
Both are made from chardonnay, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and fresher and more acidic.
Same grape, warmer climate
Typically riper, fuller and more generous in fruit, with higher alcohol.
Vin Santo
Both are made from malvasia, and both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and sweeter.
Alsace Pinot Gris
Both are made from pinot gris, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure, both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and more fruit-driven.
Malvasia
Both are made from malvasia, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and more fruit-driven.
California Chardonnay
Both are made from chardonnay, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure, both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be fuller and richer, and drier.
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.
Chenin Blanc
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more fruit-driven, and fresher and more acidic.
Pinot Gris
Both are made from pinot gris, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure, both come from the same country.
Expect: Expect it to be more fruit-driven, and drier.
Chablis
Both are made from chardonnay, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and leaner and more cutting.
Grüner Veltliner
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.
Sémillon
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more fruit-driven, and more neutral and subtle.
Grechetto
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.
Vouvray
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and more fruit-driven.
Albana
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 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.
Sémillon
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more fruit-driven, and more neutral and subtle.
Grechetto
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.
Vouvray
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be fresher and more acidic, and more fruit-driven.
Albana
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 leaner and more cutting.
A step up
The benchmark expressions of the same territory, usually with more concentration, structure and ageing potential.
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.
White Burgundy
Both are made from chardonnay, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure, both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and fuller and richer.
Santorini Assyrtiko
Santorini Assyrtiko scores closest to Friuli white across WineHQ’s taste dimensions.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and fuller and richer.
Australian Chardonnay
Both are made from chardonnay, and they occupy similar territory for weight and structure, both sit in the same style family.
Expect: Expect it to be drier, and fuller and richer.
Chenin Blanc
The structural profile is close across body, acidity and tannin.
Expect: Expect it to be more fruit-driven, and fresher and more acidic.
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.