white grape · regional staple
Friulano
Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Italy
Say it
free·oo·lah·noh
Four syllables; stress on third. The 'ri-u' spans two syllables, not a diphthong.
On the palate
pearwhite peachgreen applelemonalmondhoneysuckle
How you spot it blind: bitter almond finish found in no other classic Italian white
The story
First written down · 1932, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Italy
The EU banned 'Tocai Friulano' from Italian labels in 2007 after Hungary argued the name infringed Tokaji's GI, though DNA confirmed in 2003 that Friulano has no genetic link to Furmint, Tokaji's actual grape.
Where it lives
Collio, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Italy · Colli Orientali del Friuli, Italy · Friuli Grave, Italy · Goriška Brda, Slovenia · Veneto, Italy (labeled Tai)
Shows up as
still whiteorangeCollioColli Orientali del Friuli
If you like this, try
Also answers to Tocai Friulano, Tocai Fruilano, Tocai Fruliano, Sauvignonasse, Sauvignon Vert.
Shop our Friulano bottles