Underdog Grape · Italy

Friulano

Pronounced free-oo-LAH-noh

If you like Sauvignon Blanc but want less grass and more salt, drink Friulano — a dry, pear-and-almond white from northeast Italy that a courtroom forced to change its name.

Tasting profile
Green pear and white peach up front, a saline snap in the middle, and a finish that turns unmistakably toward bitter almond.
Where to buy
For specific bottles and where to buy them, read the deep dive.

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The region

Friuli, Italy

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Friulano: common questions

How do you pronounce Friulano?
Friulano is pronounced free-oo-LAH-noh.
Where does Friulano come from?
Friulano grows in Friuli, Italy.
What does Friulano taste like?
Expect green pear, bitter almond, white peach, wildflower. Closest familiar reference: Old-World Sauvignon Blanc with the green edge sanded off — softer, saltier, finished with a twist of bitter almond..
Read the deep diveFriulano: The Savory Italian White That Lost Its Name and Kept Its Soul

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