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Underdog Grape · Italy

Ribolla Gialla

Pronounced ree-BOH-lah JAH-lah

If you drink Pinot Grigio for something crisp and dry, Ribolla Gialla gives you more of everything: sharper acid, real citrus, and a second life as one of Italy's most talked-about orange wines.

Tasting profile
Lemon zest and green apple pulled tight over stony acid, with a faint almond-skin bitterness on the close.
Where it grows
Friuli, Italy
Explore the Northern Italy field guide
The catch
The skin-contact bottles critics rave about are divisive and rarely cheap. Some taste closer to cider or dried apricot than to the fresh white you were picturing. Start with a clean version before the amber deep end.
Where to buy
For specific bottles and where to buy them, read the deep dive.

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The region

Friuli, Italy

If you like

Pinot Grigio

Wines like Ribolla Gialla

CarricanteHondarrabi ZuriRkatsiteliCabernet Pfeffer

Ribolla Gialla: common questions

What wine is Ribolla Gialla similar to?
If you usually drink Pinot Grigio, Ribolla Gialla is the underdog swap to try. Other lesser-known grapes in the same style: Carricante, Hondarrabi Zuri, Rkatsiteli.
Read the deep diveRibolla Gialla: The Friulian White That Reads Two Ways

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