Friulano (Tocai Friulano)
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A white grape of Friuli, once known as Tocai Friulano, with an almond aroma and a subtle bitterish aftertaste in Collio.
Friulano is the local Friuli name for Sauvignon Vert, a variety distinct from Sauvignon Blanc and also known as Sauvignonasse. Once known as Tocai Friulano, it is one of the most planted light-skinned grapes in Friuli and can make crisp, aromatic wines. In Collio DOC, Friulano is a dry, warm, full white with an almond aroma and a subtle bitterish aftertaste.
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Open the appOrigin and parentage
Friulano carries the VIVC prime name Friulano, variety number 12543, and is a white-berried variety. Its parents are unknown: both parent fields in its VIVC passport are blank, and no full pedigree is recorded. VIVC records Italy as its country of origin, so Italy is its likely home. The passport flags offspring, but WineWiki's VIVC-derived lineage data links no children or siblings for Friulano.
- VIVC prime name: Friulano; VIVC variety number 12543; country of origin: Italy
- Berry skin colour: blanc (white)
- Parents: none recorded (parentage unknown)
- Offspring: flagged in the VIVC passport; none linked in WineWiki's lineage data
- Friulano is the local Friuli name for Sauvignon Vert, a variety also known as Sauvignonasse
- Friulano is a variety distinct from Sauvignon Blanc
- The grape was once known as Tocai Friulano, and Collio DOC Friulano is wine made from Tocai Friulano grapes
- Friulano is one of the most planted light-skinned grapes in Friuli
- In Collio DOC, Friulano represents about 15% of total production
Origins and History
Friulano is the local Friuli name for Sauvignon Vert, a variety also known as Sauvignonasse and distinct from Sauvignon Blanc. The grape was once known as Tocai Friulano, a name that still appears in the grape varieties line for Collio DOC Friulano: wine made from Tocai Friulano grapes.
- Also known as Sauvignon Vert and Sauvignonasse
- A variety distinct from Sauvignon Blanc
- Once known as Tocai Friulano
Where It Grows Best
Friulano is one of the most planted light-skinned grapes in Friuli. In Collio DOC, it represents about 15% of total production. Collio's soil is flysch, known locally as ponca, made of marls and sandstones.
- Collio DOC: ponca (flysch) soils of marl and sandstone; Friulano represents about 15% of total production
Flavor Profile and Style
Friulano can make crisp, aromatic wines. In Collio DOC its colour runs from straw yellow to a more or less intense golden yellow, with an almond aroma and a subtle bitterish aftertaste. On the palate, Collio Friulano is dry, warm, full, bitterish and harmonious.
- Collio DOC aroma: almond
- Collio DOC finish: a subtle bitterish aftertaste
- Collio DOC colour: straw yellow to a more or less intense golden yellow
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The Schiopetto estate is at Capriva del Friuli, where Mario Schiopetto made his first single-variety "Tocai" in 1965; the estate presents that wine as the start of modern Friulian white wine. Venica & Venica makes two Collio DOC Friulano wines, Ronco delle Cime and Primarûl, and Ronco delle Cime is one of the estate's two cru wines.
- Schiopetto (Capriva del Friuli): Mario Schiopetto made his first single-variety "Tocai" in 1965
- Venica & Venica (Collio): Ronco delle Cime and Primarûl, both Friulano DOC Collio
Sources and last verified
Primary sources: https://www.vivc.de/index.php?r=passport%2Fview&id=12543 ; https://www.collio.it/en/vino/friulano/ ; https://www.schiopetto.it/ ; https://venica.it/vini/ Reference sources: https://www.jancisrobinson.com/learn/grape-varieties/white/sauvignon-vert ; https://www.jancisrobinson.com/learn/grape-varieties/white/friulano Last verified 2026-10-27
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See the glassIn Collio DOC, Friulano runs from straw yellow to a more or less intense golden yellow, with an almond aroma, a subtle bitterish aftertaste and a dry, warm, full palate.
- Venica & Venica Primarûl Collio FriulanoA Friulano DOC Collio from Venica & Venica.
- Venica & Venica Ronco delle Cime Collio FriulanoA Friulano DOC Collio and one of the two cru wines of Venica & Venica.
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- Friulano = local Friuli name for Sauvignon Vert, also known as Sauvignonasse; a variety distinct from Sauvignon Blanc.
- Once known as Tocai Friulano; Collio DOC Friulano is wine made from Tocai Friulano grapes.
- Collio DOC Friulano: almond aroma and a subtle bitterish aftertaste; dry, warm, full palate; about 15% of Collio's total production.
- Mario Schiopetto made his first single-variety "Tocai" in 1965 at Capriva del Friuli.
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