Tocai Friulano, a prestigious grape variety native to the Friuli-Venezia Giulia region of northeastern Italy, is named after its traditional Hungarian counterpart, Tokaji. With South America and Italy being the main producers, this aromatic grape deftly encapsulates the essence of unique, premium quality white wines, bearing the typical characteristics of the wine made in the Friuli region.
This grape produces wines with an impressive range of nutty and ripe fruit flavours, where subtle nuances often include fresh almonds, juicy peaches, or a hint of herbal elements such as mint. Accompanied by a medium to full body, the Tocai Friulano is generally recognised and enjoyed for its rich texture, high acidity, and the distinctive bitterness suggestive of orange peel or almonds in the finish; a fascinating interplay of robustness and elegance.
Furthermore, the best expressions of Tocai Friulano are those with a subtle minerality that elicits the flinty characteristic of the region's soil, making it an excellent partner for local dishes such as Friulano ham or Montasio cheese. The grape's high resistance to cold weather allows it to thrive in cool climates, contributing to the consistency of its distinctive flavour profiles.
Interestingly, due to a European Union court ruling in 2007, the name "Tocai" is now exclusive to the Hungarian Tokaj region, leading Italian vintners to simply name their version "Friulano."
Once underappreciated and lesser-known, Tocai Friulano has gained steady recognition among wine critics and consumers alike for its unique and dynamic flavour profile and its ability to produce top-quality white wines, emblematic of its home region.
Buy Tocai Friulano wine below.
