Friulano

The Friulano wine grape was formerly known as 'Tocai Friulano' up to the 2006 vintage, whose origins date back to the early 17th century and the province of Gorizia in Friuli-Venezia-Guilia, north-eastern Italy. Friulano is a notable white wine grape in the DOCs of Colli Orientali del Friuli, Collio, Isonzo, Grave del Friuli.  It produces restrained wines with delicate apricot, honeyed aromatics and a light-medium bodied, minerally and  almond palate, for early to medium term drinking, often complemented by oak ageing. Miani, Canus and Lis Neris are responsible for fine examples. Interestingly, Tocai is also a synonym for Sauvignonasse or Sauvignon Vert, often erroneously labelled as 'Sauvignon Blanc' in S.America. Friulano is noted for giving light/medium bodied dry wines with characterful orange & marzipan fruit aromas, elevated levels of alcohol & relatively low acidity. It does not readily take to oak ageing.