Friulano

Sauvignonasse (also known as Friulano, Tocai Friulano or Sauvignon Vert) is a white wine grape of the species Vitis vinifera prevalent in the Italian region of Friuli, and adjacent territories of Slovenia. It is widely planted in Chile where it was historically mistaken for Sauvignon blanc. Friulano from Friuli-Venezia Giulia was known as "Tocai" Friulano until March 31, 2007 when the European Court of Justice of Luxembourg set the prohibition of using the name "Tocai" in the name of the wine (as stipulated in a 1993 agreement between the European Union and Hungary). Since 2007 wines made from Tocai Friulano have been labeled as Friulano in Friuli. Despite the fact that the word Tocai is no longer permitted on Italian wine labels, the grape is still officially named Tocai Friulano in Italy’s National Catalog of Grape Varieties. In addition, wineries outside of Europe are permitted to label wines made with this grape as Tocai Friulano. The main confusion in Europe of the name Tocai Friulano is due to the Hungarian wine known as Tokaji (Hungarian of Tokaj) which does not have any Tocai Friulano in it at all, and is composed typically of the following grapes: Furmint (70%), Hárslevelű (20–25%), and Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains (5–10%). Hungary does not want anyone confusing the dry and aromatic Italian Tocai Friulano (which is a unique wine in itself) with their wine called Tokaji. Some believe that early editions of Tocai Friulano in Italy were most likely made of the grape Furmint. The first record of a "new" Tocai, probably made from Sauvignonasse, is documented only in 1932. The Pinot grigio vine, which is also prevalent in the Friuli-Venezia Giulia region, was once known by the synonym Tokay d'Alsace in Alsace, and may have also been the grape used in some Italian Tokai wines. There is, however, no genetic link between Tocai Friulano (Sauvignonasse) and Pinot grigio. The grape is believed to have originated in the Veneto region and from there traveled to other Italian regions especially to the Friuli region where it was cultivated since 1600.