Kante
The Carso district of southeastern Friuli, just outside of Trieste, is a unique micro-climate sandwiched between the Adriatic Sea to the south, the Alps to the north, the low hills of Collio to the west, and the Balkan peninsula to the east. The temperatures are cool at night and the grey limestone is everywhere and in abundance. In this near-perfect combination of climate and terreno, Edi Kante produces wines that are poised, solid, fresh, and brimming with the character of both the chosen grape and the stark limestone soil of Carso. The Kante style is born not only of his incredibly energetic, passionate, mad-scientist like personality, but also of the inherent characteristics of Carso and his deliberate decision to allow these characteristics to shine through rather than be dominated by wine-making technique.
Kante was born a contadino in this rugged area of northeastern Italy, at the crossroads of Italian, Slovenian, and Croatian culture today and historically at the crossroads of the Venetian and Austro-Hungarian cultures. Taking over from his father, Edi began to bottle the family estate's wines separately by varietal in the late 1980s. After experimenting with various styles, including being a pioneer of the orange wine movement, he settled on the direction he has followed for almost two decades: making pure, consistent wines that reflect their region, stand the test of time, and above all, provide a lot of pleasure at table. Kante ages his white wines for a year in older barrels, then six months or more in stainless steel on the lees, then bottles them unfiltered. All takes place in an incredible three-story cellar carved out of solid stone beneath his house. The ability of his wines to age and improve consistently is uncommon for Italian white wine, and he always has plenty of older magnums on hand to prove this point. Kante’s limited red wine production is mostly focused on Terrano, a local Friulian grape related to Refosco that he ages in large older casks, and Pinot Nero only in select years when conditions are truly favorable. Kante is also dedicated to sparkling wine production in the Champagne Method or Metodo Classico, and has been refining this skill for several decades. He produces a spumante bianco based on Chardonnay and Malvasia, and a rosato from Pinot Nero, both with zero dosage. The most exciting part of Kante’s production are his selezione wines. Released in small quantities from select vintages, these are small lots that Kante has selected in the cellar and aged extensively in bottle before release. They typically have between 8 and 10 years of age upon release and can be drunk upon release or aged further.

Kante was born a contadino in this rugged area of northeastern Italy, at the crossroads of Italian, Slovenian, and Croatian culture today and historically at the crossroads of the Venetian and Austro-Hungarian cultures. Taking over from his father, Edi began to bottle the family estate's wines separately by varietal in the late 1980s. After experimenting with various styles, including being a pioneer of the orange wine movement, he settled on the direction he has followed for almost two decades: making pure, consistent wines that reflect their region, stand the test of time, and above all, provide a lot of pleasure at table. Kante ages his white wines for a year in older barrels, then six months or more in stainless steel on the lees, then bottles them unfiltered. All takes place in an incredible three-story cellar carved out of solid stone beneath his house. The ability of his wines to age and improve consistently is uncommon for Italian white wine, and he always has plenty of older magnums on hand to prove this point. Kante’s limited red wine production is mostly focused on Terrano, a local Friulian grape related to Refosco that he ages in large older casks, and Pinot Nero only in select years when conditions are truly favorable. Kante is also dedicated to sparkling wine production in the Champagne Method or Metodo Classico, and has been refining this skill for several decades. He produces a spumante bianco based on Chardonnay and Malvasia, and a rosato from Pinot Nero, both with zero dosage. The most exciting part of Kante’s production are his selezione wines. Released in small quantities from select vintages, these are small lots that Kante has selected in the cellar and aged extensively in bottle before release. They typically have between 8 and 10 years of age upon release and can be drunk upon release or aged further.
Technical Information
Wine | Blend | Vine Age | Soil Type | Vineyard Area* |
---|---|---|---|---|
Vitovska IGT Venezia Giulia |
Vitovska | 19 years average | Clay and Limestone | 4 ha |
Malvasia IGT Venezia Giulia |
Malvasia | 19 years average | Clay and Limestone | 3 ha |
Chardonnay IGT Venezia Giulia |
Chardonnay | 14 years average | Clay and Limestone | 1.8 ha |
Sauvignon IGT Venezia Giulia |
Sauvignon Blanc | 14 years average | Clay and Limestone | 2.2 ha |
Spumante Metodo Classico “Dosaggio Zero” |
50% Chardonnay, 50% Malvasia | 15 years average | Clay and Limestone | 1.5 ha |
Spumante Rosato Metodo Classico “Dosaggio Zero” |
Pinot Nero | 10 years average | Clay and Limestone | 1.5 ha |
Chardonnay “La Bora di Kante” |
Chardonnay | 20 years average | Clay and Limestone | N/A |
Vitovska Selezione |
Vitovska | 8 years average | Clay and Limestone | N/A |
Sauvignon Selezione |
Sauvignon | 20 years average | Clay and Limestone | N/A |
Pinot Nero Selezione |
Pinot Nero | 25 years average | Limestone | 1.5 ha |
Terrano IGT Venezia Giulia |
Terrano | 2 years average | Clay and Limestone | 1 ha |
Rosso IGT Venezia Giulia |
1/3 Terrano, 1/3 Cabernet Sauvignon, 1/3 Merlot | 2 years average | Clay and Limestone | N/A |
Chardonnay “KC” IGT Venezia Giulia |
Chardonnay | 25 years average | Red clay | .5 ha |
Malvasia “KM” IGT Venezia Giulia |
Malvasia | 10 years average | Red Clay | .4 ha |
Sauvignon “KS” IGT Venezia Giulia |
Sauvignon Blanc | 25 years average | Red Clay | 1 ha |
IGT Venezia Giulia Rosso “Ludvik” |
40% Pinot Nero, 30% Terrano, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot | 20 years average | Red Clay, Limestone | 2 ha |
* "ha" = hectares; one hectare equals roughly two and a half acres |
VITICULTURE / VINIFICATION
• Grapes are harvested by hand
• Wines are neither fined nor filtered
• No new oak is used and the barrels are up to 18 years old
Vitovska IGT Venezia Giulia:
• Vineyards planted at over 800 feet above sea level
• Aged for 12 months in old barrels
• Then aged for 6 more months in stainless steel tank
• Bottle unfiltered
Malvasia IGT Venezia Giulia:
• Vineyards planted at over 800 feet above sea level
• Aged for 12 months in old barrels
• Then aged for 6 more months in stainless steel tank
• Bottle unfiltered
Chardonnay IGT Venezia Giulia:
• Vineyards planted at over 800 feet above sea level
• Aged for 12 months in old barrels
• Then aged for 6 more months in stainless steel tank
• Bottle unfiltered
Sauvignon IGT Venezia Giulia:
• Vineyards planted at over 800 feet above sea level
• Aged for 12 months in old barrels
• Then aged for 6 more months in stainless steel tank
• Bottle unfiltered
Spumante Metodo Classico “Dosaggio Zero”:
• Vineyards planted at over 800 feet above sea level
• Aged for 12 months in old barrels
• Aged in bottle for 1 year before disgorgement
• No dosage
Spumante Rosato Metodo Classico “Dosaggio Zero”:
• Vineyards planted at over 800 feet above sea level
• Aged for 12 months in old barrels
• Aged in bottle for 1 year before disgorgement
• No dosage
Chardonnay “La Bora di Kante”:
• Grapes are carefully selected in the vineyards for this particular bottling
• Vineyards planted at over 800 feet above sea level
• Aged for 24 months in old barrels
• Bottle unfiltered
• Aged in bottle for 5 years
Vitovska Selezione:
• Grapes are carefully selected in the vineyards for this particular bottling
• Vineyards planted at over 800 feet above sea level
• Aged for 12 months in old barrels
• Then aged for 6 more months in stainless steel tank
• Bottle unfiltered
• Aged in bottle for 7 years
Sauvignon Selezione:
• Grapes are carefully selected in the vineyards for this particular bottling
• Vineyards planted at over 800 feet above sea level
• Aged for 12 months in old barrels
• Then aged for 4 years in stainless steel tank
• Bottle unfiltered
• Aged in bottle for 6 months
Pinot Nero Selezione
• Vineyards planted at 900 feet above sea level
• Grapes are destemmed
• Fermentation in stainless steel for 14 days
• Aged for 3 years in 250L French oak barrels (10% new)
• Aged 2 years in bottle
• Bottled unfiltered
Terrano IGT Venezia Giulia
• Terrano is a sub-variety of the Refosco family, native to Venizia Giulia and western Slovenia
• Vineyards planted at over 800 feet above sea level
• Maceration last 3 weeks
• Aged for 36 months in old barrels
• Bottle unfiltered
Rosso IGT Venezia Giulia
• Vineyards planted at over 800 feet above sea level
• Maceration last 3 weeks
• Aged for 24 months in old barrels
• Bottle unfiltered
Chardonnay “KC” IGT Venezia Giulia:
• Vineyards planted at over 800 feet above sea level
• Fermentation in stainless steel for 3 weeks
• Aged in stainless steel
• No malolactic fermentation
• No sulfur added
Malvasia “KM” IGT Venezia Giulia:
• Vineyards planted at over 800 feet above sea level
• Fermentation in stainless steel for 3 weeks
• Aged in stainless steel
• No malolactic fermentation
• No sulfur added
Sauvignon “KS” IGT Venezia Giulia:
• Vineyards planted at over 800 feet above sea level
• Fermentation in stainless steel for 3 weeks
• Aged in stainless steel
• No malolactic fermentation
• No sulfur added
IGT Venezia Giulia Rosso “Ludvik”:
• Vineyards planted at over 800 feet above sea level
• A multi-vintage wine; current bottling made from 2015 and 2016 vintages
• Grapes macerate for 14 days
• Vintages are aged separately: 2015 vintage aged for 4 years, 2016 vintage aged for 3 years
• Vintages are blended and held for 1 week before bottling
• Wine aged in barriques and 25-HL botti
• Wines are neither fined nor filtered
• No new oak is used and the barrels are up to 18 years old
Vitovska IGT Venezia Giulia:
• Vineyards planted at over 800 feet above sea level
• Aged for 12 months in old barrels
• Then aged for 6 more months in stainless steel tank
• Bottle unfiltered
Malvasia IGT Venezia Giulia:
• Vineyards planted at over 800 feet above sea level
• Aged for 12 months in old barrels
• Then aged for 6 more months in stainless steel tank
• Bottle unfiltered
Chardonnay IGT Venezia Giulia:
• Vineyards planted at over 800 feet above sea level
• Aged for 12 months in old barrels
• Then aged for 6 more months in stainless steel tank
• Bottle unfiltered
Sauvignon IGT Venezia Giulia:
• Vineyards planted at over 800 feet above sea level
• Aged for 12 months in old barrels
• Then aged for 6 more months in stainless steel tank
• Bottle unfiltered
Spumante Metodo Classico “Dosaggio Zero”:
• Vineyards planted at over 800 feet above sea level
• Aged for 12 months in old barrels
• Aged in bottle for 1 year before disgorgement
• No dosage
Spumante Rosato Metodo Classico “Dosaggio Zero”:
• Vineyards planted at over 800 feet above sea level
• Aged for 12 months in old barrels
• Aged in bottle for 1 year before disgorgement
• No dosage
Chardonnay “La Bora di Kante”:
• Grapes are carefully selected in the vineyards for this particular bottling
• Vineyards planted at over 800 feet above sea level
• Aged for 24 months in old barrels
• Bottle unfiltered
• Aged in bottle for 5 years
Vitovska Selezione:
• Grapes are carefully selected in the vineyards for this particular bottling
• Vineyards planted at over 800 feet above sea level
• Aged for 12 months in old barrels
• Then aged for 6 more months in stainless steel tank
• Bottle unfiltered
• Aged in bottle for 7 years
Sauvignon Selezione:
• Grapes are carefully selected in the vineyards for this particular bottling
• Vineyards planted at over 800 feet above sea level
• Aged for 12 months in old barrels
• Then aged for 4 years in stainless steel tank
• Bottle unfiltered
• Aged in bottle for 6 months
Pinot Nero Selezione
• Vineyards planted at 900 feet above sea level
• Grapes are destemmed
• Fermentation in stainless steel for 14 days
• Aged for 3 years in 250L French oak barrels (10% new)
• Aged 2 years in bottle
• Bottled unfiltered
Terrano IGT Venezia Giulia
• Terrano is a sub-variety of the Refosco family, native to Venizia Giulia and western Slovenia
• Vineyards planted at over 800 feet above sea level
• Maceration last 3 weeks
• Aged for 36 months in old barrels
• Bottle unfiltered
Rosso IGT Venezia Giulia
• Vineyards planted at over 800 feet above sea level
• Maceration last 3 weeks
• Aged for 24 months in old barrels
• Bottle unfiltered
Chardonnay “KC” IGT Venezia Giulia:
• Vineyards planted at over 800 feet above sea level
• Fermentation in stainless steel for 3 weeks
• Aged in stainless steel
• No malolactic fermentation
• No sulfur added
Malvasia “KM” IGT Venezia Giulia:
• Vineyards planted at over 800 feet above sea level
• Fermentation in stainless steel for 3 weeks
• Aged in stainless steel
• No malolactic fermentation
• No sulfur added
Sauvignon “KS” IGT Venezia Giulia:
• Vineyards planted at over 800 feet above sea level
• Fermentation in stainless steel for 3 weeks
• Aged in stainless steel
• No malolactic fermentation
• No sulfur added
IGT Venezia Giulia Rosso “Ludvik”:
• Vineyards planted at over 800 feet above sea level
• A multi-vintage wine; current bottling made from 2015 and 2016 vintages
• Grapes macerate for 14 days
• Vintages are aged separately: 2015 vintage aged for 4 years, 2016 vintage aged for 3 years
• Vintages are blended and held for 1 week before bottling
• Wine aged in barriques and 25-HL botti
General Information
- Country
- Italy
- Region
- Friuli
- Appellation(s)
- Friuli Venezia Giulia Carso
- Producer
- Edi Kante
- Founded
- 1980
- Annual Production
- 7,200 cases
- Farming
- Sustainable
- Website
- http://www.kante.it
Downloads & Links
Tech Sheet: Edi Kante
Shelf-Talker: Chardonnay "La Bora di Kante" - Kante
Shelf-Talker: Chardonnay - Kante
Shelf-Talker: Malvasia - Kante
Shelf-Talker: Sauvignon - Kante
Shelf-Talker: Spumante Metodo Classico - Kante
Shelf-Talker: Spumante Rosato - Kante
Shelf-Talker: Vitovska - Kante
Shelf-Talker: Vitovska Selezione - Kante