2021 Edi Kante Sauvignon Venezia Giulia 750 ml

Despite years of trying, across many trips to Italy, we’ve never been able to secure access to the wines of Edi Kante. He’s one of the titans of the region—and a famous recluse who rarely receives visitors, as it would distract from his near-monastic pursuit of perfection. 

To understand Kante’s exceptional drive and focus, consider his famous reclusiveness. He’s a serious guy—a true artist—and doesn’t want to spare the time or energy receiving guests. Heck, no one in his main US importer’s European office has been able to meet him in person, and their relationship goes back years and years.

That single-minded focus has defined Kante’s production for decades: He almost exclusively makes white wines, and in a region that often ferments in stainless steel to rush wines to market, Kante ferments and ages his in older barrels for a full year before moving to tank—and even then it’s another six months before he bottles. It’s a terrible business practice, but essential for his pursuit of quality.

And in the Carso region of Friuli, famous for its harsh, limestone-studded soils, his patience pays off. Sauvignon Blanc here, in the windy climate next to the Adriatic, can hang on the vine for a long time without losing its vibrancy, and Kante’s bottling is a thrillingly textural version of the grape that’s dramatic on the palate without sacrificing verve.

That captivating dialectic has landed Kante’s bottles on some of the greatest wine lists in the world—names like Per Se, The French Laundry, Eleven Madison Park, and the late Del Posto—and it’s why we drink them whenever I get the opportunity. Don’t miss your chance to join in.