EDI KEBER

A White Wine Benchmark

The Keber family settled at Localita’ Zegla 300+ years ago, when Collio (Italy) and Brda (Slovenia) belonged to the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Today, they have been instrumental in the push for a new DOC, one that would be a world first between two countries and unite Collio and Brda once more.

In 2008, Edi and his son, Kristian, took the radical step of producing just a single white wine, a blend of Friulano, Ribolla, and Malvasia that they feel best expresses the uniqueness of their territory. The wine has become a white wine benchmark.

The Gorizia hills straddle Collio on the Italian side and Brda on the Slovenian side in this northeasternmost corner of Italy. These lands, which saw much fighting during both World Wars, were Italy, Yugoslavia, and Slovenia.

When Edi inherited the family winery in 1980, they made wines from international varieties like Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc, which were the region’s most famous wines. However, Edi believed in the region’s native varieties and began replanting with Friulano, Ribolla Gialla, and Malvasia.

In 2008, when he handed over to his son Kristian, they decided to go further and make just one wine, a blend, that would celebrate their viticultural heritage. Edi says, “I renounced my business to make wines of our territory for our future. Why do they make champagne in Champagne? Why in Chianti do they make Chianti? The territory is greater than the man.”

The vineyards are terraced, and the climate is moderated by two competing elements: warm breezes from the Adriatic and the chilly Bora from continental Europe. Farming is certified organic, and Kristian farms biodynamically; however, he is not Demeter-certified.