Schola Sarmenti

Schola Sarmenti (school of the vine) is an old winery first built in the 1850’s but which lay empty for most of the last 50 years. It has undergone an extensive 3 year renovation under the watchful eyes of new owners Alessandro Calabrese and Lorenzo Marra. They brought back the glory of a symbol of Apulian oenology and also an important piece of Salentine architecture, with its precious star-shaped vaults made up of limestone and walls in the local Leccese stone.

Lorenzo says their goal is to make wines that speak of their territory, their culture, their cuisine. This is accomplished by harvesting from old vines — some up to 70 years old, using traditional trellising (for Puglia, this means the vines look like bushes) and very little oak influence, if any at all. Located on the southern, interior tip of the heel of Italy’s boot, the vineyards are a mere 10 minute drive from the sea. Under sunny, hot, arid skies the vines are grown on soils rich with marine fossils. From 2009 their entire production is farmed organically. This winery is based on a few principles: Tradition, dedication, anticipation and hope.