calafata

“In ground we trust: work the land with rigor, passion and craziness.”

Domaine Overview

Year Founded: 2011

Winemaker: Mauro Montanaro

Location: : Colline Lucchesi, Tuscany

Size: 9 hectares under vine

Grapes: Sangiovese, Vermentino, Malvasia, Trebbiano, Moscato, Ciliegiolo, Canaiolo, Colorino, Moscato d'Amburgo, and Aleatico
Farming: Organic certified by ICEA # B2796 and practicing biodynamic

Production: About 18,500 bottles/year

It’s a social service farm collective (Società Cooperativa Sociale) that helps exiles, recovering addicts, and people with mental health problems, by making wines from old abandoned vines on ancient limestone and clay soils. This takes place in the charming sea and mountain growing area around the charming town of Lucca, where Tuscany borders southern Liguria.

The winery was founded by “10 crazy friends,” explains Mauro Montanaro, none of which had any experience in farming or wine making. “We fell in love with the area, the old vines, the olive groves, but we also wanted to have a social cause. We were the first winery to be a Società Cooperativa Sociale in Tuscany, helping kids that were in exile, kids that had drug problems, mental issues, or wanted to begin a life again after being in jail. We’re now a big crazy group.” 

Calafata has 9 hectares of vineyards, and 3 hectares of olive groves; an additional 8 hectares are dedicated to farming all kinds of vegetable delights, including the Slow Food awarded local red beans (Fagioli Rossi di Lucca) and some of the best Borlotti we’ve had (and we know benas!). We’ll be bringing in some of them, and a local ‘beach’ honey through PortoCibo soon!

The Luccanese (from around Lucca) soils are ancient, composed mostly of limestone and clay; much different from the more recent soils of nearby Lunigiana.

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The Wines

Gronda

A fresh and pleasant white wine that is produced with 70% Vermentino, 10% Malvasia, 10% Trebbiano and 10% Moscato grapes. It is characterized by a straw yellow color with an intriguing nose of white pulp fruit, flowers and citrus fruits. In the mouth it is dry, fresh and tasty.

Credit to: wineyou.it

Iarsera

A red wine born from Calafata's desire to vinify their main grape variety, Sangiovese, in purity. The result is a wine with great personality and depth, a crunchy and fresh version of Sangiovese that does not preclude its ability to age.

Credit to: wineyou.it

Majulina

A fragrant, fresh and juicy red wine, obtained from a blend of 60% Sangiovese, 20% Ciliegiolo, 10% Canaiolo Nero, 10% Colorino, Aleatico and other minor native vines which is aged in steel and has a ruby ​​red colour. On the nose it expresses aromas of red fruit with a spicy finish. In the mouth it is dry, fresh and juicy with excellent drinkability. 

Credit to wineyou.it

Scapigliato

Called "snack wine" by the producers, is a still red wine obtained from the union of native Tuscan vines such as Ciliegiolo, Aleatico and other red grape varieties. It has a pale ruby ​​red color tending towards pink. The nose offers fruity and floral notes. On the sip it is fresh and delicate, with a light tannin and a frightening drink. A pleasant wine suitable for dinners in the company of friends and relatives.

Credit to: wineyou.it