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Schola Sarmenti, an ancient winery established in the 1850s, remained abandoned for the majority of the past five decades. Recently, under the careful supervision of the new proprietors, Alessandro Calabrese and Lorenzo Marra, it underwent an extensive three-year restoration. The duo successfully revived not only the winery's former glory as a symbol of Apulian winemaking but also preserved a significant piece of Salentine architecture. The structure boasts precious star-shaped vaults crafted from limestone and walls constructed from the local Leccese stone.

Lorenzo's objective is to produce wines that authentically reflect their terroir, culture, and cuisine. This is achieved through the harvest of grapes from old vines, some reaching up to 70 years, utilizing traditional trellising methods (resulting in vines resembling bushes, typical for Puglia), and minimizing, if not entirely eschewing, the use of oak influence. Situated on the southern interior tip of Italy's boot, the vineyards are just a brief 10-minute drive from the sea. Beneath sunny, hot, and arid skies, the vines flourish in soils abundant with marine fossils. Since 2009, the entire production has been carried out using organic farming practices. The winery is built upon a foundation of key principles: Tradition, dedication, anticipation, and hope.