Mauro Montanaro is more than just a winemaker, and Calafata is more than a simple winery. It's a remarkable project in the hills above Lucca, where the foothills of the Apuan Alps lie to the north and the Mediterranean coast is only 20 km away to the west. Vineyards here had lain fallow since the late 1990s. Mauro and his friends convinced the owners to lease them the vineyards, some of which were up to 90 years old. Gradually, locals helped by providing more vineyards, equipment, tanks, and barrels. Over the years, a project characterized by revitalization, dedication, and community spirit emerged. Today, the three friends produce five exquisite wines from some indigenous, ancient grape varieties. They also cultivate 13 hectares of vegetable fields and 7 hectares of olive groves and employ 15 people – all political refugees, former drug addicts, or others marginalized by society.