Leverano is found in classic Puglia countryside that is flat, hot and dry. Historically, grape yields from the region have been of high volume producing lower quality wines destined for blending with a majority of agriculture from the region focused on the production of olive-oil any red wine grape of the local region southeast of Taranto can be included in these wines – also up to a maximum of 30 percent The dry white Leverano Bianco, as well as the sweet white Leverano Passito and Leverano Dolce Naturale wines are based on a combination of Malvasia and Vermentino. The former dominates, comprising at least half of any (non-varietal) Leverano white Leverano also hosts a number of varietally titled wines, all of which must contain a minimum of 85 percent of the variety named on the label. The remaining 15 percent, if it is needed, can be made from any locally appropriate grape although, in the case of the white varietal wines, this cannot include Moscato or Moscatello Selvatico (both part of the wider Muscat family) The sanctioned varietal white wines are: Leverano Chardonnay, Leverano Fiano and Leverano Malvasia bianca The Leverano Negroamaro can come in red/rosso and rosé/rosato forms The former can also be aged for the Leverano Negroamaro Riserva (two years' ageing before release) and Leverano Negroamaro Superiore (one year ageing) wines although the latter must contain a minimum of 90 percent Negroamaro from vines owned by the company releasing the wine the remainder (where required) can come from local red grapes A majority of producers in Leverano rely on a maritime influence from the Ionian and Adriatic Seas as a respite from the hot, sunny and dry conditions of the Mediterranean climate an important quality for the retention of water throughout the rootzone the soils around Leverano are generally broken down into three main types: deep clays towards Veglie in the north; sandier clays to the east; and lastly red-earth soils towards the coast of the Gulf of Taranto pebbly soils that are rich in minerals creating ideal growing conditions for a variety of different grape varieties.   Players from the Rinascita Refugees enter the field for a match in Leverano Photographs by Giuseppe Carotenuto Story by Julian Rigg Deep in the eighth tier of the Italian soccer league far removed from the star-studded ranks of AC Milan and Juventus there is an amateur team in the southern town of Carmiano share a common identity: They are all migrants The team is known as the Rinascita Refugees (rinascita meaning “rebirth” in Italian) With the slogan “let’s kick racism,” the team is funded by social programs through the Italian Ministry of the Interior It serves as a launching pad for migrants who dream of playing professionally serves as an important protection for the players and helps foreign minors who leave their countries alone psychological support and health care have been crucial to helping Rinascita players be welcomed into Italian society According to the International Rescue Committee, more than 700,000 migrants reached Italy between 2014 and 2020 — a number that has been since increasing asylum seekers reach the Italian peninsula through dangerous sea routes via the Balkans between a brutal journey to continental Europe and fake or exploitative agents looking to scam aspiring players into signing sham contracts it is no easy feat for migrant players looking to play professionally “Every year, thousands of children leave West Africa with the dream of becoming professional footballers in Europe, but only a few make it,” said Giuseppe Carotenuto an Italian photographer who has been documenting the team since 2022 “They land in Europe with the promise of tryouts with important international football clubs,” Carotenuto added “Once they arrive in the EU after having paid thousands of euros they are instead abandoned without documents and exploited as labor in the fields in Spain and Portugal.” a 20-year-old defensive midfielder from Senegal is a testament to the difficulties that some players face when coming to Europe Keita was spotted by a Spanish agent who said he had “seen him play for a long time and that he could help (him) become a player in Europe.” a club which at the time was in the second tier of the Spanish soccer league Keita found himself lodging near a farm in the Spanish countryside and Keita was looking forward to beginning his trial forcing him into work harvesting tomato plants until his debts of bringing him to Europe were repaid Keita worked for weeks until a man from Burkina Faso helped him escape Carotenuto said one thing that stuck with him were these words from Keita: “When I become a professional footballer with the first money I will return to my country to the village where I left my mother and my sister I haven’t heard their (voices) for a long time I will go back there to search (for them) and try to take them with me.” Senegalese forward Saliou Ndao arrived at Rinascita Refugees in a similar situation when he was approached by a Guinean agent offering him a trial at Sporting CP Ndao was asked to play for the team but was withdrawn after his agent asked the club for too much money “After trying several times to call the agent without ever receiving an answer Saliou realized that he had been abandoned and left without a passport in a country whose language he did not even know,” the photographer said winning the Italian Cup in their division and allowing them promotion to the next group of their tier I tried to understand what the driving force was the engine that pushed everyone towards that desire for social redemption,” Carotenuto said “Part of the answer lies in the figure of their coach.” a former player in the Senegalese and German leagues has been spearheading Rinascita since 2015 Baye arrived from Senegal in 1997 and worked as a parking attendant and street vendor in Italy to make ends meet Carotenuto describes Baye as the “head of the family” and a father figure to many of the players Baye’s successful coaching and mentoring has even guided players such as Moustapha Cissé to professional levels had a brief spell at Serie A club Atalanta and is currently playing for their under-23 team in the third tier of the Italian league Cissé arrived from his home country as an orphan and studied to become an electrician during his time at Rinascita with more experienced teams and more rigorous games But the passion and talent is strong within a team that came to Italy with the hopes of playing professional soccer “It is becoming a real school of talent under the eyes of Italian and international football clubs,” Carotenuto said “The story of Moustapha Cissé is a concrete example of this.” Carotenuto’s project is ongoing and was shortlisted for the Sony World Photography Awards in 2023 He said he eventually plans on making a documentary about the team.