Leone de Castris

Leone de Castris was founded in 1665 by Duke Oronzo Arcangelo Maria Francesco dei Conti de Lemos in the Salice Salentino area of Lecce province, Puglia. The estate achieved a landmark in 1925 when Piero Leone Plantera and Donna Lisetta de Castris became the first producers to bottle wine in Apulia. In 1943, the estate created Five Roses, the first rosé wine ever bottled and marketed in Italy. The 1943 original bottle is preserved in the on-site wine museum alongside historical documents tracing nearly four centuries of production.

• Founded 1665, making it one of Europe's oldest continuous family wine enterprises
• First to bottle wine in Apulia in 1925
• Five Roses (1943) was the first bottled and marketed Italian rosé
• Currently in its 16th generation of family ownership

The estate farms approximately 300 hectares of medium-textured soils under a classic Mediterranean climate, characterized by abundant sunshine, sparse but adequate rainfall, and refreshing sea breezes. All grapes have been certified organic since 2018. The portfolio of varieties is broad, spanning indigenous southern Italian grapes and international varieties. Native grapes include Negroamaro, Malvasia Nera, Primitivo, Susumaniello, Ottavianello, Aleatico, Verdeca, Moscato, and Bianco di Alessano. International varieties planted include Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, and Shiraz.

• Approximately 300 hectares under vine in Salice Salentino, Lecce province
• Certified organic since 2018
• Indigenous varieties include Negroamaro, Primitivo, Malvasia Nera, and Susumaniello
• International varieties include Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, and Shiraz

Leone de Castris produces red, white, rosé, and sparkling wines across several appellations and designations. The range includes DOC Salice Salentino, Primitivo di Manduria, Locorotondo, and Copertino, as well as IGT Salento and IGT Puglia wines. The estate played a direct role in elevating the region's status; after releasing its Salice Salentino wine in 1954, it lobbied actively for the appellation's DOC recognition, which was achieved in 1971. Current enological direction is shared by Riccardo Cotarella and Pierpaolo Strepitio, with Piernicola Leone de Castris serving as managing director.

• Salice Salentino DOC achieved in 1971, with Leone de Castris lobbying instrumental
• Range spans DOC Salice Salentino, Primitivo di Manduria, Locorotondo, and Copertino
• IGT Salento and IGT Puglia wines also produced alongside sparkling wines
• Approximately 2.5 million bottles produced annually, exported to over 60 countries

Leone de Castris holds membership in Les Hénokiens, the prestigious international association reserved for family businesses that have operated continuously for more than 200 years. The estate also operates Villa Donna Lisa Wine Hotel on the property, offering visitors direct access to the estate's history and hospitality. The on-site wine museum houses historical documents and the original 1943 Five Roses bottle, providing a tangible record of the estate's outsized influence on Italian wine history.

• Member of Les Hénokiens, reserved for family enterprises over 200 years old
• Operates Villa Donna Lisa Wine Hotel on the estate
• Wine museum preserves historical documents and the original 1943 Five Roses bottle
• Exports reach over 60 countries worldwide