Leone de Castris, winemaker from Puglia

The Legacy of Leone de Castris Winery

Foundation and Historical Significance

The story of the Leone de Castris winery started in 1665, when it was founded by Duke Oronzo in the small village of Salice Salentino, near the town of Lecce in Puglia. Although since the 19th century, the company largely only produced and sold wine in bulk to Germany, France and the United States, in 1925, the arrival of Piernicola and Lisetta Leone de Castris marked the start of bottling, launching the family winery into a new era which would thrive from 1943, when its very famous rosé Five Roses was created. The first rosé bottled on Italian soil, this now legendary wine was marketed and sold after WWII in the United States, where it quickly became hugely successful.

Vineyard Management and Production

Grown on 615 acres of land spread over Salice Salentino, Campi and Guagnano, the vineyards of the Leone de Castris winery are mostly made up of local varieties like Primitivo, Negroamaro and Aleatico. Currently managed by Piernicola Leone de Castris who took over in the 1990s, this esteemed winery now produces over 2.5 million bottles per year—many regularly awarded top scores by Gambero Rosso guidepost in Italy.

Discover other producers from Puglia, including Tenute di Eméra, Taurino, Moros, Leone de Castris, Feudi di San Marzano, and Gianfranco Fino.

Discover also the wines of Ionis.