In 1665, Oronzo Arcangelo de Castris, Count of Lemos, established the Winery exactly where it still lies, in Salice Salentino. Later on, just near the small village of Salice, some big estates were

created and mainly vineyards and olive trees were planted. In 1925, Piero Leone Plantera married Donna Lisetta de Castris so the two families got together. This marriage marked the beginning

of a new period in the history of this old Winery: the replacement of vines and the management reorganization structure. They started bottling the wine for the first time in Apulia, marking

a very important step in the history of Apulian oenology, indeed in 1943 the Five roses, the first rosé bottled in Italy, was born followed by the Red Salice Salentino in 1954, which, mainly thanks to the efforts of the Company, got the DOC denomination in the early 70’s. By the end of the 60’s, the general management was taken over by Salvatore Leone de Castris, son of Piero and Lisetta, who contributed very much in the further development on the main international markets. In the 80’s Salvatore’s son, Piernicola joined the Company first as Sales Director and then as General Director. The development of the wine cellar and the vineyards goes on winning international prestigious prizes. Our Winery has been the first Apulian bottler, and for that reason, we are deep-rooted in our territory. In the last years, the valorisation and the rediscovery of the indigenous varieties of vines, that made the history of Salento, represented a turning point in our activity. The most part of our wines are made with indigenous grapes, but we have never stopped the innovation process. Leone de Castris produces a selection of high-quality wines, great sparkling wines made with Negroamaro and red and white Malvasia grapes, a nice brandy (acquavite), and a precious grappa. Beside the Winery there are the Wine Hotel Villa Donna Lisa and the Milo Restaurant. Finally, the Wine Museum “Piero e Salvatore Leone de Castris”, named after the two pioneers of the Apulian winegrowing, recollect the fundamental steps of our own history and that of wine in Apulia.