Leone de Castris was founded in 1665 by Duke Oronzo Arcangelo Maria Francesco de Castris. At the time, Salice Salento was in the Kingdom of Naples and governed by the Spanish Counts of Lemos, one of whom was the Duke. Blessed with abundant sunshine, sparse but adequate rainfall and refreshing Mediterranean breezes, he predicted the area would be an ideal environment for grape growing, and the estate quickly grew to cover over 12,500 acres of vineyards and olive groves across the heel of the boot of Italy.

Today the group is led by Piernicola Leone de Castris, managing director since the 1990s and together with his father and predecessor Salvatore, has ushered  in a change in direction for the style and quality of production. The entire estate is now relatively modest with 625 acres under vine in Salento and the villages of Guagnano, Veglie, Villa Baldassarri, Novoli and San Pancrazio. This diverse range of sites produces a large number of grape varieties, both indigenous and introduced to the region.

Innovation and preservation of the area’s wine culture has made Leone de Castris one of the major wine names of Puglia in recent decades. The group’s consistent efforts highlighting the importance of indigenous Apulian grapes such as Negroamaro, Primitivo, Verdeca and Susumaniello through their works in the Vinum Loci project has also involved engaging in the services of star consulting oenologist Riccardo Cotarella, who works to both continue tradition and enhance quality year-on-year.

For more information please visit www.leonedecastris.com