History
Our origins
Salice Salentino, a small village in Salento rich in vineyards and olive trees, is the landscape giving life to Leone de Castris’ wine tradition
It is exactly here, on the very spot where today’s cellar stands, that in 1665 Duke Oronzo of the family of Earls of Lemos, gave birth to the company.
He got enchanted by this landscape and decided to sell all his properties in Spain in order to draw the best from the Salentine rich terroir.
He began to plant new vines, olive trees and wheat along 5 thousand hectares‘ properties, not only in Salice, but also in Guagnano, Veglie, Villa Baldassarri, Novoli and San Pancrazio.
From the beginning of the 19th century the Winery used to export bulk wine to the United States, Germany and France.
With Piero and Lisetta Leone de Castris, the bottling had its start in 1925. An extremely important year, 1943, marks the birth of Five Roses and the improvement of the bottling line that has seen our rosé being the first ever bottled in Italy and sold first of all in USA.
The production of Five Roses, in fact, began during the end of the Second World War, thanks to the initiative and boldness of Don Piero. He had his wine tasted by the American General Charles Poletti, Supply Officer of the Allied Forces. It was a success and from then on Five Roses has been our most important wine, traditionally speaking, and the first one making our company know, together with Salento, all over the world. The name “Five Roses” derives from a “contrada” belonging to the family, so called because for several generations each de Castris had 5 children.
In the ‘60s, the direction of the Company was handled by Cavaliere del Lavoro, Salvatore Leone de Castris and thanks to him the company had an important development, both locally and internationally speaking. His know-how, of continuous improvement, is now carried on by his son Piernicola Leone de Castris, managing director since late ‘90s.
New vines have been planted over the years: Chardonnay and Sauvignon, going together with the traditional ones: Negroamaro, Malvasia nera, Verdeca, Moscato, Aleatico, Primitivo. The Winery’s production is very rich: red, white and rosé DOC wines (Salice Salentino, Locorotondo, Copertino, Primitivo di Manduria), interesting IGT Salento and Puglia wines, sparkling rosé and white wines. The entire selection is quite often awarded with prestigious recognitions and our products are present not only in European markets, but also in USA, Canada, Brasile, Autralia, Singapore, Japan, Hong Kong, etc.
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Febbraio, il mese dell`amore, sta per lasciarci…ma la passione per il buon vino resta!❤️🍷
Con 50° Vendemmia Negroamaro Salice Salentino Riserva 2020, ogni occasione si trasforma in un momento unico, da assaporare con intensità e carattere. Perché il gusto autentico non conosce stagioni, ma solo emozioni da vivere, sorso dopo sorso!
#leonedecastris1665 #PassioneInOgniSorso #Negroamaro #50Vendemia #pugliawine #winelover #eleganzadabere
Feb 28
L’amore lascia il suo segno…⭕❤️🍷
Come un calice di vino rosso Negroamaro, che con il suo colore intenso e il suo gusto avvolgente scrive momenti da ricordare. Brinda con noi all`amore, in tutte le sue forme! 🍷 🍷
#leonedecastris1665 #RossoComeAmore #RegalaEmozioni #winelover #negroamaro
Feb 26
Febbraio è il mese dell`amore…e ogni regalo speciale merita una confezione all`altezza! 🍷❣️
Scopri la Box dell`Amore in regalo sul nostro shop online con l`acquisto dei tuoi vini preferiti. Perfetta per custodire le tue bottiglie e rendere ogni sorso un`emozione da condividere🍷🍷🍷🎁
Affrettati, l`amore non aspetta!🙌
#leonedecastris1665 #BoxDellAmore #RegalaEmozioni
Feb 21
✨ Ogni 𝐴𝑛𝑛𝑖𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑠𝑎𝑟𝑖𝑜 ha il suo momento, le sue parole, il suo amore da raccontare ✨
Che sia il primo battito, un ricordo prezioso o una promessa eterna, ogni sorso racchiude emozioni da vivere e condividere insieme. Buon San Valentino!❤️🍷 🍷
#leonedecastris1665 #FiveRosesAnniversario #SanValentino #LoveAndWine #fiveroses #winelover #pugliawine
Feb 14
🍷 Conosci l’origine del nome Elo Veni?
Elo Veni racconta la dolce melodia che risuonava in Cantina nel 2001, anno di produzione del vino e della tenera dedica di un papà.
Questa espressione vedeva protagonisti i due figli di Piernicola Leone de Castris: Marialuisa e Piersalvatore.
Marialuisa, alla tenera età di un anno, chiamava il fratellino Piersalvatore nei corridoi della Cantina dicendo “Elo. Veni!” (Piero, vieni!).
#leonedecastris1665 #eloveni #StoriaDiUnaFamiglia #pugliawine #wine #salento #winehistory #leonedecastris
Jan 31
