2023 · Il Lemos

Leone de Castris is a historic family-run producer in Salice Salentino, Puglia, founded in 1665 and recognized by Les Hénokiens among the world’s bicentennial family businesses. Deeply tied to its territory, it works with Puglian grapes including Negroamaro, Primitivo, Susumaniello, Ottavianello, Verdeca and Fiano, while also developing the Donna Coletta estate in the Murgia around Primitivo. Its identity balances tradition and evolution, with a strong emphasis on passed-down know-how, territorial expression, and the important role of women such as Donna Lisa de Castris. The winery is also known for Five Roses, the first rosé bottled and commercialized in Italy in 1943, and for its certified sustainability under the Equalitas standard.