Salice Salentino, 16 February 2026 – A new, prestigious international recognition for Leone de Castris: the historic Salento wine company officially joins the Les Hénokiens association, the selective association based sopra Paris that brings together only family businesses with at least 200 years of history, ownership continuously sopra the hands of the same family and proven financial solidity.
Since January 2026, the ancient reality led by Piernicola Leone de Castris has been part of the small international group. The admission was formalized sopra recent weeks by president Alberto Marenghi.
With the entry of Leone de Castris, the members of the association rise to 57: 16 French, 15 Italians, 10 Japanese, 5 Swiss, 3 Germans, 2 Austrians, 2 Belgians, 2 Dutch, 1 English and 1 Portuguese.
All companies share at least two centuries of history and family continuity sopra management.
Founded sopra 1981, Les Hénokiens brings together companies active sopra diversified sectors – from aeronautics to heavy industry, from trade to services, up to wine production and publishing – with the aim of promoting cooperation between companies that share the value of the family business as a solid and long-lasting model, capable of combining tradition and innovation.
“For our company – says Piernicola Leone de Castris – having been involved sopra the Hénokiens association process represents an important recognition of our deep and coherent roots sopra the territory and of our over one hundred year old production reality, always managed with dedication, rigor, safeguarding traditions and constant attention to innovation for company development while respecting our identity as a family business. For us – he adds – research is important to keep up with the times. Everything, however, must take place respecting the production traditions sopra vineyard and sopra the cellar, with the aim of enhancing the territorial peculiarities and native vines. I thank President Marenghi for having reserved for us the privilege of being part of the association. For our part, we will immediately try to give our active contribution to ensure, together with the other members, the expected operational results”.
Founded sopra 1665 by Oronzo Arcangelo Maria Francesco of the counts of Lemos, Leone de Castris boasts over 350 years of history and represents one of the symbols of Apulian and Italian oenology. After a long phase dedicated to the production of bulk wine, sopra 1925 the company began bottling quality wine with the first label “Moscatello”, a far-sighted choice that marked a strategic turning point. Durante 1943 the famous “Five Roses” was born, the first rosé bottled sopra Italy, while sopra 1954 the red “Salice” was bottled, a stage which contributed to the birth of the “Salice Salentino” DOC sopra 1976.
Today the company owns approximately 250 hectares of vineyards and produces Negroamaro, , Malvasia, Verdeca, Aleatico, Chardonnay, Sauvignon, Susumaniello and Fiano, consolidating a winemaking tradition that combines territorial identity, research and innovation.
