Balancing Time and Method: Leone de Castris Featured in “Imbottigliamento” Magazine

There is an invisible yet unbreakable thread running through the three and a half centuries of our Winery’s history, finding its perfect synthesis in technological evolution. This deep connection—built on industrial vision and local roots—is the focus of an extensive feature by journalist Laura Turrini in the prestigious national magazine “Imbottigliamento”.

The in-depth report (published in the May 2026 issue) highlights an anniversary that goes far beyond mere celebratory rhetoric: 100 years since the start of the company’s bottling operations.

Choosing to package its own wine in 1925—at a time when Italy was still far from the modern concept of “sealed quality”—meant that Leone de Castris anticipated an epochal paradigm shift. Starting with the historic first Moscatello, wine ceased to be merely a bulk agricultural product and became a finished, recognizable, and traceable ambassador of Salento to the world.

1665: Foundation of the Winery by the Counts of Lemos.
1925: Industrial turning point -> First bottling (Moscatello).
1943: Birth of Five Roses (The first bottled rosé in Italy).
1954: Birth of Salice red (Anticipating the 1976 DOC status).
Today: Integrated line producing 5,000 bottles/hour with a presence in 50 countries.

Technology as a Pillar of Competitiveness

In the pages of the magazine, Piernicola Leone de Castris clarifies that tradition should not be a limit or a museum piece, but rather a concrete engine for development:

“The strength of Leone de Castris is based on three clear pillars: family continuity, which ensures stability in choices; constant investment in technology and process control; and the strategic enhancement of native grape varieties, which remain the heart of our identity. In wine, time is a fundamental variable. In our case, it has also become an industrial ally—a tool that allows us to build continuity, strengthen our production model, and look to the future without losing coherence.”

This philosophy translates into a state-of-the-art production facility in Salice Salentino, designed to manage an annual production of approximately 2 million bottles and an export network covering over 50 countries (including demanding markets such as Germany, the United States, Japan, China, and Northern Europe).

From Vineyard to Packaging: A Flow of Precision

As explained in the article by enologist Antonio Tripaldi, quality is not built at the end of the process; it is established the moment the grapes cross the threshold of the facility. The technological infrastructure supports human expertise through several crucial phases:

1. Selection and Parameterization of Raw Materials

The first level of control is entrusted to a Pellenc linear destemmer with a sorting table, which eliminates unwanted variables and ensures batch homogeneity. Furthermore, for the delicate phase of grape withering (appassimento), the winery has moved from empirical management to parametric control via two dedicated drying rooms. These rooms constantly monitor temperature, humidity, and ventilation to guarantee absolute qualitative stability.

2. Oxygen-Free Vinification

The vinification department boasts three Siprem refrigerated vacuum presses. This system allows for extremely delicate extraction while simultaneously managing temperature and oxygen levels. This is a decisive factor in preserving the freshness, aromatic integrity, and olfactory clarity of the wines.

3. Bottling: Safety and Traceability

The beating heart of production is the bottling line, designed as an integrated continuous flow that eliminates downtime. The centerpiece is the Bertolaso Elettra 1400 monoblock, with a capacity of 5,000 bottles per hour. The strategic choice not to oversize the plant reflects the desire to maintain direct and rigorous control over every single bottle, ensuring the traceability and food safety required by international markets. The line is completed by a P.E. Labellers Modular CM labeling machine, a Cosmapack depalletizer, and Fipal integrated systems for final casing.

Special Thanks to the Editorial Staff

The extensive report in Imbottigliamento captures the image of a company that has successfully industrialized the “poetry of its land” without distorting its essence.

We sincerely thank the publication and the author, Laura Turrini, for accurately portraying our reality—where innovation does not replace expertise but becomes its most efficient operating arm.

We invite you to read the excerpt of the article and follow the author’s work on her official channels:

• Instagram: @free_lau
• Facebook: Laura Turrini – Journalist
• LinkedIn: Laura Turrini

The future has deep roots. We continue to move along a precise line, defined by territorial belonging and technological innovation.