Santa Caterina
The Ligurian winery Santa Caterina represents a virtuous model of craftsmanship and sustainability that, embracing the holistic biodynamic vision, gives rise to wines rich in charm. The official birth of the estate dates back to the late '80s, when Andrea Kihlgren decided to take over the lands of his maternal family, the Picedi Benettini, on the hills of Sarzana, in Lunigiana. Andrea immediately gave a new direction to the property, which until then had been divided into autonomous farms run by sharecropping, carefully choosing the most suitable lands for the different cultivated grape varieties. There are three small farms on which the estate is located: one on the homonymous hill of Santa Caterina, at the gates of Sarzana, and the other two, named Giuncàro and Ghiarétolo, closer to the sea. All the vineyards are arranged on terraces and, according to Ligurian tradition, in addition to grape cultivation, the winery is dedicated to olive growing.
The 8 hectares of vineyards available to the Ligurian estate Santa Caterina are reserved for the grape varieties Albarola, Ciliegiolo, Sangiovese, Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot, Canaiolo, locally called Merla, and, above all, Vermentino. All these varieties are cultivated according to the principles of organic and biodynamic agriculture on alluvial soils, composed of red clays, sand, or gravel depending on the reference plot. The grapes are harvested entirely by hand and processed in the winery according to a minimalist oenological approach, based on the exclusion of corrections and manipulations, rather favoring the spontaneous processes of transformation to highlight the terroir. According to this vision, the fermentations rely solely on the intervention of indigenous yeasts, and inert materials such as stainless steel tanks, clay amphorae, and old 350-liter tonneaux are used for vinification and aging that can no longer impart any aroma to the wine.
With these premises, the Santa Caterina winery becomes the protagonist of a artisanal production that brings to light fine and authentic wines, true liquid poems.
The Ligurian winery Santa Caterina represents a virtuous model of craftsmanship and sustainability that, embracing the holistic biodynamic vision, gives rise to wines rich in charm. The official birth of the estate dates back to the late '80s, when Andrea Kihlgren decided to take over the lands of his maternal family, the Picedi Benettini, on the hills of Sarzana, in Lunigiana. Andrea immediately gave a new direction to the property, which until then had been divided into autonomous farms run by sharecropping, carefully choosing the most suitable lands for the different cultivated grape varieties. There are three small farms on which the estate is located: one on the homonymous hill of Santa Caterina, at the gates of Sarzana, and the other two, named Giuncàro and Ghiarétolo, closer to the sea. All the vineyards are arranged on terraces and, according to Ligurian tradition, in addition to grape cultivation, the winery is dedicated to olive growing.
The 8 hectares of vineyards available to the Ligurian estate Santa Caterina are reserved for the grape varieties Albarola, Ciliegiolo, Sangiovese, Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot, Canaiolo, locally called Merla, and, above all, Vermentino. All these varieties are cultivated according to the principles of organic and biodynamic agriculture on alluvial soils, composed of red clays, sand, or gravel depending on the reference plot. The grapes are harvested entirely by hand and processed in the winery according to a minimalist oenological approach, based on the exclusion of corrections and manipulations, rather favoring the spontaneous processes of transformation to highlight the terroir. According to this vision, the fermentations rely solely on the intervention of indigenous yeasts, and inert materials such as stainless steel tanks, clay amphorae, and old 350-liter tonneaux are used for vinification and aging that can no longer impart any aroma to the wine.
With these premises, the Santa Caterina winery becomes the protagonist of a artisanal production that brings to light fine and authentic wines, true liquid poems.
