Tradition & Innovation in Every Plot

The story of Santa Caterina is one of continuity, conviction, and a deep connection to the land — a story that begins in the late 1980s when Andrea Kihlgren took over family land formerly held by the Picedi Benettini and began transforming it into a biodynamic wine estate of remarkable character and authenticity. What started as a single plot has grown over decades into a multi-farm operation that combines vineyards, olive groves, and rented agricultural land into a cohesive, living system. Andrea is the heart of the estate — the owner, the winemaker, the visionary who has shaped every aspect of this project with patience, observation, and an unwavering commitment to biodynamic principles. He is not merely a producer; he is a steward of the landscape, a preserver of heritage, and a believer in the power of letting the land speak through the wine.

The estate is located in Colli di Luni — a historic and legendary wine region in Liguria, on the border with Tuscany, where the Tyrrhenian Sea provides constant ventilation and the hills offer a mosaic of exposures, altitudes, and soil types. The name "Colli di Luni" evokes the ancient Roman city of Luni, a once-great port that traded across the Mediterranean, and the surrounding landscape carries the weight of millennia of human cultivation. The vineyards of Santa Caterina are spread across approximately 8 hectares of estate vineyards plus around 4 hectares of olive groves, with additional hectares rented for pasture or cropping. But what makes Santa Caterina truly unique is its multi-farm structure — the estate is not a single contiguous block but a collection of named farms and plots, each with its own character, its own varieties, and its own contribution to the estate's identity.

The five named farms that make up the Santa Caterina estate are: Santa Caterina — the main estate, an 8-hectare hill planted with Vermentino and Sangiovese; Giuncàro — a 1-hectare farm with Tocai, Sauvignon, and Vermentino vineyards; Ghiarètolo — a 2-hectare vineyard with Merlot, Merla, and Ciliegiolo; Segalàra — a small clay terrace with Vermentino and olive groves; and Gròppolo — a large extension of olive grove on uneven terraces. Each farm contributes something unique to the estate's portfolio: different grape varieties, different soil types, different microclimates, different exposures. The alluvial terraces are some clayier and others more rocky, creating a remarkable diversity of growing conditions within a single estate. This multi-farm approach is not merely a logistical arrangement — it is a philosophical choice, a way of working with the land rather than imposing a single vision upon it.

Andrea's approach to winemaking is rooted in biodynamic agriculture — a philosophy that goes beyond organic farming to embrace a holistic, ecological, and ethical approach to agriculture. He believes that the vineyard is not merely a source of grapes but an entire living system that demands respect, observation, and patient care. The estate follows practices that aim for ecological balance, respect for soil health, biodiversity, and minimal intervention. They value tradition as much as innovation — recovering old grape varieties, maintaining terraces and vineyard placements, working the land thoughtfully rather than purely for yield. For Andrea, the wine is not a product to be manufactured according to a recipe but a living expression of a specific place, a specific moment, and the complex web of relationships that define it.

Today, Santa Caterina is recognized as one of the most thoughtful and authentic biodynamic estates in the Ligurian natural wine scene — a winery that has earned the attention of natural wine enthusiasts, critics, and fellow producers who understand that Andrea's work represents something rare: a fusion of family heritage, biodynamic conviction, multi-farm terroir expression, and an unwavering commitment to letting the Colli di Luni terroir speak through its wines. The estate is a member of Agricoltura Vivente and VinNatur, and has been featured by The Grape Reset, Raisin, Vino-Bio, and a growing network of international importers and retailers who seek out wines of authenticity and place. Andrea's wines — Colli di Luni Vermentino, Colli di Luni Vermentino Poggi Alti, Giuncàro, Colli di Luni Rosso, Ghiarétolo, and Fontananera — are not merely beverages; they are stories of a man, a family, a collection of hills, and a conviction that the best wines come from the most honest relationship with the land.

At Santa Caterina, the cellar philosophy is one of minimal intervention, absolute respect for the natural character of the grapes, and a deep commitment to expressing the unique terroir of each named farm — a commitment to producing wines that are a pure and honest expression of the Colli di Luni terroir, with no forced corrections, no masking of the grape's natural character, and no departure from the biodynamic principles that define the vineyard. Andrea Kihlgren believes that every action in winemaking should serve the wine's natural expression, not impose a house style or follow fashion. His approach is grounded in seeing the vineyard as an entire living system, and committed to allowing the wine to develop its own character with the minimum of human interference. The result is a diverse range of wines — Colli di Luni Vermentino, Colli di Luni Vermentino Poggi Alti, Giuncàro, Colli di Luni Rosso, Ghiarétolo, and Fontananera — that are bright, fresh, deeply expressive, and unmistakably connected to the specific farm from which they come.

The techniques are minimal, respectful, and deeply informed by Andrea's commitment to biodynamic principles and natural expression. Fermentation occurs with indigenous yeasts — no commercial yeasts, no enzymes, no additives. The wines are made with minimal intervention in the cellar, preserving their natural textures, authentic flavors, and the unique character of each farm. The choice of vessels and ageing regimes is made according to the wine, the vintage, and Andrea's intuition, always in service of the wine's natural expression rather than the imposition of a house style. The result is a portfolio of wines that are unmistakably Santa Caterina — alive, authentic, deeply connected to the maritime soul of Colli di Luni, and to Andrea's conviction that the best wines come from the most honest relationship with the land.

"Colli di Luni Vermentino" — The Signature White: The Colli di Luni Vermentino is Santa Caterina's signature white wine — the cuvée that has become a calling card for the estate in the natural wine world and beyond. It is a wine of remarkable clarity, freshness, and maritime character that captures the essence of the Colli di Luni terroir and Andrea's commitment to biodynamic, minimal-intervention winemaking. Made from Vermentino — the great white grape of Liguria and the Mediterranean coast — it is a wine that expresses the full potential of this variety when grown in the maritime microclimate of Colli di Luni. The grapes are hand-harvested from the estate's biodynamically cultivated vineyards, fermented with indigenous yeasts, and aged with minimal intervention to preserve the wine's natural character and allow it to develop complexity without masking its territorial identity. In the glass, it is pale straw with greenish reflections. The nose offers citrus, green apple, white peach, almond, wild herbs, and a distinct saline, mineral note that speaks of the Tyrrhenian Sea's influence. The palate is medium to full-bodied, with vibrant acidity, a slightly textured mouthfeel, and a long, savory, mineral finish with a gentle saline kiss. It is a wine of great personality — the quintessential expression of Ligurian Vermentino. Serve well chilled at 8–10°C. Drink within 2–3 years for maximum freshness. ~$16–$24 / ~€14–€22.

"Colli di Luni Vermentino Poggi Alti" — The Higher-Plot White: The Colli di Luni Vermentino Poggi Alti is Santa Caterina's white wine from the higher plots — a cuvée that captures the cooler temperatures, greater diurnal variation, and alpine freshness of the estate's elevated vineyards. "Poggi Alti" means "high hills," and this wine reflects the unique character of the higher-altitude Vermentino plantings at Santa Caterina. The grapes are hand-harvested from the higher plots of the estate, where cooler nights and greater temperature variation produce wines of greater acidity, more pronounced minerality, and a kind of mountain freshness that tempers the Mediterranean warmth. Fermented with indigenous yeasts and aged with minimal intervention, it is a wine of greater tension, more gripping acidity, and a kind of crystalline clarity that speaks of altitude and exposure. In the glass, it is pale straw with luminous green reflections. The nose offers lime, grapefruit, green apple, white flowers, crushed stone, and a distinct high-altitude mineral note. The palate is medium-bodied, with razor-sharp acidity, a lean, precise texture, and an incredibly long, savory, mineral finish. It is a wine of intellectual and sensory precision — a wine that rewards contemplation. Serve at 8–10°C. Ages beautifully for 3–5 years. ~$18–$26 / ~€16–€24.

"Giuncàro" — The Tocai & Sauvignon White: The Giuncàro is Santa Caterina's white wine from the Giuncàro farm — a 1-hectare plot planted with Tocai, Sauvignon, and Vermentino. It is a wine that showcases the unique character of this specific farm, where the combination of varieties and the farm's particular microclimate produce a white of distinct personality and complexity. The Tocai contributes body and a kind of waxy, honeyed texture; the Sauvignon adds aromatic intensity, herbaceous notes, and citrus brightness; and the Vermentino provides the saline, mineral backbone that ties everything together. Fermented with indigenous yeasts and aged with minimal intervention, it is a wine of greater body, more pronounced texture, and a kind of layered complexity that speaks of the Giuncàro farm's unique terroir. In the glass, it is golden straw with luminous intensity. The nose offers dried apricot, orange peel, wild honey, chamomile, and a distinct mineral, smoky note. The palate is full-bodied, with gripping texture, vibrant acidity, and an incredibly long, savory, almost saline finish. It is a wine of intellectual and emotional depth. Serve at 10–12°C. Ages beautifully for 3–5 years. ~$20–$30 / ~€18–€28.

"Colli di Luni Rosso" — The Sangiovese & Merla Red: The Colli di Luni Rosso is Santa Caterina's signature red blend — a wine that combines Sangiovese, the backbone of Tuscan and central Italian winemaking, with Merla, a rare local variety that Andrea has worked to preserve and revive. It is a wine of remarkable depth, structure, and maritime character that captures the essence of the Colli di Luni terroir and Andrea's commitment to biodynamic, minimal-intervention winemaking. The Sangiovese provides the structure, acidity, and savory depth; the Merla adds a kind of wild, earthy complexity and a unique local character that cannot be replicated elsewhere. The grapes are hand-harvested from the estate's biodynamically cultivated vineyards, fermented with indigenous yeasts, and aged in a variety of vessels chosen to preserve the wine's natural character and allow it to develop complexity without masking its territorial identity. In the glass, it is deep ruby with garnet reflections. The nose offers dark cherry, plum, wild herbs, black pepper, and a distinct maritime, saline note. The palate is full-bodied, with firm yet approachable tannins, vibrant acidity, and a long, savory, slightly spicy finish. It is a wine of great personality. Serve at 16–18°C. 3–5 years ageing potential. ~$18–$28 / ~€16–€25.

"Ghiarétolo" — The Merlot Red: The Ghiarétolo is Santa Caterina's Merlot-dominant red — a wine from the Ghiarètolo farm, a 2-hectare vineyard planted with Merlot, Merla, and Ciliegiolo. It is a wine that showcases the remarkable adaptability of Merlot to the maritime microclimate of Colli di Luni, producing a red of depth, roundness, and a distinct saline edge that sets it apart from Merlots grown elsewhere. The Merlot provides the body, the round tannins, and the dark fruit; the Merla and Ciliegiolo add local character, freshness, and a kind of wild complexity. Fermented with indigenous yeasts and aged with minimal intervention, it is a wine of great immediacy and pleasure — a red that combines the accessibility of Merlot with the depth and complexity of biodynamic cultivation. In the glass, it is deep ruby with purple reflections. The nose offers black cherry, blackberry, plum, violet, and a distinct maritime note. The palate is full-bodied, with soft, velvety tannins, vibrant acidity, and a long, savory finish. Serve at 16–18°C. Drink within 3–5 years. ~$18–$26 / ~€16–€24.

"Fontananera" — The Merlot & Ciliegiolo Red: The Fontananera is Santa Caterina's Merlot and Ciliegiolo blend — a wine that combines the depth and roundness of Merlot with the bright red fruit and freshness of Ciliegiolo, a native variety of bright red fruit and freshness that is the backbone of many Tuscan and Ligurian reds. It is a wine of remarkable balance — the Merlot providing structure and dark fruit, the Ciliegiolo adding lift, acidity, and a kind of wild, herbal complexity. Fermented with indigenous yeasts and aged with minimal intervention, it is a wine of great drinkability and charm — a red that captures the playful, approachable side of Colli di Luni while maintaining the depth and authenticity that defines every Santa Caterina wine. In the glass, it is bright ruby with garnet reflections. The nose offers red cherry, raspberry, wild herbs, and a hint of Mediterranean scrub. The palate is medium-bodied, with fine tannins, vibrant acidity, and a long, fresh, savory finish. Serve at 14–16°C. Drink within 2–4 years. ~$16–$24 / ~€14–€22.

Vessels & Ageing: Santa Caterina works with a variety of vessels — stainless steel tanks, old wooden barrels, and other containers — each chosen according to the wine, the vintage, and Andrea's intuition. There is no single formula; the choice of vessel is always made in service of the wine's natural expression, not in pursuit of a house style. The stainless steel preserves freshness, primary fruit, and vibrant acidity — essential for the delicate aromatics of the Vermentino whites and the bright fruit of younger cuvées. The old wood adds subtle complexity, allows for gentle oxygen exchange, and provides the structure and depth necessary for more ambitious reds — without imposing oak flavors that would mask the territorial character. All wines are fermented with indigenous yeasts, with minimal intervention, preserving their natural textures, authentic flavors, and the unique character of each named farm. The result is a portfolio of wines that are unmistakably Santa Caterina — alive, authentic, deeply connected to the maritime soul of Colli di Luni, and to Andrea's conviction that the best wines come from the most honest relationship with the land.