- BY ISSIMO
- January 22, 2025

Caterina de Renzis Sonnino has led quite a life. She’s been an artist and a mother, a wine producer together with her late husband, and a cultural ambassador. Her creative skills have lent themselves to building the visual identity of some of the most celebrated wines in Italy, while her commitment to preserving heritage has been the driving force behind the revival of Castello Sonnino, a historic estate in Tuscany. Under her guidance, the castle has transformed from a relic of the past into a vibrant center for education, sustainability, and fine wine production – a testament to her vision of honoring tradition while embracing modernity.
We spoke with Caterina about it all, and asked her to share her insights on her brilliant, impressive career.
How did it all start for you?
I simply followed my heart.
My background couldn’t have been more far removed from the world of wine and art – I originally studied political sciences in Florence – but I had always been quite creative, and eventually decided I wanted to paint instead. I attended the Rosary College of Fine Arts and Photography at The Pratt School in New York City, and began working as an artist after that, specialising in trompe-l’œil.In 1988, I arrived at Castello Sonnino, which has long belonged to my husband’s family, and threw myself into renovating it. The place was magical, frozen in time. I dedicated years to bringing it back to life and turning it into a new version of itself, all the while working as a visual identity professional for other wine realities around Italy. I love beauty, I love great wines. It felt natural to make those two things the focus of my life, alongside my family of course.
You have designed visual identities for wine makers like Antinori, Donna Fugata and Bastianich. How did that part of your life come about?
It’s funny, when I first started working as a designer and visual creator I actually wanted to redo the brand identity of our wines at Castello Sonnino, but my husband wasn’t sold on the idea. My very first client was an estate called Castello del Terriccio, which proved a huge success. Antinori, a bit of a legend in the wine sector, was next on the list, and more prestigious commissions followed after that. I was self-taught, but people liked my work, and requests kept coming in. It all snowballed from there.

Did your husband ever change his mind about having you create a new visual identity for your family wines?
Absolutely. Once he saw how well-received my work was, he did give in and was pretty pleased about it.
When coming up with a new design for a wine producer, what are the aspects that matter the most?
Staying true to who the client is and what they like is a big one. I approach any commission the same way a tailor would if asked to create a bespoke outfit. If you hate red and taffeta, it would be pointless for a dress-maker to design a garment featuring those two elements. The same goes for the visual identity of a bottle. I have to respect who’s in front of me, work around their needs, and ensure there’s a dialogue between us.
Research, too, is key, and one of my favourite aspects of the job. I love delving deep into the history of an image, a font, an estate. It’s all about creating a truthful mood board, and a concept that tells a story.
What makes a good visual identity for a wine?
Clarity and balance. You need to have the right ratio of writing and white space on the bottle, the right fonts, the perfect placement for the logo. A wine bottle you’ll remember has a clear logic to it, a studied aesthetic. There’s nothing casual about it.
“We want our estate to live on, to have relevancy”

Besides visual identities, you’ve also been pivotal in reviving the fortunes of Castello Sonnino. Could you tell us a bit about that?
For centuries Castello Sonnino has been a farm and winery. It has always been a social and economic engine for this area, providing a living for more than a thousand people since the Middle Ages. Its history begins in the 4th century and has been owned by the Sonnino family since the early 19th century. When my husband Alessandro and I came to live here in 1988, we found the place intact.I fell in love with it – there’s something truly unique about this residence, the way the light hits the floors, the history and beauty you can feel in each and every nook. We made it our family home, which means it’s all the more special to me, and also the place where we produce our wines. Over the years, however, I began thinking there could be more to it than that.
How so?
Castello Sonnino might be old but is still very much alive. I thought we should share its appeal with others, and honour the legacy of this enchanted place. The whole world is full of wonderful sites that are part of our common heritage, but they have been transformed and lost their soul, which I find very sad. That’s why in 2014 We launched the Castello Sonnino International Educational Center – a space where researchers, educators and students committed to preserving the environment and cultural heritage for future generations can come to both for experiential learning and research opportunities.
We want our estate to live on, to have relevancy, and the Center helps us do that.
How does the Center work?

We have courses on sustainable agriculture, economics, marketing, environmental systems, agriculture, enology and tourism, but also hands-on internships and illustrious lecturers hosting seminars, workshops and other programme activities focused on building a sustainable and resilient future for generations to come. The goal is to teach about the Italian way of life and culture. I think that’s the only way we can truly preserve places like Castello Sonnino.
Back to wines – do you have a favourite?

I love elegant wines, nothing too rich or overpowering. To that end, I love our San Giovese, called Cantinino, and our rose Pichius. They are both excellent.