AT HER FAMILY'S HISTORIC ITALIAN CASTLE IN CHIANTI CATERINA DE RENZIS SONNINO ON TRANSFORMING A FORMER FORTRESS INTO AN IDYLLIC WINERY THAT INSPIRED GUCCI

Set amid acres of vines and olives, with vistas over the rolling hills of Italy's Chianti region, Castello Sonnino has a dreamlike quality.

It seems timeless and far removed from the turbulent currents of history. But as its chatelaine Baroness Caterina de Renzis Sonnino tells us, the property has quite a past.

During the Renaissance, it belonged to the Machiavelli family and later it was home to First World War statesman Sidney Sonnino, an architect of both the Treaty of Versailles and the League of Nations.

However, during much of the last century the castle stood empty, until, in 1987, Caterina and her late husband Baron Alessandro determined to bring it back to life.

The couple not only carried out a flawless restoration, they also revived Sonnino's wine-making skills, so that today some of the finest Chiantis hail from here.

Above all, they turned the ancient fortress into an idyllic family home.

Now, with children Virginia and Leone joining her to welcome us, Caterina reveals proudly: "We are the first Sonnino generation to live as a family in this house children, friends, dogs and all!"

Caterina, what was your first impression of the castle?

"I felt a bit scared to be honest because I knew nothing about it and since it was all closed up it was very dark.

"Then I threw open some shutters, sunlight burst in and I found myself standing in the most beautiful enchanted garden filled with birds and flowers.

"That was my first view of the Flora and Fauna Room and I decided right then to stay."

This property has been in your family for two centuries. What can you tell us about it?

"Its standout feature is the perfectly preserved medieval bell tower, which dates back to the 12th century, but the place is even older, originating as a Roman castrum or army camp.

"The main villa was built in the 16th century by the Machiavelli family and is typical of the Renaissance period.