Heritage, Balance, and Beauty
Event Details
Date: Tuesday, November 19, 2025
Time: 7:00 PM
Location: Lucciola, 621 Amsterdam Ave, New York, NY, 10024
Merlot 2018, Cabernet Franc 2017, Sangiovese 2018, Syrah 2015, Nautilus 2015, Occhio di Pernice 2010
6-Courses Tasting Menu
$329 + tax and tip
Join us for an exclusive dinner with Denis Zeni, founder and winemaker of Leuta, Boutique Winery in Cortona, as we explore his remarkable wines and the personal story that shapes them.
When Zeni decided to change the direction of his life in 1998, his guiding thought was to bring his grandfather’s heritage back to life. His grandfather, a farmer in Trentino, cultivated both food crops and grapes — but his true passion was for wine. Denis spent much of his childhood at his grandfather’s side, learning to observe, taste, and respect the rhythm of nature.
After his grandfather’s passing and the sale of their land, Denis pursued a successful career in economics, banking, and trading. Yet, even as he thrived in finance, his fascination with vineyards never faded. His travels took him across both hemispheres and many countries, studying grape growing and winemaking whenever he could — until his passion became impossible to ignore.
From Trading to Winemaking: The Birth of Leuta
In 2000, Denis took a decisive step — leaving finance behind to follow his true calling. Together with his friend and business partner Enzo Berlanda, he purchased 21.5 hectares near Cortona, in southern Tuscany. This land would become Leuta Winery, a project grounded in both science and soul.
As Denis explains, he personally chose every element that defines Leuta:
the soil composition,
the layout and orientation of the vineyards,
the density of plantings,
and even the winemaking equipment.
Every decision reflects his desire for balance, purity, and respect for nature. His vineyards are cultivated super organically, emphasizing biodiversity and minimal intervention. Denis remains a hands-on decision maker, charting the course of his vines and wines with the same precision that once guided his financial career — but now guided by emotion, intuition, and love for the land.
The Golden Ratio and the Art of Balance
Zeni’s winemaking philosophy is deeply influenced by the concept of 1.618 — the Golden Ratio, the divine proportion that has fascinated artists and scientists from Euclid to Dalí. For Denis, this ratio represents harmony and symmetry, the perfect expression of beauty found in both art and nature.
This principle lives in every Leuta wine — from the measured structure of its reds to the ethereal elegance of its Vin Santo. As he says,
“Balance and harmony are the key elements to pleasure; the only triggers that can change our beliefs, our perceptions and our emotions, giving a perfect sense to our lives.”